Carlow penned another chapter in a remarkable recent history at Oak Park yesterday. In consecutive seasons they have travelled from the Division Four to Division One and now ensconced with the elite, proved that they are far from resigned to the role of make-weights.
Young Munster will certainly have no complaints: when the pressure was at its zenith in a compelling second half it was the home side that unearthed the greater resolve.
Carlow fully deserved their victory, if only for their display in the final 20 minutes. They pushed forward relentlessly and while many attacks foundered on a misplaced pass or some sound defence, their self belief and character drove them on.
None epitomised this more than the captain Andy Melville. At times he seemed to be taking on Young Munster single handed but that would offer an injustice to the work ethic of the Carlow pack and the terrier like qualities of scrumhalf Leonard Peavoy.
Meville's contribution was immense. The 27-year-old New Zealander was a focal point for his forwards. There was much to admire about their set piece play, particularly the lineout where Eamon Fitzpatrick and Ronan Bolger were excellent.
Young Munster appeared balked by their resilient foe, were largely pedestrian and lived mainly on the occasional cameo from Des Clohessy, Paul O'Connell (playing at flanker) and a hard working Bevan Cantrell. Only openside Kieran Gallagher and centre Clem Casey played with the purpose and spirit that one has come to expect from the club.
The teams were level, 8-8 at the interval in a 40 minutes riddled with errors. Meville grabbed the game's first try when he charged down a Mick Lynch clearance and pounced on the loose ball while O'Connell replied for the visitors when he squirmed over in the corner following a catch and drive from a lineout. Carlow outhalf Billy Murphy kicked a penalty while Lynch was successful with a similar strike.
Munsters would have the benefit of the wind in the second half and the expectation was that the rustiness of the first half would give more to a more assured and fluent display. Carlow's Ian Dwyer was sin binned for an incident on the touchline early in the second half; whatever he was alleged to have done he was far from being the only guilty party.
Munsters huffed and puffed but a surge by Casey, foiled on the line by Melville, and a couple of charges from Clohessy and Craig Doyle, were all they could muster. Murphy and Lynch exchanged penalties before the home side steeled themselves for a grand finale. Fullback Matt Spiller was left one-on-one with Jason Hayes 10 metres from the Munsters' line after fine interplay but carelessly tossed the ball behind him.
Carlow though would not be denied and Spiller more than atoned when from a third successive five-metre scrum the fullback explored the shortside, juggled Peavoy's pass, and crashed his way past three despairing tacklers. Murphy missed the conversion but it didn't matter. Cue delirium.
Scoring sequence: 3 mins: Melville try, 5-0; 6 mins: O'Connell try, 5-5; 28 mins: Murphy penalty, 8-5; 30 mins: Lynch penalty, 8-8. : 8-8. 59 mins: Murphy penalty, 11-8; 61 mins: Lynch penalty, 11-11; 72 mins: Spiller try, 16-11.
CARLOW: M Spiller; M Buckley, P Jones, R Armstrong, I Dwyer; B Murphy, L Peavoy; P Brennan, J Hannon, L Hannon; E Fitzpatrick, R Bolger; D Cox, A Melville (capt), D Cox. Replacements: B Baggot for Cox (62 mins).
YOUNG MUNSTER: J Hayes; F Hogan, C Casey, L Doyle, C Doyle; M Lynch (capt), M Prendergast; D Clohessy, B Cantrell, M Fitzgerald; C Power, D Peters; P O'Connell, P Lynch, K Gallagher. Replacement: G O'Donoghue for Cantrell (72 mins).
Referee: S Buggy (Leinster). Sin binned: I Dwyer (Carlow) 49-59 mins.
