Kelleher double sets up Leinster triumph

LEINSTER ‘A’ lifted the Celtic Cup in the inaugural final at Parc y Scarlets despite a strong second half showing from the Welsh region.

The visiting Irish pack worked hard to set a platform in the first period, constantly pounding the gain line and giving flyhalf Ciaran Frawley time and space to orchestrate his back line and kick effectively for territory.

It was Leinster hooker Ronan Kelleher who benefitted, crossing for two close range tries, one converted by Frawley who also added a penalty.

Having barely had sight of the try line, the Scarlets were then denied a score for due to a forward pass and had only a Jac Wilson penalty to show on the score board before the interval.

The second half saw the Scarlets gain momentum, enjoying a far greater share of possession, with fullback Clayton Blommetjies prominent in offering an attacking threat.

The third quarter of the game however remained scoreless as a well organised Leinster defence held firm against all the home team’s efforts.

Scarlets finally achieved a breakthrough after Leinster were reduced to 14 men.

Replacement hooker Bryan Byrne was dispatched to the sin-bin and the home pack, aided by a few of their backs, drivove over the whitewash following a line-out take, with prop Javan Sebastian claiming the try.

This brought the hosts to within a score with just ten minutes remaining, but all their endeavours came to nothing as the Leinster defence continued to graft hard in protecting their precarious lead.

Scarlets applied concerted pressure in the visitors’ twenty-two as the game went into injury time but to no avail as the Irish province held out defiantly to deservedly claim the Celtic Cup.

It was a second victory over the Scarlets for Leinster in the competition, having already beaten them 16-10 last month – and a seventh win out of seven overall.