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Ulster Juniors came from behind to edge out Connacht Juniors at a rain-soaked Enniskillen Rugby Cub, emerging victors by a thrilling 37-31 scoreline.
With both provinces in their traditional colours referee Cillian Pegley’s whistle got the clash started, with the overhead clouds lurking.
Connacht began the brighter, fly-half Dylan Keane’s penalty the opening score.
Shortly after, the game’s first try also arrived, with Bryan Walsh breaking the lines, allowing Harry Sheridan to stride over, Keane converting to push Connacht into double digits early on.
Leading from the front, Ulster captain Eddie Keys kicked his side back within range, a penalty making it 3-10 before Keys’ halfback partner, Charlie Williamson, screeched across for Ulster’s first try, a Keys conversion leaving it 10-10.
Despite the worsening weather conditions, the rugby was free-flowing and both teams traded another try apiece, the scorers Ulster’s James Ferguson and Connacht’s Max Holmes, with the spectators entertained and the score 17-17, following two more faultless conversions.
Yet Ulster finished the first half with a flourish, through Dean Dillon’s try and Key’s flawless kicking sent them in with a seven-point, 24-17, lead at the interval.
HT: 24-17
The rain continued to bucket down at the start of the second half but neither Juniors team were for giving an inch.
Connacht atoned for their poor end to the first 40 by making the perfect start to the second, number eight Fintan Crawley barging across, with Keane’s conversion levelling the scores again.
Edging the kicking contest ever so slightly, Ulster had to weather a storm of Connacht pressure. Weather it they did though and when Ulster knocked at the door down the other end, Keys punted a penalty between the posts, unflinchingly, to put them 27-24 to the good.
Daire Hill, an Enniskillen local, was then instrumental in Ulster’s next try, a lung busting burst from the number 23 catching Connacht cold, as the ball went right, for Sam Balfour to dot down. Continuing to be flawless with the boot, in spite of wretched conditions, Keys converted.
Not to be outdone entirely, Keane hauled Connacht back into the match single-handedly, the number 10 then converting his own five-pointer, to leave the game in the balance, with Ulster 37-31 ahead, heading into the dying embers.
Connacht again got into perfect kicking positions to potentially snatch a draw, on the edge of the 22. Yet, they went for the jugular and instead emerged empty-handed as a surge for the glory of the try-line was held up by Ulster.
With the game’s last act, the superb Keys drilled a hard-won penalty between the uprights, to close out Ulster Juniors’ second successive Interprovincial win.
Teams -
Ulster Juniors:
15 Jonny Hunter, 14 Sam Balfour, 13 James Ferguson, 12 Dean Dillon, 11 Robbie Johnston, 10 Eddie Keys ©, 9 Charlie Williamson, 1 David Braden, 2 Niall Keenan, 3 Ryan Emerson, 4 James Wright, 5 Richard Dickson, 6 Henry Keys, 7 Angus Keys, 8 Michael Rooney
Replacements: 16 Tom Artur, 17 Oisin Timoney, 18 Simon Creane, 19 Joe Duff, 20 Jack Rutledge, 21 Andy Smyth, 22 Drew Fleck, 23 Daire Hill
Connacht Juniors:
15 Rory King, 14 Jack Wise, 13 Calum Quinn, 12 Harry Sheridan, 11 Paul Brennan, 10 Dylan Keane, 9 Tadgh Johnston, 1 Aiden Healy, 2 Max Holmes, 3 Sean O’Connell, 4 Stephen Grenham, 5 Bryan Walsh, 6 Xavier Tavai, 7 Johannes Terblanche, 8 Fintan Crawley ©
Replacements: 16 Shane O’Hehir, 17 Ronan Mullin, 18 Brendan McLoughlin, 19 Malachy Joe Gavin, 20 Luke Sweeney, 21 Cormac Lyons, 22 Rowan Grous, 23 Daniel O’Conner
SCORERS
Ulster Juniors: Tries: Williamson, Ferguson, Dillon, Balfour Cons: Keys (4) Pens: Keys (3)
Connacht Juniors: Tries: Walsh, Holmes, Crawley, Keane Cons: Keane (4) Pens: Keane
