AGE GRADE INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:THE CONNEELY brothers, Shane and Aaron, achieved the unusual accolade of leading their respective Connacht Under-20s and Youths sides to victory in the Age Grade Interprovincial Championships over the weekend.
Number eight Shane marshalled the Under-20s to a fully-merited 19-15 win over Munster in their clash at The Sportsground on Saturday evening.
This team were in no mood to accept their prescribed fate at the foot of the Irish rugby ladder, even when Munster led 10-0 following a try from centre Michael Kelleher and the solid kicking of outhalf Cormac O’Flynn.
A sparkling try from former Ireland Schools’ wing Tiernan O’Halloran brought Connacht to within one point (15-14) of Munster before hooker Karl Egan drove for the line for the clinching try in the 76th minute.
The Connacht Youths, captained by Aaron, recovered from the concession of an early try to Munster’s Crosshaven hooker Gary Fitzgibbon with a quartet of tries from Buccaneers fullback Calum Boland, Westport duo John Gill and Joe Keane and Galwegians wing Ronan Burke as they eased to a 29-5 win at The Sportsground.
Connacht are now set for a winner-takes-all decider as Leinster made it two-out-of-two in an 18-10 defeat of Ulster at Ravenhill. Second-half tries from Skerries fullback Michael Sherlock and Navan centre Akhlaque Khan ensured an exciting final day in Galway next Saturday.
