Scrum Half McCarthy To Captain Leinster ‘A’ Against Ulster ‘A’

Leinster ‘A’ face their Ulster counterparts at Donnybrook on Saturday (kick-off 7pm) after the province’s GUINNESS PRO12 derby match against Munster at the Aviva Stadium.

Nick McCarthy will captain the Leinster ‘A’ team from scrum half for tomorrow’s ‘A’ interprovincial friendly at Donnybrook, with fellow former Ireland Under-20 international Cathal Marsh named at out-half.

Four Year One Academy players are named in the back-line. Hugo Keenan and Terry Kennedy will start on the wings, with Jack Power featuring at full-back. Jimmy O’Brien starts at outside centre alongside Ireland Sevens captain Tom Daly.

There is PRO12, and indeed European experience, in the Leinster front row as Peter Dooley (24 senior caps), Bryan Byrne (15 senior caps) and Jeremy Loughman (three senior caps) are all selected to start.

Jack Regan will have Mick Kearney alongside him in the second row, while in the back row Dominic Ryan will link up with Will Connors and Max Deegan, the 2016 World Rugby Under-20 Championship Player of the Tournament.

There are nine players named among the replacements for tomorrow’s ‘A’ game, including senior squad member Hayden Triggs. Tickets will be available on the gate at Donnybrook.

LEINSTER ‘A’ (v Ulster ‘A’): Jack Power; Terry Kennedy, Jimmy O’Brien, Tom Daly, Hugo Keenan; Cathal Marsh, Nick McCarthy (capt); Peter Dooley, Bryan Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, Mick Kearney, Jack Regan, Dominic Ryan, Will Connors, Max Deegan.

Replacements: Sean McNulty, Andrew Porter, Oisin Heffernan, Hayden Triggs, Oisin Dowling, Peadar Timmins, Charlie Rock, Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour.