Lansdowne started with intent and within a few minutes prop Darren O'Reilly crashed over from a lineout maul for a converted try to open the scoring. Prolific try scorer Cian Aherne was next to cross the white line to increase Lansdowne's lead. It was then left to architect in chief Craig Ronaldson to keep the scoreboard ticking over with one of his characteristic scything runs taking advantage of a drifting Munsters defence to touch down. His try together with a further penalty and just the one reply in the form of a penalty from Munsters left the score 22 - 3 at half-time. 

 

Chasing the bonus point Lansdowne kept the pressure on the Limerick side in the second half and it paid off as Cian Aherne dived over for the bonus point try. This was Aherne's 12th try of the league campaign despite missing 3 games with injury.

 

With the game beginning to loosen, Lansdowne's pressure defence forced Young Munster into a handling error on their own 22 and quick thinking and hands from Ronaldson put centre Foster Horan away for the 5th try against a Munsters side which before today had the meanest defence in the league. Ronaldson again converted and another penalty for Lansdowne left the scoreboard at 37 - 3.

 

Things looked pretty bleak for Young Munsters but to their credit they never stopped trying and managed a couple of converted tries from Ger Burke and speedy winger Daragh O'Neill albeit after Lansdowne had rung the changes and emptied the bench. 

 

Over 35 players have represented Lansdowne this season in the Ulster Bank League and despite this disruption the side have maintained their consistency both in terms of performance and results. The depth of the squad will be tested further over the next few weeks which see Lansdowne entertaining two of the form teams in the league namely St Marys and Clontarf as well as a difficult trip away to a relegation threatened UL Bohemians.

 

Congrats to Foster Horan, Charlie Butterworth and Cian Aherne on being selected in the club international squad and commiserations to Craig Ronaldson who unfortunately has had to withdraw from the squad.  

 

Roll on the 16th against a St Marys team in top form