Limerick-based players lead way as Ireland U20s hit back to draw with England

TWO Limerick-based players made crucial contributions as the Ireland U20s fought back to earn a nail-biting 32-32 draw with England U20s in the Six Nations Championships at The Recreation Ground, Bath on Friday night.

The Ireland side, who kept their championship hopes alive, although their dreams of back-to-back Grand Slams were ended, are skipped for the 2024 Six Nations campaign by Limerick teenager Evan O'Connell, of UL-Bohemian, who is a member of the Munster Rugby Academy.

A last gasp try from Shannon RFCs Luke Murphy in the final play of the game, which was converted by replacement Sean Naughton, saw the defending champions claim a deserved share of the points.

The result will see the race for the U20 Six Nations title go down to the final night next Friday when Ireland U20s host Scotland U20s at Virgin Media Park in Cork.

It looked like their title hopes were all but over when Ben Waghorn's try on 78 minutes helped England into a 32-25 lead but, with the clock in the red, a resilient Ireland U20 side hit back superbly to earn a share of the spoils with a late converted try.

An early score by England was quickly overhauled as Ireland scored two tries through Finn Treacy and Munster Rugby's Ben O’Connor to lead 13-15 at half time.

Ireland pulled ahead with a try from Hugo McLaughlin but England powered back to within two points. More England pressure saw them take the lead and then extend it with just minutes on the clock.

Ireland fought back and with a penalty advantage they made the line with former Ardscoil Ris back-rower Luke Murphy diving over.

England: Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons); Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints), Ben Waghorn (Harlequins), Sean Kerr (Harlequins), Alex Willis (Sale Sharks); Josh Bellamy (Harlequins), Archie McParland (Northampton Saints); Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons), Billy Sela (Bath); Olamide Sodeke (Saracens), Junior Kpoku (Racing 92); Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers) (capt), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Nathan Michelow (Saracens). Replacements: George Makepeace-Cubitt (Rams) for Willis (half-time); JAMES Isaacs (Saracens) for Oliver (48 mins); OLI Spencer (Newcastle Falcons) for Bellamy (48 mins); Kane James (Exeter Chiefs) for Pollack (47 mins); Scott Kirk (Bath) for Opoku-Fordjour (57 mins); James Halliwell (Bristol) for Sela (57 mins); Zach Carr (Harlequins) for Sodeke (73 mins).

Ireland: Ben O’Connor (UCC); Finn Treacy (Galwegians), Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne); Jack Murphy (Clontarf), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College); Alex Usanov (Clontarf), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution), Jacob Boyd (QUB); Alan Spicer (UCD), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian) (capt); Joe Hopes (QUB), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch), Luke Murphy (Shannon). Replacements: Sean Edogbo (UCC) for Spicer (59 mins); Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks) for Boyd (62 mins); Henry Walker (QUB) for Sheahan (62 mins); Ben Howard (Terenure College) for Usanov (73 mins); Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians) for Jack Murphy (78 mins).

Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia).