Ireland Club Team Named For Dalriada Cup Clash
The Ireland Club Team to play their Scottish counterparts in Millbrae, Ayr on Friday night (kick-off 7.30pm) has been named. The Ireland Club XV will be defending the Dalriada Cup which they won last season.
The 23-man Ireland squad shows eight changes, including six new caps, to the side which defeated England 30-20 Counties last month.
Gerry Hurley of Cork Constitution will again captain the team and he has a new half-back partner as Gavin Dunne of St. Mary’s College comes in for his first cap.
Richie Mullane is again selected at full-back with Cian Aherne and Darragh Fanning on the wings and Stuart Morrow and Killian Lett forming the centre partnership.
Colm McMahon, Risteard Byrne and Kevin Griffin will combine in the front row. Clontarf’s Simon Crawford has been ruled out through injury, so Brian Quill from UCC will make his debut alongside Ben Reilly in the second row.
The back row is unchanged with William Ryan and Danny Kenny packing down alongside the experienced Frank Cogan.
Among the replacements, Charlie Butterworth, Shane Grannell, Darragh Lyons and Foster Horan are all in line to win their first Club International caps.
IRELAND CLUB XV Team & Replacements (v Scotland Club XV, Dalriada Cup, Millbrae, Ayr, Friday, March 8, kick-off 7.30pm):
15. Richie Mullane (Shannon)
14. Cian Aherne (Lansdowne)
13. Killian Lett (Clontarf)
12. Stuart Morrow (Ballynahinch)
11. Darragh Fanning (St. Mary’s College)
10. Gavin Dunne (St. Mary’s College) *
9. Gerry Hurley (Cork Constitution) (capt)
1. Colm McMahon (St. Mary’s College)
2. Ristead Byrne (UCD)
3. Kevin Griffin (Shannon)
4. Brian Quill (UCC) *
5. Ben Reilly (Clontarf)
6. William Ryan (UCC)
7. Danny Kenny (UCD)
8. Frank Cogan (Clontarf)
Replacements:
16. Pat O’Regan (Old Belvedere)
17. Richie Sweeney (St. Mary’s College)
18. Charlie Butterworth (Lansdowne) *
19. Shane Grannell (UCD) *
20. Sam Cronin (Clontarf)
21. Darragh Lyons (Cork Constitution) *
22. Foster Horan (Lansdowne) *
* Denotes uncapped player