Ulster Ravens (sponsored by CD Group) recorded a memorable win in their final match of the season in a tight encounter at Banbridge RFC.
Michael Heaney kicked the winning penalty with nine minutes remaining as Kieran Campbell’s side came from behind to claim the victory.
Munster A brought a strong side to the County Down club, naming internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Donnacha Ryan in a team that contained 14 senior representatives.
The Ravens relied on a mix of youth and experience with players such as Paul Marshall, Stuart McCloskey and Michael Allen picked alongside emerging talents such as Frank Taggart, John Andrew, Lorcan Dow and Alex Thompson.
Munster got the first points of the game when JJ Hanrahan kicked a 4th minute penalty after the Ravens were penalised at a ruck.
Hanrahan doubled the visitors’ advantage five minutes later when the referee judged a Ravens player to be off his feet and the Munster flyhalf made no mistake with his second kick of the match.
However, the Ravens responded with an excellent try that saw two Ballymena brothers combine to unlock the Munster defence. Paul Marshall passed to Kyle McCall. He showed great hands under pressure to get the ball to Mark Best who passed to John Andrew. The young hooker stepped inside his man and managed to get the pass away to his brother Ricky who showed great speed and determination to get in in the corner.
The conversion was just wide from Michael Heaney but the Ravens were back in the game.
HALF TIME RAVENS 5 MUNSTER A 6
The second half began with Munster A on the attack and after initially keeping the visitors pack out with great defence, Munster’s second visit resulted in a penalty try after the referee judged the Ravens had infringed one time too many.
Hanrahan converted the simple conversion and Munster A were in a commanding position, leading by 13 points to 5.
However, just as they did in the first period, the Ravens scored a well worked try. Having won the line out the forwards set up a powerful maul and Hughes Insurance Academy flanker Frankie Taggart broke off and got the ball down.
Heaney converted the penalty and it was a one point game going into the final stages.
With nine minutes remaining, the Ravens won a great scrum against the head and from the resulting possession, Michael Allen made a line break that almost took the winger to the line.
He was caught just short and as the ball was being recycled, Heaney was scragged by the Munster defence but the referee awarded a penalty to the Ravens as Munster were offside.
Heaney held his nerve, landed the kick and the Ravens were into the lead for the first time in the game.
There was to be one more moment of drama in the game however, as the Ravens were penalised in the 79th minute. Hanrahan, who had been flawless with the boot all afternoon, pushed the difficult kick just wide of the upright and the win was the Ravens’.
(Frank Taggart was the CD Group's man of the match presented by John Lander)
FULL TIME ULSTER RAVENS 15 MUNSTER A 13
Ulster Ravens: P Nelson, M Allen, M Best, S McCloskey, A Craig, M Heaney, P Marshall K McCall, J Andrew, R Lutton, N McComb, L Stevenson (Captain), F Taggart, S Reidy, L Dow
Replacements P Jackson, A Warwick, R Murphy, A Thompson, S Mulholland, J Donnan, C Joyce, D Shanahan, K Joyce, J Rosborough, R Andrew.
Munster 'A': Johne Murphy; Andrew Conway, Ivan Dineen, Rory Scannell, Luke O'Dea; JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Sheridan; John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Donncha O'Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan; Paddy Butler, Sean Dougall, Jack O'Donoghue - capt.
Replacements: Kelvin Browne, Niall Horan, Peter McCabe, John Madigan, Luke O'Halloran, Neil Cronin, David Johnston, Dan Goggin, Diarmuid McCarthy.