MUNSTER MUNCH
Reds dog out win over Connacht in Galway after feisty derby
THAT’S more like it. After Friday night’s farcical 14-try frenzy between Leinster and Ulster’s second-string sides, this was a fullblooded interprovincial skirmish. Both teams battled themselves to a standstill here, but a streetwise Munster – ably guided by man-ofthe-match JJ Hanrahan – got the job done.
The first half had everything you would want from a derby clash, with an early scrum penalty in Connacht’s favour leading to bit of handbags on the halfway line
Dave Kilcoyne – back from an injury lay-off – then hit Quinn Roux so hard you could hear it in the stands. Plenty of niggle, just the way it should be.
Caolin Blade will be taking John Porch off the Christmas card list after the Aussie wing gave him the mother of all hospital passes. The Connacht scrum-half got whacked by Gavin Coombes – another rookie flanker looking to make a name for himself – and Andrew Brace signalled a penalty for the visitors. Hanrahan made it 3-0.
Ironically, it was Coombes who came off the worst from that big collision, with the young blindside leaving the action for HIA, as Jack O’Donoghue entered the fray.
As is the case with these festive fixtures, a host of internationals had their feet up on the couch – meaning some of the kids got a chance to press their claims.
Craig Casey was top of that list. Big things are expected from this 20-year-old scrum-half. This was his first senior start after three appearances from the bench.
To say Casey is small by modern standards would be an understatement, but he looked comfortable among all the giants in the Sportsgrounds. He made a good start, showcasing his passing and kicking game to good effect.
Across the way was Conor Fitzgerald. The Clare-born out-half fell through the cracks at Munster but is flourishing out west – so much so that Jack Carty has been playing second fiddle since he returned from the World Cup in Japan.
Fitzgerald exchanged penalties with Hanrahan before the visitors made the first big statement of the night.
There is a lot to like about the way Connacht go about their business.
They play fast and loose, but there is nothing slapdash about their approach. Andy Friend has them drilled to play a wide, expansive game and they gave Munster no end of trouble on the edges with flankers Paul Boyle and Eoin Masterson rampaging down the wings all evening. But they couldn’t find the killer pass when it mattered.
Munster preferred a more direct approach, however, using their heavy artillery in the pack – containing internationals such as Kilcoyne, Jean Klyen and CJ Stander – to punch holes. That routeone approach yielded a try for O’Donoghue after 27 minutes.
Fitzgerald and Hanrahan traded penalties again before Connacht broke the line once more, thanks to a deft pass from their skilful hooker Dave Heffernan which sent Porch into open country.
His fellow Aussie Kyle Godwin made further inroads on the other touchline but Roux had the blinkers on and charged forward with Masterson in acres of space on his shoulder. The hosts had to settle for a penalty as Fitzgerald trimmed Munster’s led to 16-9 before the break.
Munster continued to turn the screw as Hanrahan kept Connacht hemmed into their own half with some astute tactical kicking. The Corkman who used to own that No10 jersey would have approved. Another Hanrahan penalty had Munster in a good place.
Shane Daily made way soon after. A promising shift from the fullback. Johann van Graan has some talented locals in reserve these days, there is no doubt about that.
Connacht would have fancied a crack at their weakened provincial rivals all week but they were trailing by 10 points with 20 minutes of the contest remaining.
The sizeable home crowd were growing increasing agitated with the officials, but Munster continued to go about their business in pretty ruthless fashion.
Carty was sent on to inject
impetus into the hosts’ attack and he immediately began to make his presence felt, pinning Munster back with some smart tactical kicks.
Carty is best known for his running game, however. As Connacht rolled forward from a driving maul, the Athlone No10 spotted space on the blindside, pinned his ears back and crashed over. He couldn’t convert his solo effort, but Friend’s side were back within striking range.
Just when it felt like Munster were going to see the game out with a flurry of late phases, Bundee Aki popped up to win a trademark turnover at the breakdown, giving the hosts one last chance, but another spilled pass put paid to that. It was that kind of night for Connacht.
Munster will be quietly pleased with their night’s work ahead of Leinster’s visit to Limerick next Saturday.
CONNACHT: T O’Halloran (S Fitzgerald 55); J Porch, T Daly, B Aki, K Godwin; C Fitzgerald (J Carty, 60), C Blade (S Kerins 73); D Buckley (C Kenny 71), D Heffernan (S Delahunt 59), F Bealham (D Robertson McCoy 59); U Dillane, Q Roux (capt) (J Maksymiw 72); E Masterson (R Copeland 61), P Boyle, E McKeon.
SCORERS: Try – Carty. Pens – Fitzgerald (3). MUNSTER: S Daly (S Arnold 59); C Nash, C Farrell, D Goggin, L Coombes; JJ Hanrahan, C Casey (N Cronin 64); D Kilcoyne (J Loughman 56), K O’Byrne, S Archer (K Knox 64); J Kleyn (F Wycherley 71), B Holland; G Coombes (J O’Donoghue 10), C Cloete, CJ Stander (capt). SCORERS: Try – O’Donoghue. Con – Hanrahan. Pens – Hanrahan (4). REFEREE: Andrew Brace (Ireland). ATTENDANCE: 8,129.