U19 Men fall to Leinster defeat

Leinster 50

(Chris Maguire three tries; Harrison McMahon two tries; Brion Donogh, Harry O’Neill and Josh O’Keefe one try each. Harrison McMahon three conversions; Michael Kenny two conversions.)

Connacht 24

(Daniel Kelly, Darragh Glennon, JJ Phillips and Tom Walsh one try each; Dylan Curran two conversions.)

By Ivan Smyth

Leinster’s U19s moved through the gears to ensure they maintained their 100 per cent record in the PwC Age Grade Interpros.

Connacht enjoyed a stirring start, leading 12-0 but Leinster eventually settled and showed their considerable class as Chris Maguire’s hat trick of tries ensured the visitors left Creggs pleased on Saturday evening.

Connacht enjoyed a tremendous start to this contest. After just two minutes Alastair Hewson and Daniel Kelly combined to set Tom Walsh away. The Connacht scrum half sought to go solo and even though the Leinster defence scrambled back, the home province were deep inside the Leinster 22.

Connacht used their heft up front to punch holes in the Leinster defence before earning a penalty advantage. They subsequently went wide as Brian McHugh picked out Daniel Kelly, which allowed the winger crash over for a 5-0 lead.

The home province continued to dominate. Connacht possessed real danger out the back, which was evident when Darragh Glennon surged over off a flowing team move.

Despite falling 12-0 behind, Leinster didn’t panic. Instead, their performance level rose as centre Michael Kenny began to pull the strings, as he produced a series of drives towards the Connacht line. The dam eventually burst as Kenny took Leinster within two metres before Brion Donogh crossed for a converted try.

Leinster became increasingly fluent in their attack as their powerful pack and sharp backline combined to allow out half Harrison McMahon to cross and leave the score at 12-12. The visitors were purring as after Connacht lost a lineout inside their 10m line, the Leinster pressure was incessant before winger Chris Maguire crossed in the corner to help his side lead 17-12 at half time.

The winners cranked up the pressure upon the resumption as after Eoghan Brady and Aiden McGovern punched holes in the Connacht defence, McMahon set Maguire clear as he crashed over to give Leinster a 24-12 lead. 

Connacht answered straight back as Owen Egan showed his ability in the air before he combined with Alastair Hewson and Micheál Walsh to set JJ Phillips through for five extra points. But Leinster always possessed a considerable threat and after the Connacht defence survived some initial pressure after reducing their arrears to just five points, Harry O’Neill broke through to give Leinster the breathing space they craved.

McMahon and Josh O’Keefe both grabbed fine individual tries before Connacht’s late perseverance was rewarded when just moments after re-entering the fray, Tom Walsh dived over in the corner. 

But, Leinster had the final say as Chris Maguire completed his hat trick while centre Michael Kenny added the extras to ensure the visitors backed up their win against Ulster last time out with another eye-catching result.

Leinster: Max Roche, Chris Maguire, Tom Martin, Michael Kenny, Tadg Young, Harrison McMahon, Jack Fogarty, Aiden McGovern, Brion Donogh, Rory O’Brien, Eoin Farrell, James Gissing, Harry O’Neill, Eoghan Brady, Thibault Campbell.

Replacements Used: Seamus Whelan, Philip Murphy, Tadhg Halpenny, Alan Higgins, Cillian O’Donovan, Josh O’Keefe, David Li, Franklin Onwuzulumba.

Connacht: Brian McHugh, Owen Egan, John Finnan, Darragh Glennon, Daniel Kelly, Dylan Curran, Tom Walsh, James Siva, Felix Zeray, Corey Kelly, JJ Phillips, Leo Anic, Micheál Walsh, Alastair Hewson, Ruben Flynn.

Replacements Used: Hugh Óg Arnold, Reuben Galvan, Cathal Moffatt, Barry Gavin, Cian Kiernan, Luke Molloy, Oisín O’Donoghue, Tom Ruane.

Referee: Michael Reidy.