Old Belvedere edge Young Munster in 71-point thriller

Young Munster 35 Old Belvedere 36: The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League got off to the best possible start at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday, when Old Belvedere and Young Munster provided a thriller from which the visitors emerged victorious by a point (36-35).

While Young Munster head coach Gearóid Prendergast was disappointed at the outcome, he still took many positives from the game, and was especially pleased that Munster coach Rassie Erasmus is living up to his promise to release a number of the provincial squad to play club rugby.

Robin Copeland made his first appearance in the black and amber jersey while Cian Bohane, formerly of Dolphin, was also in Prendergast’s plans until “pulled” by Munster on the eve of the game. After a slow start, Copeland made his presence felt in the second half when he made one or two spectacular open field bursts.