WHO STOOD OUT IN INTER-PRO SHOWDOWNS?
Murray injury concern as Munster set up Treviso tie
THE sight of Conor Murray leaving the field during the warm-up prior to this final-round derby encounter was a major worry for club and country.
Murray was out of action for five months last year as he managed a neck injury, which flared up during Ireland’s summer tour of Australia last summer.
The 30-year-old returned to action in January has been slowly returning to this best form in recent times, but Murray left the action last night clutching his neck.
Whether it was precautionary or a more serious issues remains to be seen
It meant that Neil Cronin was forced to step into the half-back void with exciting academy product Craig Casey moving onto the bench.
In Murray’s absence, Kieran Marmion – who deputised at scrumhalf in the historic win over the All Blacks last November looked sharp throughout.
When Munster strayed offside, Conor Dean – son of former Ireland out-half Paul – pushed his effort wide of the posts. The Connacht rookie was making his debut for the province with first-choice No10 Jack Carty resting up at home, along with fellow frontliners Matt Healy, Tom Farrell, Ultan Dillane and Colby Fainga’a.
Referee George Clancy, who played for both Munster and Connacht during his previous career, awarded Munster a penalty when Tom McCartney had strayed offside and Tyler Blyendaal fired over the first points of the evening to make it 3-0.
A scything break from the impressive Marmion saw Connacht set up camp on the Munster line with tighthead Finlay Bealham touching down from close range. Dean’s conversion made it 7-3. Munster forward coach Jerry Flannery described his team’s efforts as ‘scratchy’ in the first half. His side’s malaise was summed up when Andrew Conway intercepted Tiernan O’Halloran’s pass. It should have been walk-in try for the prolific Munster wing only for Stephean Fitzgerald to slap tah ball out of his hands as he strolled to the try-line. There were echoes of Jacob Stockdale’s infamous botched effort against Leisnter last month.
The errors continued to creep in as Mike Haley spilled the ball with the try-line in sight.
The hosts needed some inspiration and up stepped Tadhg Beirne. The Munster lock running a brilliant line off Cronin before stepping past Adeolokun to score under the posts. Bleyendaal conversion made it 10-7
Conway atoned for his earlier error with a scything break on halfway before linking with Peter O’Mahony on the wing and the Munster captain fed the supporting Haley, who finished from 20 metres out for a fine score. Bleyendaal added the extras and Munster surged into a 17-7 lead.
Dean had a chance to trim Munster’s lead before the break but his long-range effort fell short.
Bleyendaal made no such error with a 57th-minute penalty as Munster began to turn the screw on the under-strength visitors.
Mindful of next Saturday’s playoff clash with Ulster, Andy Friend withdrew some key frontliners with Marmion, Bealham and captain Jarrad Butler making way on the hour mark.
Van Graan was of a similar mind as he called Bleyendaal, Niall Scannell and Jean Kleyn ashore.
Understandably, it descended into a scrappy affair with replacement prop Jeremy Loughman sent to the sin bin. And Connacht capitalised on their numerical superiority as substitute backrower Eoin McKeon crossed for a try.
Any hopes of a late Connacht fightback were dashed by JJ Hanrahan, however. The Kerryman – who had replaced Bleyendaal at out-half – displaying his trademark footwork to score after great work from Beirne and Conway.
The real contests are to come next weekend with Munster hosting Treviso in a Pro14 quarter-final play-off in Limerick on Saturday. MUNSTER: M Haley; A Conway, C Farrell (S Arnold 68), D Goggin, C Nash; T Bleyendaal (JJ Hanrahan 68), N Cronin (C Casey 76), D Kilcoyne (J Loughman 53), N Scannell (R Marshall 68), S Archer (J Ryan 53); J Kleyn (B Holland 68), T Beirne, P O’Mahony (capt), C Cloete (A Botha 68), CJ Stander. ScoRERS: Tries - Beirne, Haley, Hanrahan. cons: Bleyendaal (3). Pens: Bleyendaal (2). YELLow caRd: Loughman coNNacHT: T O’Halloran; N Adeolokun, B Aki (E Griffin 59), T Daly, S Fitzgerald; C Dean, K Marmion (C Blade 64); M Burke (P McCabe 49), T McCartney (S Delahunt 45), F Bealham (C Carey 49); J Maksymiw, J Cannon (E Masterson 57); E McKeon, J Butler (capt) ((P Boyle 64)), R Copeland. ScoRERS: Tries - Bealham, McKeon. cons: Dean (2). REfEREE: Frank Murphy (Ireland).