Munster XI 1-2 Sunderland

Martyn Waghorn experienced a mixed night as Sunderland's pre-season programme began with a 2-1 win over a Munster XI at Thomond Park.

Steve Bruce’s Black Cats were in Limerick to take part in a fundraiser for the Shane Geoghegan Trust.

The trust was launched by Sunderland chief executive Niall Quinn last October in memory of a young man shot dead in a case of mistaken identity, with the aims of providing children with an alternative to criminal or anti-social behaviour by making a range of sporting and cultural activities available to them.

Striker Waghorn hit both goals for the visitors but left the pitch on a stretcher in the final minute with an injury.

The Barclays Premier League side fielded a strong line-up featuring the likes of Kenwyne Jones, Andy Reid and Anton Ferdinand but fell behind inside 12 minutes as John Tierney rifled home.

Waghorn entered the fray at the interval and pulled the Black Cats level 15 minutes from time when he fired home from Steed Malbranque's pull-back, and the 20-year-old doubled his tally with a fine free-kick just two minutes later.

Sunderland's victory was soured in the closing stages when Waghorn suffered an awkward fall when stretching for the ball and was forced to leave the action.