Ulster were left to rue a nightmare first half in Cork as Munster ran in four first half tries on their way to a 41-21 PwC Interprovincial Championship win.
The visitors were made to pay for a slow start which saw Munster cross the Ulster line three times in the opening 10 minutes.
Scrum-half Lewis Linehan got the ball rolling as early as the 2nd minute before Evan Boland and Cathal O’Mara extend Munster’s lead. Alan Cleary’s three conversions put Munster in control further as they led 21-0.
It got worse for Ulster when second row Archie Graham was sent to the sinbin, and the hosts too full advantage to add a further try courtesy of hooker William Hanley. Cleary converted and the Cresent College fly-half also knocked over two penalties leaving Ulster with a mountain to claim in the second half.
Half-time: Munster 34-0 Ulster
With nothing but pride to play for, Ulster showed more attacking intent in the second period and Cian McLean’s effort was just reward for Ulster’s positive start.
But any thoughts of a comeback were quickly put to bed when Munster flanker Eamon Collins crossed the whitewash. Cleary’s fifth conversion restored his side’s 34-point advantage.
Munster’s Eddie Dooley received a yellow card and Ulster took full advantage to add further tries through Jayden Irwin and Isaac Hatch, with Ollie Worth converting all three which left the final score 41-21 in Munster’s favour.
Scorers:
Munster:
Tries: Lewis Linehan, Evan Boland, Cathal O'Mara, William Hanley, Eamon Collins;
Cons: Alan Cleary 5;
Pens: Alan Cleary 2
Ulster:
Tries: Cian McClean, Jayden Irwin, Isaac Hatch;
Cons: Ollie Worth 3
MUNSTER U-19: David Sargent (Tralee RFC); Najim Jagana (Ardscoil Rís Limerick), Cathal O'Mara (Cistercian College Roscrea), Seán O'Regan (Old Christians RFC), Evan Boland (Castletroy College); Alan Cleary (Crescent College Comprehensive), Lewis Linehan (Bandon Grammar School); Caden Smith (Glenstal Abbey School), William Hanley (Fermoy RFC), Patrick O'Connor (Kilfeacle RFC), Cian O'Connor (Ennis RFC), Ben O'Connell (Castletroy College), Eamon Collins (Crescent College Comprehensive), Eddie Dooley (PBC Cork), Cathal O'Doherty (Ardscoil Rís Limerick) (capt).
Replacements: Kevin Griffin (Castletroy College), Seán FitzPatrick (CBC Cork), Conor Dillon (St. Munchin's College), Gareth Murphy (Ardscoil Rís Limerick), Jack Ashcroft (Crosshaven RFC/Cork Constitution FC), Liam O'Brien (PBC Cork), Noah Dann (Rockwell College), Robert O'Brien (Rockwell College).
ULSTER U-19: Isaac Hatch (Campbell College Belfast); Aaron Lowey (Campbell College Belfast), Ryan Hamilton (Royal School Armagh), Josh McCaughey (Down High School), Jack Coulter (Royal Belfast Academical Institution); Ollie Worth (Clongowes Wood College), James Wells (Campbell College Belfast); Elias Agbonkpolar (Belfast Royal Academy), Charlie Reaney (Royal School Armagh), Noah Carson (Ballymena RFC), Charlie Best (Campbell College Belfast), Archie Graham (Dalriada School), Theo Scott (Campbell College Belfast), Jayden Irwin (Belfast Royal Academy) (capt), Cian McClean (Royal Belfast Academical Institution).
Replacements: Josh McColgan (Ballyclare High School), Joel Irwin (Friends' School Lisburn), Jonah Wholly (Antrim Grammar School), Austin Adair (Ballyclare High School), Jacob McKeown (Sullivan Upper School), Sam Paton (Enniskillen Royal Grammar School), Adam Millar (Royal Belfast Academical Institution), Alfie Clarke (Dromore High School).