Munster Rugby Blog
Munster A match report
Feb 5th
Munster A took on Connacht A last night in Thomond park in front of a good crowd. Both Declan Cusack and Connachts Number 10 exchanged two penalties a piece in the open 20 minutes. It was Munster who crossed the line first, Rowley floating the softest of passes to prop Dave Ryan who ghosted through a gap in the Connacht defence taking play up to Connachts 5 meter line, where some good hands from Tom Gleeson put Danney Barnes over in the corner.
Connacht’s Nicora had two opportunities to reduce the deficit but missed both penalties and Munster were reduced to 14 men for the end of the first half when Dave Sherry saw yellow from referee Leo Colgan for not rolling away. Munster went into the break with a 14 – 6 lead.
The opening score in the second half came from some good pressure from the Munster pack. After a number of attempts at the pick and drive over the line, it was finally Ryan who managed to get over for Munsters second of the night.
Some lovely interplay between backs and forwards and a good offload game resulted in Munster third try, O’Mahony finishing off the move.
Connacht dominated at the end of the game and were gifted a late consolation try from a Munster line-out. Varley will not want to see the replay of this one. The ball went straight over the top of a 5 meter line-out to Munster. Connachts number 8 Mike McComish more than happy to recieve to walk over the line
O’Callaghan out Cullen In.
Feb 4th
Donncha O’Callaghan has been ruled out of this weekends opening 6 nations match against Italy. O’Callaghan suffered a setback with a knock he to to the Knee on Wednesday. This means Leo Cullen moves into the starting 15 and Donnacha Ryan makes the bench.
Munster A v Connacht A
Feb 4th
In their build up to the resumption of the B&I cup Munster A take on connacht tonight at Thomond Park, 6.30pm kick off. Peter O’Mahony will captain the side that is mostly made up of Academy, sub-Academy and Club players
The Munster A team for tonights A interpor lines out as follows:
Munster: D Riordan; C O’Boyle, D Barnes, T Gleeson, R O’Mahony (Garryowen); D Cusack, P Rowley; D Ryan, S Henry (UL Bohs), S Archer; E Kelly (UL Bohs), D Foley; D Sherry (Garryowen), E Grace, P O’Mahony capt. Replacements: D Varley, Pa O’Regan, B Holland, T O’Donnell, C Murray, M Kelliher (Richmond), S Scanlon (UCC), S Duggan (Shannon), I Dineen (UCC).
Pairc Na Gael offered as a Quarter final alternative
Feb 2nd
Michael Nash from Limerick GAA stated that they have contacted Munster and offered the use of the Gaelic Grounds for the Quarter Final
He said, it can be a winner for the County, we have a magnificent stadium that can cater for all the games requirements. Munster can still host their events up in Thomond Park and bus their guests down here for the game.
All it needs he said is, For Munster to officially request the use of the Ground, then, we go to the county board for approval, who then go to central council for approval. However he said, until Munster contact them and request it, they can’t do anything on it.
Same rubbish politics from the GAA. I’m sure they know full well that it would be very difficult for Munster to move the match from Thomond to Pairc Na Gael
Problems:
1) The Facilities in Thomond are far superior to those in Pairc Na Gael
2)Stadium advertising has to be taken into account
3)Bar licences, Food and all that stuff would be hard to change.
4)Its not fortress Thomond.
5) The Corporates
Advantages:
1) 50,000 tickets.
2) More Moneys for the region with the increased capacity.
So the possibility of a move is slim
Seven Munster players in Wolfhound squad
Feb 2nd
Denis Hurley, Niall Ronan, Tony Buckley, Ian Dowling, Marcus Horan, Mick O’Driscoll an Peter Stringer have all been included in the 20 man squad with the remaining two positions to be decided after Kidney names his squad today.
Soon to be Munsterman Jonhe Murphy has also been included in the side. Marcus Horan inclusion suggests a lack of match fitness and with Jerry Flannery also a doubt due to lack of game time and injury, The game against Italy could see a front row without a Munster player in it if the Bull were to come off, with Cian Healy likely to start at 1 and and a potential first cap for John Fogarty. Shocking stuff really
Munster A v Connacht A
Feb 1st
A Interprovincial in Thomond Park
Show your support this Thursday evening in Thomond Park when Munster A take on their Connacht counterparts at
6.30pm.
The Munster A side remain undefeated in their Interprovincial ties this season, recording wins against Ulster and Leinster, and they hope to continue their winning run when they take on Connacht A on Thursday in
Thomond Park, ko 6.30pm.
Gates open at 5.30pm
Cash entrance via turnstile 3 in the East Stand of Thomond
Park
Adult: €5 Schoolboy: €2
Murphy joins Munster
Feb 1st
Johne Murphy has signed a two year contract with Munster wich will see him join at the end of this season. Murphy who currently plays for Leicester Tigers has made 93 appearances to date for thamscoring 27 tries and was their leading try scorer last season.
This maybe a signal that 25 year old A International could have been brought into replace Doug Howlett should he decide to return to NZ.
Muster had previously been in the h
Doug Howlett to leave Munster
Jan 31st
Its a black day in Munster as MunsterBlogger understands that Doug Howlett is to leave Munster the end of this season.
Heavensgame are reporting the New Zealand Rugby Union appears to be preparing to raid the top European clubs to further bolster their playing ranks in time for the 2011 Super 15 season and crucial home World Cup. Read the rest of this entry »
Man Blinded as Result of Eye Gouging
Jan 30th
21 year old Clarence Harding from Kent has been blinded in a rugby match after an he had his eye gouged out by an opponent.
Clarence, 26, was playing in a cup clash between local rivals in Kent when the number-eight was left in agony.
His family branded it an ‘intentional and vicious attack’.
His father Charles said: ‘He purposefully tried to injure our son.’
The family could consider suing opposition team Maidstone who hosted the match at their ground at Mote Park.
The game continued after Clarence was taken off injured while his team, Gravesend, went on to claim victory with a 41-5 scoreline.
Shocking incident and will surely have repercussions in the professional game. Disciplinary committees will need to take an even harsher approach when dealing with eye gouging
