Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A' - A Force beat the Blues


By Sea_point
March 18 2011

Today was a perfect day for rugby in the Sportsground as the Spring sun shone on this 'A' inter provincial clash between Connacht and Leinster.

A small crowd of 150 approx enjoyed free entry to this fixture as Connacht's strong first half proved enough to keep out a resurgent Leinster in the second half. Connacht started the brighter of the two sides and took the lead on 9 minutes when winger Darragh Fanning crossed over under the posts. Miah Nikora added the two points with ease.

Connacht kept applying pressure with their experience showing. On 25 minutes Shane Monahan crossed over for the game's second try. Nikora added a difficult touchline conversion to stretch the home side's lead to 14 points. Leinster struck back on 30 minutes through the boot of Ian Madigan, but gave up the chance to ad a second penalty when they went to the corner and got no change out of the Connacht defence. The teams went in at halftime with Connacht 14-3 in the lead.

Connacht weren't long getting off the mark in the second half and on 45 minutes Shane Monahan picked the ball from the base of a ruck and dived over for his second try. Centre Aidan wynne added the conversion.

Both sides started to ring the changes as the second half progressedand Leinster started to get more and more possession. They got their reward on 60 minutes when out-half Ian Madigan crossed the try line. He added the conversion before Leinster got their second try, substitute Jack O'Connell crossing over. Madigan again added the conversion. Connacht held out in the last five minutes to record a 21-17 win. 

 

Connacht A

1 Ronan Loughney - Galwegians
2 Dermot Murphy  - Galwegians
3 Rodney Ah You - TBC
4 David Nolan - Galwegians
5 Bernie Upton  - TBC
6 John Muldoon - Galwegians
7 Dave Heffernan - Lansdowne
8 Ezra Taylor - Galwegians
9 Cillian Willis - TBC
10 Miah Mikora - Corinthians
11 Shane Monaghan - Buccaneers
12 Keith Matthews - Buccaneers
13 Aidan Wynne - Buccaneers
14 Darragh Fanning - Galwegians
15 Liam Bibo - Galwegians

REPLACEMENTS: 
16 Gareth Halligan - Buccaneers
17 Rob Sweeney - St. Marys
18 Dylan Rogers - Buccaneers
19 Brian Moylett - UCD
20 Conor Kindregan - UL Bohemians
21 Adam Kennedy - Buccaneers
22 Jack Carty - Buccaneers
23 Callum Boland - Buccaneers

 

LEINSTER ‘A’:

15: Daniel Riordan
14: Niall Morris
13: Ian McKinley
12: Eamonn Sheridan
11: Dave Kearney
10: Ian Madigan
9: Paul O’Donohoe

1: Stan Wright CAPTAIN
2: Tom Sexton
3: Darren O’Reilly
4: Eoin Sheriff
5: Mark Flanagan
6: Ciaran Ruddock
7: Paul Ryan
8: Leo Auva’a

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Jason Harris-Wright
17: Stewart Maguire
18: Jack O’Connell
19: Stephen Keogh
20: John Cooney
21: Noel Reid
22: Darren Hudson

Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: Connacht Rugby Supporters (IP Logged)
Date: 18/03/2011 20:58

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: packie (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2011 13:09

Ah you's pops out the back door while being tackled were unbelievable, it looked like young Heffernan was everywhere, Dave Nolan had a great game but nikora was the real difference, he was the class act on show

Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: YoungBlood (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2011 13:30

Quote:
packie
Ah you's pops out the back door while being tackled were unbelievable, it looked like young Heffernan was everywhere, Dave Nolan had a great game but nikora was the real difference, he was the class act on show

Great to hear back so many positives. Players coming through like McKeown, Heffernan, Nolan, Griffin, O'Halloran to name a few. Can really see most of these lads being a big part of the future of the club.

Ah You, is becoming a cult figure in the sportsground stands from the reports im hearing

Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: lgwt@castlebar (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2011 13:44

I think Rodney will become a firm favourite with the Sportsgrounds faithful. O'Halloran did well on Friday night for the underage side which is encouraging.

Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: Borders no.2 (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2011 19:07

Delighted with this result against a strong Leinster side. Important for these lads to keep pushing for places in the next few weeks and indeed to try and establish themselves for next season in positions being vacated.

Hopefully we'll see more of these games next season, we've a busy schedule but we have the players coming through to have competitive teams for a handful of A games throughout the season, hopefully at more supporter friendly times next season.

Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: Decadence (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2011 20:00

I thought Liam Bibo had a great game, I was very impressed. Why didn't Muldoon give him the offload?!

Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: jbrowne (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2011 22:51

great to hear! As a matter of interest how did riordan play for leinster? I bet Monahan was happy as well getting some payback for Leinster letting him go as well

Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: packie (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2011 06:52

Quote:
jbrowne
great to hear! As a matter of interest how did riordan play for leinster? I bet Monahan was happy as well getting some payback for Leinster letting him go as well

Danny played well enough, without being too Dangerous, awful to see him in another provinces jersey though

Monahan is a try machine, he has been all his (short I know),
career I'd keep him for sure. when he's heading for the try line its a try, I like that

Mul's hand off on Madigan was hilarous, but if I was Bibo I'd have chewed the off him for not passing

Re: Connacht 'A' 21-17 Leinster 'A'
Posted by: jbrowne (IP Logged)
Date: 23/03/2011 15:03

Yeah Monahan has always been a try scorer which is one of the reasons why I've been so disappointed with since he's came here. He hasn't really grasped his chance. Hopefully he gets another year and shows us what he's made of.

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