Young Munster keep play-off hopes alive with vital bonus point win over Clontarf

YOUNG Munster gave their hopes of reaching the energia All-Ireland League Division 1A end-of-season playoffs a boost with a precious 27-14 bonus point victory over Clontarf at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday.

The bonus point win for the home side came thanks to tries from Ihechi Oji, Ruadhan Quinn, Adam McBurney and Hubert Gilvarry. Julien Lesczynki added two conversions and a penalty for Ger Slattery’s side.

Munsters' currently sit in seventh place in the Division 1A table, seven points behind both third-placed Clontarf and St Mary's College in fourth.

There are now just five series of regular season fixtures to go in the battle to secure a top four play-off spot

Munsters' made a flying start to the game and hit the front with just three minutes on the clock at Greenfields.

Lesczynki and Gilvarry combined to bring Young Munster into the Clontarf ’22 and Oji was on hand to score in the left corner after Shay McCarthy’s pass when the play was moved from the right. Lesczynki nailed the touchline conversion to put the home side 7-0 up.

Munsters' then added a second try on 10 minutes. Quinn took the ball from the back of a lineout 20 metres from the line and the ‘Tarf defence was unable to stop the number eight to dot down for the second try.

The Limerick side was dominant at this stage and were on the hunt for a third try but were scuppered when Lesczynki’s loopy pass was intercepted by James Conroy and the Clontarf centre ran in for their first try from all of 60 metres. Conor Kelly converted to make the score 12-7 with 15 minutes played.

The rest of the half was relatively even but Munsters bagged a third try just before the break. 

McBurney touched down following a powerful maul and Lesczynki nailed the conversion to give Young Munster a 19-7 half time lead.

The bonus point was secured nine minutes into the second half after Gilvarry did brilliantly to pick up a loose ball on the right, cut in and beat a couple of players to dot down for a superb try.

Will Reilly did get a second try for the visitors but a Lesczynki penalty 19 minutes from time sealed a 13 point winning margin.

YOUNG MUNSTER: Shay McCarthy; Hubert Gilvarry, Samson Seinafo, Manuel Covella, Ihechi Oji; Julien Lesczynki, Jake O’Riordan; Christian Foley, Adam McBurney, David Begley; Sean Rigney, Evan O’Connell; Alan Kennedy, Bailey Faloon, Ruadhan Quinn. Replacements: Stephen McLaughlin, Paul Allen, Tom Goggin, Conor Moloney, Donnchadh O’Callaghan, Cian Casey.

CLONTARF: Mark O’Sullivan; Stephen Ryan, James Conroy, Tadhg Bird, James McKeown; Conor Kelly, Sam Owens; Charlie Ward, Barry Gray, Ben Griffin; Fionn Gilbert, James Peters; Callum Smith, Aaron Coleman, John Vinson. Replacements: Fionn Hickey, Conor Bateman, Ruairi Munnelly, Will Reilly, Victor Allen, Oran Walsh.

REFEREE: Andrew Brace (IRFU).