Young Munster RFC secure hard-fought victory over Terenure College in All-Ireland League

YOUNG Munster secured their second victory in this season's Energia All-Ireland League Men's Division 1A with a thrilling 34-30 win over Terenure College in front of their home supporters at Tom Clifford Park this Saturday afternoon. 

Either side could have come out on top of this highly entertaining Division 1A, ding-dong battle with the Dublin side fumbling the ball in their final play of the game to give Young Munster the hard-fought victory. 

Munsters' now face a trip to Cork to take on Cork Constitution next Saturday, October 5, at Temple Hill where they will look to extend their winning streak. 

Action began immediately from the kick-off with Young Munster awarded a penalty in the first minute of play for an off-side offence by Terenure. However, a miscommunication in the 'Cookies' line-out resulted in a 'Nure scrum inside their own half.

Touch was found from full-back Adam LaGrue, with the Dubliners taking a quick line-out and hooker Max Russell receiving the ball back from his forwards, going straight over the line with Young Munster caught off guard in defence. Aran Egan then added the conversion to leave it 7-0 after six minutes.

Young Munster replied with a well-worked line-out move close to the left corner after 18 minutes with hooker Stephen McLoughlin finding Bailey Faloon, who moved the ball quickly on to Sean Rigney who crossed to give the Limerick side their first try of the game directly under the posts. Argentinian number ten Julian Lesczynksi made no mistake with the conversion to level the game, seven points apiece.

The visitors hit straight back off the re-start with Munsters' caught infringing at the breakdown resulting in a penalty just inside the 'Cookies' half. Centre Aran Egan stepped up to fire the penalty between the uprights leaving his side ahead 10-7 after 22 minutes of play.

A yellow card for Terenure's Craig Adams for a deliberate knock-on after 28 minutes left Young Munster into the corner again for another line-out.

With advantage in hand, Ger Slattery's side went back for the penalty resulting in another line-out in the same corner. A well-executed line-out move saw the ball swept from one side of the field to the other with Munster Academy scrum-half Jake O’Riordan transferring the ball quickly to put James Horrigan over the whitewash for their second try on 31 minutes. Lesczynksi converted the extra two points to leave it 14-10 in Young Munster's favour. 

Terenure looked to have replied with another try as their forwards crashed over the line, but ill-discipline by 'Nure' while trying to protect the ball in the ruck was spotted by the touch judge resulting in no score. 

They did manage to score on the stroke of half-time. Playing with advantage, 'Nure were full of confidence with winger Henry McErlean going over the line, after gathering the ball from a messy ruck. Egan missed the conversion to leave it 15-14 at half-time.

The visiting side came out firing straight away with McErlean coming off his wing and making a huge break down the sideline with Harrison Brewer finishing off the score. Egan converted on this occasion, 22-14 after 41 minutes.

'Nure went down to 14 men again after 45 minutes for another intentional knock-on. Young Munster's line-out was reliable throughout the contest, stretching the defenders well on this occasion.

The ball was quickly played out to winger Hubert Gilvarry, who was unmarked in the corner, who flew over the line to put the 'Cookies' right back in the game. Lesczynksi added the conversion points with 'Nure narrowly hanging on to their lead, 22-21.

Young Munster out-half Julian Lesczynksi, one of the club's new signings this season was foot perfect from the kicking tee sending a long range penalty effort over the crossbar to put them ahead again 24-22 after 58 minutes.

Terenure were determined to get another score as they finally got a penalty in the corner. A quick line-out sent Aran Egan over the line to leave it 31-30 in their favour.

Resilient Young Munster were not deterred by this try and came back with a penalty of their own sent straight into the corner. Being extremely patient, they worked the ball well with Lesczynksi sliding a pass to fellow Argentinian Manuel Covella to put them ahead once again, with the conversion kicked over and the scoreboard now showing 31-25 to the 'Cookies' after 61 minutes. 

To follow on from the previous yellow cards given in the game the referee sent Young Munster's Bailey Faloon to the sin bin after an intentional knock-on, gifting 'Nure' a penalty which was kicked into the corner.

A fast line-out for the Dublin side resulted in them scoring their fourth try of the game. Egan stepped up to kick the conversion in front of the posts, but sent the ball wide leaving them one point behind with only three minutes left. 

The home side finished their scoring for the day with a Lesczynksi penalty from an awkward angle, leaving it 34-30. 

Terenure looked to be over the line once more in the final seconds of the game, but a fumbled pass by their backs saw the ball fly out over the sideline giving Young Munster the win. 

YOUNG MUNSTER RFC: Shane O'Leary, Hubert Gilvarry, Oisin Pepper, Manuel Covella, Jack Shaw, Julian Lesczynksi, Jake O'Riordan; Peter Maher, Stephen McLoughlin, David Begley, Sean Rigney, Alan Kennedy (C), James Horrigan, Bailey Faloon, Ronan Murphy. REPLACEMENTS: Stephen Lyons for Jack Shaw (42 minutes), Eoin McCormack for David Begley (56 minutes), Christian Foley for James Horrigan (56 minutes), Arron Roulston for Stephen McLoughlin (60 minutes), Jack Lyons for Jake O'Riordan (60 minutes)

TERENURE: Adam LaGrue, Henry McErlean, Craig Adams, Aran Egan, Conor Phillips, Chris Cosgrave, Alan Bennie; Ben Howard, Max Russell, Adam Tuite (C), Harrison Brewer, Mikey O'Reilly, Adam Meila, James White, Connall Boomer.  REPLACEMENTS: Jules Fenelon for Conor Phillips (46 minutes), Levi Vaughan for Max Russell (60 minutes), David Maher for Mikey O'Reilly (60 minutes), Ben Cullen for Adam Tuite (60 minutes), Jordan Coughlan for James White (61 minutes), Conor McKeon for Alan Bennie (65 minutes)

REFEREE: Padraic Reidy (IRFU)