A flying start from Gar Prendergast’s strong Munster A selection helped them to a nine-try 57-19 win over Connacht Eagles after an impressive performance in Galway on Friday.
Four tries in the first 22 minutes saw Munster A streak into a 26-0 lead that laid the groundwork
Academy hooker Max Clein and Academy centre Gordon Wood both scored a brace of tries in the first half with senior winger Shay McCarthy also touching down.
Tony Butler kicked three conversions to help Munster into a 31-5 half-time lead.
Connacht threatened a comeback when Ireland U20 winger Daniel Ryan scored early in the second half. Tries from Academy out-half Dylan Hicks, senior flanker Ruadhán Quinn, Academy lock Conor Kennelly and Academy hooker Danny Sheahan in the final quarter put the game to bed.
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Evan O’Connell captained Munster A and was one of 15 senior players named with nine Academy players and Young Munster’s Hubert Gilvarry also included in the 25-man squad.
The game saw Roman Salanoa return from injury and move a step closer to first team action.
Clein scored the first try within two minutes after streaking clear to score under the posts before Wood scored in the left corner after eight minutes.
McCarthy got in on the act after 18 minutes before the impressive Wood scored his second on 22 minutes.
Connacht hooker Mikey Yarr hit back for the hosts but Munster had the final say in the first half through Clein’s second.
Connacht scored first in the second half through Ryan as both sides rang the changes as Connacht moved to within 19 points.
Hicks and Quinn touched down as Munster rubber stamped the win with Tom Wood converting Hicks’ effort.
Aaron O’Brien scored for Connacht Eagles before Kennelly and Sheahan finished with a flourish as Wood converted both.
Munster A: Ben O’Connor (UCC); Thaakir Abrahams, Shay McCarthy (Young Munster), Gordon Wood (Garryowen), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Garryowen); Tony Butler (Young Munster), Ethan Coughlan (Shannon); Josh Wycherley (Young Munster), Max Clein (Garryowen), Conor Bartley (Young Munster); Evan O’Connell (C) (Young Munster), Conor Ryan (UCC); Michael Foy (Cork Constitution), Ruadhán Quinn (Young Munster), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen).
Replacements (all used): Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution), Mark Donnelly (Cork Constitution), Kieran Ryan (Young Munster), Roman Salanoa (Nenagh Ormond), Conor Kennelly (Highfield), Oisín Minogue (Shannon), Paddy Patterson (Cork Constitution), Tom Wood (Garryowen), Dylan Hicks (Cork Constitution), Hubert Gilvarry (Young Munster).