The fifth match of the Cara Cup features Irish Provincial A sides, Munster and Leinster meeting on Wednesday 10th April at Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA. Leinster A jumped out to a 41-14 lead at the break, with Munster A storming back in the second half, but coming up short, 53-49.
In the first match, the Connacht Eagles defeated the New England Free Jacks 38-7. The second had the Connacht Eagles beating the Ulster Ravens 44-21. In the third match, the New England Free Jacks lost to Ulster A 43-15.
The 4th match featured the New England Free Jacks vs Munster A on Saturday, April 6 at the Irish Cultural Centre GAA Field in Canton, MA. The Free Jacks played a competitive match losing 38-19 to Munster A.
The sixth will have the Free Jacks facing Leinster A on Sunday 14th April, 5.00pmat Harvard Mignone Field, Boston MA.
Match Recap
Leinster A opened the match with 15 early points with Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner Rob Russell scoring a try in the third minute, Con Kelly slotting a penalty goal and Jimmy O’Brien intercepting a pass and running 95-meters for a try, converted by Kelly.
Munster’s Alan Tynan answered back with a try with Ben Healy converting to cut the lead to 15-7.
Leinster added tries by hooker Ronan Kelleher from a pick & go from 5-meters from the line and Aaron O’Sullivan added another with Kelly converting to push the lead to 27-7.
Munster A answered with a try by Keynan Knox after sustained possession and after Healy’s conversion, it was 27-14.
Leinster’s Kelleher then scored a brace and another try occurred just prior to the break for a 41-14 lead.
Second Half
In the first minute of the half, Leinster A flanker Dan Sheehan was sent to the bin. Munster A capitalized with two tries by James McCarthy with Healy converting to cut the lead to 41-28.
Teams then traded tries with Jimmy O’Brien scoring a brace for Leinster A, Jack Stafford answering back for Munster A, and Aaron O’Sullivan scoring for Leinster for a 53-35 lead.
Munster A replacements Billy Scannell and Duncan Williams added final tries with Healy perfect on the night with the boot. Munster A came up short 53-49, but the match was a crowd thriller with Leinster’s and Munster’s attack showcased.
Munster A now returns home, while Leinster A has a match on Sunday, April 14 against the New England Free Jacks at 5 pm ET at Harvard Mignone Field, Boston MA to conclude the Cara Cup.
Cara Cup Squads
Munster A: 1 Luke Masters 2 Eoghan Clarke 3 Keynan Knox 4 Cian Reale 5 Paddy Kelly 6 Seán O’Connor 7 Ross O’Neill 8 Jack Daly 9 Jack Stafford (C) 10 Ben Healy 11 James McCarthy 12 Seán French 13 Alan Tynan 14 Conor Phillips 15 Luke Kingston 16 Billy Scannell 17 Shane O’Driscoll 18 David Jennings 19 Duncan Williams 20 James Hart
Leinster A: 1. Vakh Abdaladze 2. Ronan Kelleher 3. Jack Aungier 4. Gerard Hill 5. Ryan Baird 6. Dan Sheehan 7. Mark Flemming 8. Ruadhan Byron 9. Paddy Patterson 10. Con Kelly 11. Rob Russell 12. Gavin Mullin 13. Jimmy O’Brien 14. Aaron O’Sullivan 15. Jack Kelly 16 Giuseppe Coyne 17 Roman Salanoa 18 Shane Murphy 19 James Tarrant 20 Brian O’Donnell 21 Max O’Reilly
Extended Squads
Munster A Extended Squad: 1 Liam O’Connor 2 Eoghan Clarke 3 Luke Masters 4 Gavin Coombes 5 Seán O’Connor 6 Dave O’Callaghan 7 Conor Oliver 8 Jack O’Sullivan 9 Duncan Williams (C) 10 Ben Healy 11 Alex Wootton 12 Alex McHenry 13 Seán French 14 Conor Phillips 15 Alan Tynan 16 Billy Scannell 17 Keynan Knox 18 David Jennings 19 Paddy Kelly 20 Jack Daly 21 Jack Stafford 22 James Hart 23 James McCarthy.
Leinster A Extended Squad: Vakh Abdaladze (Clontarf FC), Jack Aungier (Terenure College RFC), Ryan Baird (DUFC), Ruadhan Byron (Clontarf FC), Giuseppe Coyne (DUFC), Oisín Dowling (Lansdowne FC), Mark Flemming (UCD), Gerard Hill (Old Belvedere RFC), Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC), Conor Kelly (Clontarf FC), Jack Kelly (DUFC), Gavin Mullin (UCD), Shane Murphy (UCD), Jimmy O’Brien (UCD), Brian O’Donnell (Lansdowne FC), Max O’Reilly (DUFC), Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD), Paddy Patterson (UCD), Rob Russell (DUFC), Roman Salanoa (Old Belvedere RFC), Dan Sheehan (DUFC), James Tarrant (UCD)
CARA CUP FIXTURES
(All times EST)
Free Jacks 7-38 Connacht Eagles – Recap, Preview
Saturday 16th March
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Connacht Eagles 44-21 Ulster A – Recap, Preview
Wednesday 20th March, 7.00pm
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Free Jacks 15-43 Ulster A – Recap, Preview
Sunday 24th March, 6.30pm
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Free Jacks 19-38 Munster A – Recap, Preview
Saturday 6th April, 4.00pm (10 pm Irish time)
Irish Cultural Centre, Canton MA
Munster A 49-53 Leinster A – Recap, Preview
Wednesday 10th April, 7.00pm (1 am Irish time)
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Free Jacks v Leinster A – Recap, Preview
Sunday 14th April, 5.00pm
Harvard Mignone Field, Boston MA
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