Munster into decider after semi classic
B&I CUP SEMI-FINAL
It was a typical provincial classic as Munster A qualified for their second British & Irish Cup final in three seasons with a stunning 36-29 extra-time win over Leinster A at The RDS last night.
There has not been a better game of rugby there this season as Leinster played with tempo and risk and Munster made the most of turnover ball in clinical fashion.
"If you were a neutral it would have been edge-of-your-seat stuff. It must have been great value for money and a great advertisement for this competition," reflected Leinster's coach, Colin McEntee. "You make your luck in this game and Munster did that tonight. Credit to them."
Leinster struck for successive tries by scrum-half Luke McGrath and flanker Dominic Ryan to move 20-9 clear in the 50th minute.
From there, they had to manage the ball. They couldn't do that. Munster openside Barry O'Mahony seized on his own blockdown of Noel Reid for an immediate riposte.
McEntee said: "I suppose at times we didn't respect the ball as much as them. However, at times, we were just one pass away from scoring."
Munster right wing Luke O'Dea showed plenty of toe and a swerve inside Andrew Conway as Munster took control by three points. Reid and Scott Deasy went tit-for-tat in penalties right to the end of the game to see it finish 26-all.
Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne turned in the decisive moment by stretching to the line for their third try in extra-time.
