Nothing too pretty to watch in this Limerick derby. A home side struggling to find a coherent game against a Garryowen team which took its time to become streamlined. When it did Young Munster looked outclassed and even in the final 10 minutes when centre Ray Niland and number eight John O'Sullivan were warming the Garryowen bench having been sin binned, the home side's frailties appeared then even more obvious.
Was Tom Clifford Park ever so punctuated with guffaws and moans? Missed passes and tackles, knock-ons, Young Munster lost count and although they upped the tempo in the final stages and had Garryowen pinned in their own 22, there was always more than a hint of desperation in the home side's chase for their first win of the season.
Few could remember a season when Young Munster got off to such a poor start. Having lost to Carlow last week, they now have the look of a side that will surely come under pressure for results.
Garryowen's Killian Keane, introduced after 27 minutes, and Young Munster's Paul O'Connell, both made important contributions. Indeed when O'Connell came into the second row for Colm Power after half an hour, he immediately began to upset the Garryowen lineouts and pressurise the opposition in the loose.
At that point Garryowen were leading 10-6, O'Sullivan emerging from a pile of bodies after his side confidently executed a move seldom seen theses days. From a lineout well outside the Young Munster 22, the visiting pack drove 25 yards for the firsttouchdown of the game.
Garryowen outhalf Billy Treacy then added the conversion to a previous penalty before Young Munsters' Mick Lynch kicked two penalties. That left the home side trailing 6-10 going into the break.
Another flurry of penalties from Treacy and Lynch left the sides a point apart after 47 minutes. It was then Garryowen started to hint they had discovered another gear.
Pressing deep in the Young Munster Craig Doyle was shaken off by a Ray Niland break in midfield. Scrambling into the opposition 22 Niland off loaded to Garryowen's French winger Cyril Tupinier for a second try.
That appeared to significantly strengthen the visitor's grip on the match but a Lynch penalty again chipped back the lead to 12-20 after 50 minutes.
Looking beleaguered in possession, it soon became evident Young Munster were not going to score but through the boot of their outhalf, Lynch. Too many moves broke down and second or third phase ball was a rarity as turnover multiplied.
Garryowen also began to press into the Young Munster 22 with greater regularity and menace. John Langford in the second row brought strength to the visitor's lineouts with Treacy kicking smartly and Keane marshalling and covering sharply at full back.
It was hooker Pat Humphreys who finally put the match beyond the grasp of the home side. A Treacy kick which found touch set up another Garryowen lineout. From possession they won a five-metre scrum, Humphreys scrambled over for his side's third. Treacy converted for a 15-27 lead with just 14 minutes remaining.
Soon after Niland and O'Sullivan were shown yellow cards and although Young Munster declined penalties in the hope of running in a try. and unsettling the 13-man side, the space and possession they were given served only to highlight their lack of penetration and continuity.
The contest became a little fractious as Young Munster frustration set in and Garryowen were forced into making big and frequent tackles in their own 22. Langford and Niall Hartigan engaged in their own private wrestling contest, the linesman and referee stepping into separate the two. The referee was probably correct in cautioning both players as Garryowen finished back heeling towards their own posts.
Scoring sequence: 2 mins: B Treacy pen 0-3; 26 mins: J O'Sullivan try, Treacy pen 0-10; 33 mins: M Lynch pen 3-10; 35 mins: Lynch pen 6-10. Half-time. 41 mins: Treacy pen 6-13; 45 mins: Lynch pen 9-13; 47 mins: Lynch pen 12-13; 48 mins: C Tupinier try, Treacy con 12-20; 50 mins: Lynch pen 15-20; 56 mins: P Humphreys try, Treacy con 15-27.
YOUNG MUNSTER: M Connolly; C Doyle, C Casey, L Doyle, F Hogan; M Lynch, M Prendergast; R Flanagan, B Cantrall, M Fitzgerald, D Peters, C Power, D Clohessy, C Gallagher, P Lynch. Replacements: N Hartigan for Flanagan 15 mins; P O'Connell for Power 32 mins; P Ryan for Cantrall 57 mins; J Hayes for Lynch 73 mins.
GARRYOWEN: D O'Riordan; C Tupinier, R Niland, C Foley, K O'Riordan; B Treacy, S McCarthy; J Staunton, P Humphreys, J Giltenane, E Kelly, J Langford, C varley, P Malone, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: K Keane for O'Riordan 27 mins; S Leahy for E Kelly 58 mins.
Referee: O Trevor (M.A.R.)
