Connacht 24
Munster 30
Munster has added Hastings Insurance MacHale Park to their list of winning venues where they deservedly prevailed in this vital URC derby fixture against Connacht.
Playing in front of their largest crowd of 27,580, the home outfit left it too late to grab the victory in the heartland of Mayo GAA, failing to bag a win which could have propelled them back into a vital top eight spot. However novel was this round 14 fixture, it was not Connacht’s finest hour.
Munster dominated possession and the scoreboard, forcing their opponents on the defensive foot for long periods - even with the loss of Alex Nankivell who was red carded in the 25th minute. Although disciplined in conceding just nine penalties, Connacht lacked the cutting edge to score the necessary points.
Having enjoyed the better opening minutes in Connacht territory, Munster opened their tally with a seventh minute penalty through Jack Crowley, while Connacht, having failed to capitalise on two successive penalties, were also stymied by Munster’s aggressive defence.
By the 13th minute, and with the wind at their backs, Munster extended their lead through Tom Ahern, who broke though to score the opening try. It took Connacht 17 minutes to advance into the Munster 22, and with it came a penalty. On this occasion Connacht opted to keep the ball alive in the face of the strong wind, and after a well-worked drive to the line, No 8 Sean Jansen touched down for the home side’s first points.
Within three minutes, however, Munster replied. It was a soft try with fullback Ben O’Connor sending scrumhalf Craig Casey through, and Crowley adding the extras. Nor were Connacht helped when losing Cian Prendergast with a head injury, and although the result was a red for Nankivill, Connacht were unable to capitalise initially.
Instead, with the clock ticking towards half-time, Munster opted to kick a penalty after Connacht were pinged for not rolling away, and Jack Crowley posted another three points, putting Munster into a 5-15 lead at the break.
Having not helped themselves with a host of unforced errors, Connacht turned around after the break, and with the wind and an extra player, they immediately took control. The much-needed try came in the 45th minute from scrumhalf Caolin Blade, with Dave Heffernan, Bundee Aki and Finn Treacy all involved, and Josh Ioane knocked over the conversion, narrowing the deficit to 12-18.
It gave the home supporters hope that with the wind behind them, Pete Wilkins’ men would take control, but instead Munster extended their lead to 12-30 through Crowley and Diarmuid Barron, making a comeback all the more difficult for the home side.
Eventually Connacht delivered the score they needed. It came following a yellow card to Munster’s Tadhg Beirne with Paul Boyle helping Sean Jansen to post a 62nd minute try, and replacement JJ Hanrahan adding the conversion. The gap narrowed further when Josh Ioane reduced the deficit to six points with a try in the 72nd minute, and minutes later it was looking better for Connacht when Dylan Tierney Martin scored, only to be denied following a television replay on the advice of the TMO for a dangerous tackle. With the last throw of the dice, Connacht won a penalty, kicked for touch, but South African Jean Klein managed to get a hand to it to stymie any last-minute Connacht victory.
Connacht: M Hansen, C Mullins, H Gavin, B Aki, F Treacy, J Ioane, C Blade, J Duggan, D Heffernan, J Joyce, D Murray, C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen. Replacements, J Murphy for Prendergast (25m ), M Devine for Blade and JJ Hanrahan for Cordero (54m ), D Tierney Martin for Heffernan (60m ), J Duggan for Buckley, J Aungier for Bealham, P Boyle for Joyce ( all 56m )
Munster: B O’Connor, C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, S O’Brien, J Crowley, C Casey, J Loughman, D Barron, O Jager, F Wycherley, T Beirne (C ), T Ahern, J Hodnett, G Coombes.
Replacements. A Kindellen for Hodnett (23m ), Klein for Wycherley and S Archer for Jager (both 56m ), N Scannell for Barron and Wycherly for Loughman (both 60 ), C Murray for Casey and R Quinn for Kindellean (both 67 ).
Referee: Craig Evans (IRFU ).
