Ireland U-19 Team Announced For Second France Game
The Ireland Under-19 team (sponsored by PwC) has been selected for the second of their two matches against France Under-19s at Templeville Road on Tuesday (kick-off 2pm).
With a 35-man squad at his disposal, head coach Colin McEntee has made wholesale changes to the team that defeated France 31-20 last Thursday.
The only player retained in the starting line-up is Campbell College’s Jack Owens, who switches from the left wing to outside centre where he partners Fergal Cleary.
Owens scored a cracking first half try during the sides’ first meeting, which was also held at the home ground of St. Mary’s College RFC.
Tuesday’s team is mostly made up of schools players with three members of Methody’s Ulster Schools Senior Cup-winning side set to start – out-half Josh Bingham and front rowers Michael Lagan and Steven Weir.
Munster Schools Cup winner Mike O’Donnell from Crescent College Comprehensive completes the front row, with Buccaneers’ Cian Romaine and Josh Davidson from Sullivan Upper Schools pairing up in the second row.
Cistercian College’s Marc Kelly is the second Connacht representative in the starting fifteen, featuring in the back row alongside Conor Oliver from Blackrock College and Sullivan Upper School’s Ross Todd, who captains Ireland from number 8.
The replacements bench includes forwards Jeremy Loughman, Alex Thompson and Stephen McVeigh, who all started against France last Thursday, and Garryowen’s Steven McMahon who played at full-back for the Munster Development XV recently.
In Pics: Ireland Under-19s 31 France Under-19s 20
IRELAND UNDER-19 Team & Replacements (v France, Under-19 International Match, Templeville Road, Tuesday, April 22, kick-off 2pm):
15. Stephen Fitzgerald (Ard Scoil Ris/Munster)
14. Greg O’Shea (Shannon/Munster)
13. Jack Owens (Campbell College/Ulster)
12. Fergal Cleary (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
11. Cian O’Donoghue (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
10. Josh Bingham (Methodist College/Ulster)
9. Conor Young (Instonians/Ulster)
1. Michael Lagan (Methodist College/Ulster)
2. Steven Weir (Methodist College/Ulster)
3. Mike O’Donnell (Crescent College Comprehensive/Munster)
4. Cian Romaine (Buccaneers/Connacht)
5. Josh Davidson (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster)
6. Marc Kelly (Cistercian College Roscrea/Connacht)
7. Conor Oliver (Blackrock College/Leinster)
8. Ross Todd (Sullivan Upper School/Ulster) (capt)
Replacements:
16. Pat O’Toole (Corinthians/Connacht)
17. Liam O’Connor (Christian Brothers Cork/Munster)
18. Jeremy Loughman (Blackrock College/Leinster)
19. Alex Thompson (Methodist College/Ulster)
20. Stephen McVeigh (Clongowes Wood College/Leinster)
21. Charlie Rock (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Tomas Quinlan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
23. Steven McMahon (Garryowen/Munster)
Ireland Under-19 Management Team:
Head Coach: Colin McEntee
Assistant Coach: Nigel Carolan
Scrum Coach: Conor Twomey
Team Manager: Barney McGonigle
Doctor: Tim O’Flanagan
Video Analyst: Vinny Hammond
Logistics Manager: Pat Downey
Kit Manager: Philip Keeley
Physio: Barry Smith
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Declan Browne
Squad Co-ordinator: Jessica Quigley
Ireland Under-19 Fixtures –
IRELAND UNDER-19s 31 France U-19s 20
Thursday, April 17
St Mary’s College RFC, Templeville Road
IRELAND UNDER-19s v France U-19s
Tuesday, April 22, kick-off 2pm
St. Mary’s College RFC, Templeville Road