Boyle scores a try in defeat
Murphy part of Leinster win
A COUPLE of professional rugby players with strong local connections experienced mixed fortunes over the weekend as the big two of Leinster and Munster set up another head-to-head meeting in the Guinness PRO14 final.
While Josh Murphy and the boys in blue prevailed in their clash with Ulster in Belfast on Saturday, there was disappointment for Paul Boyle and his Connacht colleagues one night earlier in their loss to the reds.
Ballymoney’s Boyle – a former under-age player with Castletown-Liam Mellows Gaelic football and hurling teams – scored one of two tries for his side, but it wasn’t enough as they were edged out by Munster on a 20-17 scoreline in Limerick.
The outcome left the westerners in second spot in their pool on 42 points after 14 games, twelve behind their conquerors.
It looked like Munster held the whiphand when they moved into a 17-10 lead, but Boyle and his colleagues certainly made them earn their victory.
After a Jack Carty chip set an attack in motion, Munster’s Chris Coete was sin-binned for killing the ball following a series of Connacht off-loads.
Jarrad Butler decided not to kick for the posts, and that ambition was rewarded when number 8 Boyle evaded an attempted tackle by Damian de Allende and went over for a try.
Carty levelled from the conversion, only for the rejuvenated and refreshed Joey Carbery to kick the winner for Munster from a penalty.
Boyle contributed a great deal to the losing side’s cause before his replacement in the 69th minute by Eoghan Masterson.
Meanwhile, Enniscorthy’s Josh Murphy came off the bench in Kingspan Stadium after 38 minutes on Saturday, replacing the injured Josh van der Flier as Leinster advanced to the final with a double-scores 38-19 dismissal of hosts Ulster.
The outcome leaves Leinster topping Conference A on 65 points, eleven clear of Ulster, and set for another big clash with their keenest rivals from down south even though a couple of rounds of group games remain.
The immediate focus now switches back to the Six Nations, and Ireland’s game against Scotland in BT Murrayfield on Sunday.
Tadhg Furlong and his fellow squad members re-assembled yesterday (Monday) to continue their preparations for the penultimate game prior to the clash with England.
Jacob Stockdale of Ulster returned to the squad, having missed the opening three rounds through injury, while Shane Daly will remain at Munster this week.
Josh van der Flier will go through the graduated return to play protocols in camp after picking up that knock and being replaced by Josh Murphy in Leinster’s win over Ulster on Saturday.
Another twelve squad members featured in Guinness PRO14 games over the weekend, and thankfully all came through unscathed.
The 36-man Ireland squad will travel to Edinburgh on Friday ahead of their fourth Six Nations game, following losses to Wales and France plus a win over Italy.
The ankle injury Tadhg Furlong sustained in the latter clash is no longer a concern, and he is expected to add to his tally of 47 caps against Scotland.