ALL-Ireland League Division 1:

Garryowen 20, Young Munster 13;

By COLM KINSELLA at Dooradoyle
IN the end, something for everyone at Dooradoyle, but a losing bonus point will provide little consolation to a Young Munster side fighting for its survival in the drop zone of the AIL’s First Division.
In contrast, Garryowen march on, their eighth straight victory of the campaign moving them to within touching distance of a place in the elite Top 8 section for next season’s AIL and ever closer to a top four play-off spot at the end of this particular campaign.
Two first half tries from Kevin Hartigan, after a beautifully weighted crossfield kick from Willie Staunton in blustery conditions, and another from winger Lorcan Bourke, after the exciting Diarmuid McCarthy and Staunton again proved providers, laid the foundation for this latest Garryowen win at Dooradoyle.
A further seven points from the boot of Conor Kilroy helped the wind-assisted ‘light blues’ into a commanding 17-3 interval lead.
But credit Munsters’ for battling back strongly in the second half. Their scrum grew more dominant as the game wore on and when Garryowen’s pack was judged to have infringed in a scrum close to their own line, referee George Clancy awarded a penalty try to the visitors.
On another day, when Munsters’ backline lacked a cutting edge, their best chance of crossing the whitewash was always going to be through their forwards.
While a second Kilroy put the bonus point beyond the ’93 champion’s reach, Munster player Mike Prendergast ensured his side left with a bonus point after Garryowen’s pack was again penalised at scrum time.
Young Munster now have four games left to retain their Division 1 status for next season and a pair of wins is the minimum requirement.
Third-placed Garryowen, even without the services of ‘first choice’ starting backs Ciaran O’Boyle and Kieran Lewis who were on Munster duty were good value for this derby win.

Afterwards Garryowen FC’s Director of Football, Greig Oliver said they were pleased to have recorded another victory, especially in a tough local derby.
“We have played Shannon a lot since I arrived and UL/Bohs’ too, but we have not played Munsters’ for a few years in the AIL,” former Scottish international Oliver said.
“All the players and committee men have been filling me in. There is a lot of history and tradition between these clubs. Bragging rights were at stake today.
“We never underestimate any side we play. We knew Young Munster would come to the party here and give it a real go. They did that.
“It was a pity that conditions were poor. It was blustery and that spoiled the game as a spectacle.
“The contact area was as physical as any contact I have seen. We are happy to get the points.
“I was pleased with our start. I didn’t need to say anything to be the players at the break. We had been there before, with a lead.
“In fairness, the players stuck to our guns in the second half. I felt our defence was superb.
“A lot of players are given us headaches in terms of selection. I felt Neville Melbourne played well. Conor Hartigan was excellent too and then you have boys like Anthony Kavanagh and Dave Sherry who are pushing them all the way. That makes it hard for the management, but it is healthy for the club.
“I hope from a Limerick viewpoint that Young Munster stay up in Division 1.”
Young Munster head coach Mick Lynch said his side needed to get out of the habit of digging a hole for themselves in the first half of games, but only partially getting themselves out in the second half.
“I am very disappointed. I don’t know who I am disappointed for or who I am disappointed with,” Mick Lynch said.
“Why do we have to come from 17-3 behind to get something? We do because we dig ourselves a hole and then we think we have done very well for half getting out of it.
“But half getting out means you are still in the hole.
“There are some positives. We got a losing bonus point out of it. That is something. We could have got a lot more. But did we deserve to get a lot more, I am not really sure.
“I will have to look at the video.
“I think we gave Garryowen too many penalties, too much simple possession.
“We let them out of pressurised situations too easy. There were block downs and mistakes.
“We still haven’t found that maturity to realise that when you have a team on the rack, you must put them away.
“Any time Garryowen sniffed a chance of our line they took it. They did not come away without scoring.
“We had a number of good performances. I thought our front five was superb, especially at set plays. Our back row was excellent on defence for the majority of the game.
“I thought Cian Clohessy had a strong game, especially in the second half and I thought Ger Slattery was superb. His work rate and his scrums are first class.
“We have four AIL games left, including a rescheduled one. We have to win two and possibly three given that Dungannon won today. It is still in our hands.”
Scorers: Garryowen 20 (Kevin Hartigan, Lorcan Bourke try each, Conor Kilroy two pens, two cons).
Young Munster 13 (pen try, Mike Prendergast pen, con, Matthew Costelloe pen)
Garryowen: Conor Kilroy; Lorcan Bourke, Kevin Hartigan, Federico Quaglia, Diarmuid McCarthy; Willie Staunton, Cillian O’Boyle; Rory Brosnan, Michael Sherry, Declan Lavery; Ed Mackey, Frank McKenna; Paul Neville (Capt), Conor Hartigan, Neville Melbourne.
Replacements: Barry McNamara for Lavery (injured 34 mins), Conor Murray for O’Boyle (58 mins), Dave Sherry for Mackey, Anthony Kavanagh for Neville (both 75 mins).
Young Munster: Matthew Costelloe; Stephen Carey, Clem Casey, Cian Clohessy, Derek Corcoran (Capt); Mike Prendergast, Diarmuid Upton; Ger Flaherty, Ger Slattery, Alan Cottor; Shane O’Neill, Darragh Payne; Brendan Guilfoyle, Mark Shorley, Mark McHugh.
Replacements: Adam O’Loughlin for Costelloe (injured, 38 mins), Hugh McGrath for Flaherty (59 mins).
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU