UL 3-12
Waterford IT 0-21
A DRAMATIC FITZGIBBON Cup final ended with a replay as the outcome last night at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick as Waterford IT defender Tom Fox popped up as their unlikely hero with a last-gasp point to tie the teams after extra-time.
Reigning champions WIT looked down and out when substitute Stephen Bennett cracked home UL’s third goal in the 74th minute and Laois forward PJ Scully followed that up with a neat point.
UL were 3-12 to 0-17 clear and five minutes away from glory but they couldn’t kill the game and shake off the persistent challenge of WIT. Firstly Pauric Mahony converted a ’65 and then centre-back Martin O’Neill fired over two fantastic points to cut the deficit to the minimum.
WIT’s hectic schedule saw them play their quarter-final last Tuesday, endure extra-time in their semi-final yesterday and then experience extra-time again tonight. Yet despite their energy reserves being sapped, they patiently worked a move in the 80th minute which culminated in Fox firing over a point off his left.
The game began slowly but it ended in a blaze of drama and excitement. UL were in front by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval despite having hurled into the strong wind. They got a further boost early in the second-half when Tommy Heffernan cleverly finished to the net.
WIT hit back to cut the deficit to the minimum, 1-7 to 0-9, by the 43rd minute but UL took over once more with a Jason Forde free pushing them ahead 1-10 to 0-9 with ten minutes left.
https://twitter.com/joycek87/status/571783492591345666
Scorers for UL: John McGrath 0-5 (0-3f), Tommy Heffernan & Jason Forde (0-1f) 1-1 each, Stephen Bennett 1-0, Tony Kelly 0-2 (1f), Kevin O’Brien, Cathal McInerney & PJ Scully 0-1 each.
Scorers for WIT: Pauric Mahony 0-8 (5f, 1 65), Johnny Hayes 0-3, Tom Fox, Martin O’Neill, Jake Dillon & Austin Gleeson (0-1 sideline) 0-2 each, Harry Kehoe & Tomas Hamill 0-1 each.
UL
1. Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy, Tipperary)
17. Gearoid Ryan (Clarecastle, Clare)
6. Brian Troy (Emeralds, Clare)
4. Eoin Moriarty (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
5. Daire Quinn (Éire Óg Nenagh, Tipperary)
3. David McInerney (Tulla, Clare)
7. Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons, Tipperary)
8. Jason Forde (Silvermines, Tipperary)
9. Tony Kelly (Ballyea, Clare)
19. Dan Morrissey (Ahane, Limerick)
10. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
12. Tommy Heffernan (Éire Óg Nenagh, Tipperary)
24. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe, Clare)
14. Conor Martin (Emeralds, Kilkenny)
13. Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell, Limerick)
Subs
25. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart, Waterford) for McGrath (49)
20. PJ Scully (Borris/Kilcotton, Laois) for C McInerney (57)
15. Mark Carmody (Patrickswell, Limerick) for O’Brien (68)
23. Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley, Clare) for Martin (76)
Waterford IT
1. Darragh Stapleton (Doon, Limerick)
4. Jerome Maher (Geraldines, Waterford)
7. Owen McGrath (John Lockes, Kilkenny)
3. Ger Teehan (Graigue-Ballycallan, Kilkenny),
5. Thomas Hamill (JK Brackens, Tipperary)
6. Martin O’Neill (Mount Sion, Waterford)
2. Tom Fox (Éire Óg-Annacarty, Tipperary)
8. Jack Langton (Clara, Kilkenny)
9. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion, Waterford)
13. Gavin O’Brien (Roanmore, Waterford)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner, Waterford)
10. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn, Wexford)
14. Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney, Tipperary)
12. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion, Waterford)
15. Jake Dillon (De La Salle, Waterford)
Subs
20. Johnny Hayes (Kilmacow, Kilkenny) for L McGrath (49)
21. Ciaran O’Brien (St Ita’s, Cork) for Gleeson (78)
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
- This article was originally published on 28 February at 9.55pm
There was bound to be a blip or two somewhere in the season. Some of the players from yesterday need to have a good look at themselves. Not the end of the world though. We are still in a good place considering the mid season change of coach.
@Jim Demps: 9 wins and 6 defeats isn’t exactly glittering form. Running into a pivotal part of the league with some tough fixtures coming, good thing is the results of other teams in pool A means even the worst implosion will still see Munster get a playoff birth. But which is better Edinburgh/Ulster at Home and Leinster/Scarlett’s away semi or finish 3rd get away to Leinster/Scarlett’s and away to Glasgow semi.
@Scott Crossfield: not glittering but it’ll do. Doesn’t matter who we play in the knockouts, we are capable of beating all of them.
@Jim Demps: when full sides in action Munster need second place as they will not beat Scarlets and possibly. It Leinster away yet alone away semi. But ah sure we can beat anyone aside the next few weeks will show where they’re at and ways needed
The heading should be “best team in conference A”. They are top of conference A. Leinster are top of conference B and Llanelli are the reigning champions.
@Gary: it was Johann who said it not the author, take off your blue tinted glasses he’s not wrong..
@Gary: Well considering that Glasgow have amassed more points than any otherPro14 team in either conference this season (65 points), having won 13 out of 15 games, they are statistically the best team of the Pro14 on form.
@Hardly Normal: So saying Llanelli are reigning champions and saying Leinster are top of conference B means I’ve blue tinted glasses? OKayyyyy. So stating facts is wrong then. Hmm.
@Gary: he’s not wrong. Glasgow have the most points out of both conferences.
@Gary: spot on Gary
@Gary: Llanelli play in the Welsh Premiership and are not even the reigning champions, Merthyr RFC are. Think you mean the Scarlets?
@Martin Quinn: Haha , I should change that , I’m in league country now, (new south wales). About the pools , I’d have thought they were fairly even to be honest, can’t see much between the two.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: well seeing that Glasgow are out of Europe they are not the best team but they do have the most points
@Bob Joe: This article refers to the best team in the Pro14, not Europe. Europe and Pro14 are different worlds intensity-wise. Stay on topic, fella.
Here we go again.” Keatley is useless” brigade are back. The same people who were praising him a few weeks ago. My oh my how fickle the keyboard warriors are
@Chris Tobin: I’ve been saying from the start of the season that he’s improved a lot but he still makes poor decisions in the opposition 22 and is good for an error or two in a game! Was terrible yesterday but in fairness going on form this season that’s out of the ordinary for him. Shouldn’t be in the 6 Nations squad. Byrne at Leinster offers more and Carbury could be a world beater if he was getting game time at 10!
@Chris Tobin: There’s been so many seasons of it… in all that time nothing much has changed. He’s a great player on his day, in terms of winning the Pro 14, maybe, winning Europe, maybe not, (Munsters’ heart has always been firmly set on Europe). It’s a professional game and even when it wasn’t the pre-internet chatter has always been super critical, those who are involved know it. Add todays ‘chatroom factor’ and honestly it could be a whole lot worse.
They all seemed asleep. I remember Rhys Marshall standing by a ruck with his hands on his hips when he should have been blocking and that was quickly followed by a try
@Peter Brophy: should hammer Glasgow as most of their team in Scotland squad
Pretty basic errors by the coaching staff who allowed some underperforming players remain on the pitch for too long . Allied to An inability to change tactics contributed to a very poor night -
Why are Munster turning their attention to Leinster when they are playing Glasgow next?
Munster have no future with Keatley at 10. His performance in the first half was the worst I’ve seen at professional level in a very very long time. He simply killed the team.
@Brian Valès: Brian, I don’t where your loyalties lie but I doubt if you are a Munster supporter. Anyone watching Ian Keatley this season cannot but be impressed by how well he has played, but you know it only took one game for the knives to come out. I do not see anyone looking for Carbery’s head in the his 10 minute malfunction against Italy or the defence weaknesses by his colleagues. God help us against Wales if we have George North running against some our new apprentices.
Keatley and Williams were terrible yesterday. Some of keatleys kicks were absolute rubbish.
@David OfBrien: in fairness the whole team were dire on the night
@David OfBrien: and yet some folk think Keats should be backup to Sexton
@Marcodub: #keatleyhaters
Yet another example of Munster not showing up for the first half of a game. We done it several times already this season, most notably Home and Away to Leinster. Can see no excuse for not being mentally ready for a game of rugby and to me it usually happens when a certain 4/5 players are selected together. Johann has said it now at least 3 times that these performances are not acceptable but yet they continue to happen. How many times does Duncan Williams need to have a kick blocked before he or a coach address the issue???? He is not good enough to back up Murray, never will be, play Hart or give young Poland a real chance.
No leaders on the field, would have had Holland as captain.
@thesaltyurchin: Holland needed a break, he’s played in almost every game in Europe and the Pro 14 so far this season.
The Cardiff Blues game was a total malfunction by the whole team on Saturday evening.
Let no blame hang on any one individual, just suck it for what it was and get over it.If ever we needed a response , let us see it Friday night.
The whole team were off. Can’t blame a few players only. We’ve seen some great plays from Keatley and Williams this season. Williams needs more consistency but he also needs players ready to provide support and watching the game.