CHARLIE O’Shea gave an exhibition at out-half in his first URC start for Munster in a fantastic bonus point win under the lights in Thomond Park against the Bulls on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old scored two tries and kicked three conversions, earning a standing ovation from the home crowd when he departed the field after 68 minutes in a fantastic 26-22 win for Munster.
His first try was all down to grit and determination when he blocked a kick down from Curwin Bosch and chased it down, winning the race to the line ahead of any Bulls player. His second try came from great work by the forwards before sending Charlie into the corner. This put Munster into a 19-17 lead, a lead which they retained for the remainder of the game.
The young Cork man was catching everyone’s eye before he ever scored a point with an exceptional cross field kick to put Diarmuid Kilgallan in for Munster’s first try before curling a beauty of a kick in from the right-hand side for the conversion.
Munster had to come from seven points behind early in the game and trailed in the second half at stages. The province fully deserved their win as they dominated the last half an hour. Charlie O’Shea’s second try and the bonus point score from Alex Kendellan sealed the deal in what was a much need win to kick start Munster’s season at home.
Munster were kept out well by the Bulls for the first 20 minutes and a penalty given away by O’Brien meant the Bulls could get up the field and they made no mistake with Ruan Vermaak crashing over the line to put them 7-0 up. An injury to Michael Milne forced him off early on and proved challenging for the Munster pack.
Munster bounced right back, getting down the field quickly after a great run from Brian Gleeson gave them a penalty advantage. O’Shea took that opportunity and played a masterful kick to the corner for Kilgallen to touch down. His conversion was equally special as he curled his right footed kick in from the right-hand side to level the game.
His night got even better on the 30-minute mark when he charged the kick and touched it down himself before slotting the conversion over under the posts to give Munster a 14-7 lead. The Bulls wasted no time and immediately responded with a try of their own from Francois Clopper after great work on the wing from ex-Munster player Thaakir Abrahams on 35 minutes.
A penalty early in the second half for the Bulls nudged them into a 17-14 lead. Munster responded after 55 minutes from significant pressure with O’Shea going over in the corner from a great maul that was just stopped short. Quick hands from Craig Casey put Munster in but this time O’Shea’s conversion just drifted wide leaving Munster in the lead 19-17.
Munster finished off the job after a great crashing run from Kendellen got Munster their well-earned bonus point. O’Shea put over the conversion in what would be his last act of the game to put Munster 26-17 in front with 10 minutes to go. The Bulls made a massive push and eventually pushed over after sustained pressure in the Munster 22 for their 3rd try, but the kick was missed to leave four points between the sides with only a few minutes left on the clock.
Munster held the South Africans at bay and got their first Bonus point victory of the season which pleased the crowd of over 10,000 that made the trip to Thomond Park. Munster will travel to Belfast next, to take on Ulster in the Affidea Stadium. Their first inter-pro derby of the year.
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
Munster
Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Seán O’Brien, Dan Kelly, Shay McCarthy; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey (capt); Michael Milne, Marnus van der Merwe, Jack Aungier; Tom Ahern, Evan O’Connell; Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson
Replacements: Kieran Brookes (for Van der Merwe, 60), Jeremy Loughman (for Milne, 7), Ronan Foxe (for Aungier, 60), Gavin Coombes (for Edogbo, 52), Alex Kendellen (for Hodnett, 57, HIA), Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Gordon Wood (for Kilgallen, 21)
Tries: Diarmuid Kilgallen, Charlie O’Shea (2), Alex Kendellen
Cons: Charlie O’Shea (3)
Bulls
Hakeem Kunene; Sebastian de Klerk, Stedman Gans, Stravino Jacobs, Thaakir Abrahams; Curwin Bosch, Zak Burger; Alu Tshakweni, Juann Else, Francois Klopper; Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig; Marcell Coetzee (capt), Hanro Liebenberg, Jeandre Rudolph
Replacements: Janco Uys (for Else, 65), Sti Sithole (for Tshakweni, 65), Khutha Mchunu (for Klopper, 65), JF van Heerden (for Ludwig, 65), Nizaam Carr (for Coetzee, 71), Paul de Wet (for Burger, 65), Cheswill Jooste (for Jacobs, 45), Willie le Roux (for Abrahams, 60)
Tries: Ruan Vermaak, Francois Klopper, Jeandre Rudolph
Cons: Curwin Bosch (2)
Pens: Curwin Bosch (1)