IRFU Junior Men’s Interpros: Round 3 Preview

2024/25 IRFU JUNIOR MEN’S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 3:

Saturday, May 10 –

LEINSTER (3rd) v CONNACHT (4th), Balbriggan RFC, 2.30pm

Balbriggan RFC’s Bowhill ground is the venue for Leinster’s second home match of the Championship, as Enda Finn’s side aim to follow up on last week’s late heroics against Munster. Captain Eoghan Duffy dotted down right at the death to snatch a 26-23 win.

Boyne clubman Duffy has led by example with four tries, making him the competition’s top try scorer. Their only change in personnel this week sees Wexford Wanderers’ Richie Walters slot in the left wing for his debut.

There will be plenty of local support for Balbriggan’s own Graham Reynolds, who doubles up as forwards coach of the club’s Men’s team. Co. Carlow youngster Tadhg Ronan has been added to the bench.

While Leinster are level with Munster on six points, Kolo Kiripati’s Connacht outfit are hoping for a big performance on the road to end their losing run. Last week’s 30-point defeat to Ulster was a bruising one, leaving them with a few injuries.

Captain Marty Cummins is unfortunately sidelined for their Championship closer, leaving Creggs’ Brian Diffley to lead the westerners from number 8. Kiripati has made six personnel changes, including handing a start at hooker to his young son Nato.

Westport prop Brendan McLoughlin also comes in for his first start, with Buccaneers’ Sam Fogarty packing down behind him. Ronan Conneely, who has played for Galwegians in the Energia All-Ireland League, gets the nod at blindside flanker.

A rejigged back-three has Ethan Griffiths at full-back, with Dean O’Reilly switching wings and Tuam’s Liam Jones returning on the right. There is a first start at full-back for Sligo’s Jacob Fleming, who also has AIL experience.

LEINSTER: Eoghan Duffy (Boyne) (capt); Robbie Vallejo (Boyne), Craig Cantwell (Bective Rangers), Mikey Russell (Clondalkin), Richie Walters (Wexford Wanderers); Craig Miller (Athy), Stephen Hendy (Gorey); Scott Caldbeck (Tullow), Graham Reynolds (Balbriggan), Hugh Carolan (Boyne), Wes Shirley (Co. Carlow), Jake Caldbeck (Kilkenny), Dylan Lynch (Boyne), Conor Smyth (Cill Dara), Tiernan Gonnelly (Dundalk).

Replacements: Eoin Mahon (Seapoint), Dewald Bernard (Wicklow), Tadhg Ronan Co. Carlow), Gavin Kelly (Bective Rangers), Garry Dunne (Kilkenny), Dan Crotty (Co. Carlow), Matt McKenna (Seapoint), Cormac Hurley (Seapoint).

CONNACHT: Ethan Griffiths (Connemara); Liam Jones (Ballina), Conor O’Shaughnessy (Tuam), Eoghan Coyle (Creggs), Dean O’Reilly (Monivea); Shane Purcell (Creggs), Jacob Fleming (Sligo); Brendan McLoughlin (Westport), Kolo Kiripati Jr (Creggs), Sean O’Connell (Ballina), Sam Fogarty (Buccaneers), Liam McNamee (Carrick-on-Shannon), Ronan Conneely (Galwegians), James Brandon (Creggs), Brian Diffley (Creggs) (capt).

Replacements: Ross Bourke (Westport), Alex Burke (Galway Corinthians), Gary Keane (Corrib), Sean Connolly (Castlebar), Blayze Molloy (NUIG), Mark Dowd (Creggs), Ross Doogan (Galway Corinthians), Luke Cronin (Tuam).

ULSTER (1st) v MUNSTER (2nd), Dromore RFC, 2.30pm

Leaders Ulster have their destiny in their own hands, sitting on 10 points after two well-executed away victories over Leinster (49-41) and Connacht (30-0). They are just one win away from completing a Junior Interprovincial clean sweep for the second year running.

Ulster head coach Damien Campbell is keeping his players’ feet firmly on the ground, saying: “The effort the players have put in, both on and off the field, has been outstanding. They’ve truly earned the position they now find themselves in.

“One thing we’ve been very clear about is taking each game as it comes. We fully understand the challenge that comes with facing any Munster team. To get the result we need, we know we’ll have to be at the very top of our game.”

If Ulster seal the deal and become back-to-back champions, it is all the more impressive considering that Campbell has had 15 new caps during the first two rounds.

For their only home fixture of this year’s Championship, Ards’ Angus Christie replaces Drew Fleck at scrum half, and City of Derry’s Davy Graham returns on the left wing.

There are three changes to the tight five in the form of front rowers Orran McIlmurray (Lurgan) and Harry Long (Dromore), and Ballymoney lock David Brown. Enniskillen’s Michael Rooney switches from the second row to the back row.

Adam Guerin from St. Mary’s is promoted from the bench to lead the Munster back-line, alongside Newcastle West’s Aaron Rice. The latter’s club-mates, Shane Airey and Sean Murphy, both feature in the back-three.

Mallow’s Sam Glynn comes in on the left wing, and there is further Cork representation with Cobh Pirates’ Killian O’Connell selected at lock, and Bandon’s Josh Brady rewarded with a start at blindside flanker. Sonny Dwyer shifts to the openside berth.

Hooker Gearoid Walsh is standing by for a milestone appearance as a replacement. He is only Rugbaí Chorca Dhuibhne’s second ever Munster Junior Men’s player, following in the footsteps of Ciarán O Coileáin.

ULSTER: Michael Orr (Portadown); Jonny Hunter (Dromore), Robbie Johnston (Ards), Dean Dillon (Dromore), Davy Graham (City of Derry); Eddie Keys (Enniskillen), Angus Christie (Ards); Orran McIlmurray (Lurgan), Harry Long (Dromore), Matthew Millar (Dromore), James Wright (Portadown), David Brown (Ballymoney), Michael Rooney (Enniskillen), Curtis Pollock (Ballymoney) (capt), Gary Dillon (Dromore).

Replacements: Tom-Arthur Donnan (Cooke), Neil Rutledge (Enniskillen), Ryan Emerson (Lurgan), Will Scott (Ballymoney), Jack Rutledge (Enniskillen), Angus Keys (Enniskillen), Andrew McMurray (Cooke), Adam Keating (Dromore).

MUNSTER: Shane Airey (Newcastle West); Sean Murphy (Newcastle West), Brian J O’Sullivan (Kanturk), Laszlo Rabatin (Old Christians), Sam Glynn (Mallow); Adam Guerin (St. Mary’s), Aaron Rice (Newcastle West); Nigel Clancy (Richmond), Tadgh McCarthy (Bantry Bay), Dave Jennings (Clonakilty), Ruairi O’Donnell (St. Mary’s), Killian O’Connell (Cobh Pirates), Josh Brady (Bandon), Sonny Dwyer (Thurles), Kevin Kinane (Kilfeacle & District) (capt).

Replacements: Gearoid Walsh (Rugbaí Chorca Dhuibhne), Rob Loftus (Sunday’s Well), Cian Walsh (Old Christians), Ben Kennedy (Cobh Pirates), Jack Lonergan (Old Christians), Ben Daly (Waterpark), Brian P O’Sullivan (Kanturk), Frank Horgan (Muskerry).

Round 1 Results Round-Up

Round 2 Results Round-Up

TOP SCORERS AFTER ROUND 2:

POINTS –

29 – Eddie Keys (Ulster)

21 – Shane Airey (Munster)

20 – Eoghan Duffy (Leinster)

15 – Henry Keys (Ulster)

10 – Kevin Kinane (Munster), Oisin McKenna (Leinster), Robbie Johnston (Ulster)

8 – Michael Briscoe (Leinster)

5 – Angus Christie (Ulster), Ben Daly (Munster), Brian J O’Sullivan (Munster), Brian P O’Sullivan (Munster), Davy Graham (Ulster), Graham Reynolds (Leinster), Isaac Porter (Leinster), Jack Rutledge (Ulster), Jake Caldbeck (Leinster), Kolo Kiripati Jr (Connacht), Laszlo Rabatin (Munster), Michael Orr (Ulster), Sam Balfour (Ulster)

4 – Adam Guerin (Munster), Craig Miller (Leinster)

3 – Hugh Duignan (Leinster), Shane Purcell (Connacht)

TRIES –

4 – Eoghan Duffy (Leinster)

3 – Henry Keys (Ulster)

2 – Kevin Kinane (Munster), Oisin McKenna (Leinster), Robbie Johnston (Ulster)

1 – Angus Christie (Ulster), Ben Daly (Munster), Brian J O’Sullivan (Munster), Brian P O’Sullivan (Munster), Davy Graham (Ulster), Graham Reynolds (Leinster), Isaac Porter (Leinster), Jack Rutledge (Ulster), Jake Caldbeck (Leinster), Kolo Kiripati Jr (Connacht), Laszlo Rabatin (Munster), Michael Orr (Ulster), Sam Balfour (Ulster)