PwC Under-18 Boys Clubs Interpros – Round 2 Previews
Leinster U-18 Clubs out-half Josh O'Keeffe passes to two-try winger Tadg Young during their first round encounter with Ulster in Belfast last Sunday ©John Dickson/Dickson Digital
After conceding six tries to Leinster, Ulster must make home advantage count against Munster in the second round of the PwC Under-18 Boys Clubs Interprovincial Championship. Connacht visit Energia Park on Sunday for a top of the table clash.
PwC Under-19 Boys Clubs Interpros: Player Rankings – Top Tens After Round 1
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEINSTER | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 21 | +24 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| CONNACHT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 14 | +6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| MUNSTER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| ULSTER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 45 | -24 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
PWC UNDER-19 BOYS CLUBS INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 2:
Saturday, August 23 –
ULSTER U-18 CLUBS (4th) v MUNSTER U-18 CLUBS (3rd), Newforge, 3pm
Ulster Under-18 Clubs head coach Daryl Maxwell has backed the same starting XV to lift their performance levels from last Sunday’s 45-21 defeat to Leinster. Banbridge’s Fynn Niblock is the only change among the replacements.
City of Armagh flanker Harry Dougan put in a strong 70 minutes in the opening round, leading by example as Ulster’s captain. He is supported in the province’s leadership group by two vice-captains in the back-line, Sam Harper and Joe Coates.
Larne’s Jonnie Kennedy continues at half-back alongside Harper, while Academy duo Elias Agbonkpolor, the scorer of Ulster’s opening try of the campaign, and Josh McColgan will pack down again with Lisburn tighthead Joel Irwin in the front row.
Caiden Slaughter and Coates landed three dominant tackles each against defending champions Leinster. Virginia forward James Lennon impressed off the bench with a brace of tries, and remains in an impact role for this weekend’s visit of third-placed Munster.
Meanwhile, Munster U-18 Clubs boss Gerry Casey has made two personnel changes behind the scrum, bringing in Tralee’s Dave Sargent at ful-back, and Davyn Maher, who kicked a late conversion against Connacht, at out-half.
There has been quite a reshuffle in Munster’s back-line where Nenagh Ormond’s Diarmuid Gleeson switches to the left wing with Darragh Carroll now stationed on the right. Sean O’Regan has moved one place out to partner Cillian O’Flynn in the centre.
O’Regan’s Old Christians team-mate, Maher, will combine at half-back with Waterpark’s Edward Breen. Castleisland representative Michael Griffin, who starts again at number 8, was the first round’s joint-leading ball carrier with a dozen carries.
Alex Reddin, a try scorer during the 20-14 loss to Connacht, makes way at openside flanker for Waterford City’s Alan Phelan. Ewan Knowles, who stood out for Clonakilty Community College in last season’s Munster Schools Junior Cup, has been added to the matchday 23.
ULSTER U-18 CLUBS: Alfie Clarke (Dromore High School/Dromore RFC); Luke McMillan (Coleraine Grammar School/Ballymoney RFC), Joe Coates (Coleraine Grammar School/Coleraine RFC), Ryan Hamilton (Royal School Armagh/Dungannon RFC), Lorcan McLarnon (Rainey Endowed School/Rainey RFC); Jonnie Kennedy (Larne Grammar School/Larne RFC), Sam Harper (Omagh Academy/Omagh Accies RFC); Elias Agbonkpolor (Belfast Royal Academy/Academy RFC), Josh McColgan (Ballyclare High School/Academy RFC), Joel Irwin (Friends’ School/Lisburn RFC), Alfie Lucy (Enniskillen Royal Grammar School/Enniskillen RFC), Tyrese Dunlop (Ballymena RFC), Austin Adair (Ballyclare High School/Academy RFC), Harry Dougan (Royal School Armagh/City of Armagh RFC) (capt), Caiden Slaughter (Carrickfergus RFC).
Replacements: Ashton Hassard (Omagh Academy/Strabane RFC), Noah Carson (Ballymena RFC), Dylan Byrne (Dungannon RFC), James Lennon (Virginia RFC), Fynn Niblock (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge RFC), Ben Todd (Coleraine Grammar School/Coleraine RFC), Scott Henderson (Friends’ School/Ballynahinch RFC), Lewis McIvor (Omagh Academy/Omagh Accies RFC).
MUNSTER U-18 CLUBS: Dave Sargent (Tralee RFC); Darragh Carroll (Mallow RFC), Cillian O’Flynn (Bandon RFC), Sean O’Regan (Old Christians RFC), Diarmuid Gleeson (Nenagh Ormond RFC); Davyn Maher (Old Christians RFC), Edward Breen (Waterpark RFC); Dara O’Brien (Newcastle West RFC), Calum Tutty (Dungarvan RFC) (capt), Jonathan Tutty (Dungarvan RFC), Daniel Moloney (Ennis RFC), Alex Ryan (Clanwilliam FC), Daniel Ward (Bantry Bay RFC), Alan Phelan (Waterford City RFC), Michael Griffin (Castleisland RFC).
Replacements: William Hanley (Fermoy RFC), Patrick O’Connor (Kilfeacle & District RFC), Ronan Maher (Nenagh Ormond RFC), PJ Walsh (Clonmel RFC), Alex Reddin (Waterpark RFC), Devyn Duggan (St. Senan’s RFC), Ewan Knowles (Clonakilty RFC), Liam Kelleher (Old Christians RFC), Ruben O’Riordan (Youghal RFC), Conor Cogan (Highfield RFC).
Sunday, August 24 –
LEINSTER U-18 CLUBS (1st) v CONNACHT U-18s (2nd), Energia Park, 1pm
The second round action concludes on Sunday afternoon with the meeting of the two victorious teams from last week. Ken Moore’s Leinster side got off to a strong start with a maximum haul in Belfast, leading into their only home match.
Leading their four changes in personnel is Portlaoise’s Éanna Moynihan, who is rewarded with the number 8 jersey following his two-try performance off the bench against Ulster. His inclusion sees Cillian McElwee move to openside flanker, with Isaac O’Neill making way.
The young Blues’ second row is also altered with Aidan Tamming joined this week by Ciaran Dunne, while Skerries’ Alan Higgins now fills the blindside berth.
David Cron, one of the double try scorers in the 45-21 opening victory, will have Newbridge’s Turlough Donnelly alongside him in a new-look centre partnership. Michael Redmond from Tullow features at full-back for the province’s second outing.
Dundalk prop Tadgh Halpenny captains Leinster from the front row, and four of the replacements are set for their first involvement in the competition – Jack Power, Boyne forward Juwon Adeoye, Dan Whelan, and Suttonians outside back Sirio Scalabrino Noone.
Meanwhile, Sligo prop Reuben Galvan has been promoted from the bench to start at loosehead for the Connacht Under-18s. Their predecessors lost 22-14 at home to Leinster last year.
Galway Corinthians’ Ruben Flynn started that game twelve months ago at number 8, and will do so again in Donnybrook on Sunday. Along with Galvan’s inclusion, Galwegians lock Micheál Walsh is also a new addition to the starting pack.
Head coach Diarmuid Codyre has made tweaks to the back-three, bringing in Monivea’s Shane Lally on the left wing. Buccaneers’ Owen Egan, the scorer of the westerners’ second try against Munster, switches to the right side of the pitch.
Flynn’s back row colleague, Rueben Colleran, was a talismanic figure as captain during that 20-14 success at Creggs RFC. Clifden youngster Joseph Boote comes in as a bench option this week, with James Siva and Dan Kelly dropping down for impact roles.
LEINSTER U-18 CLUBS: Michael Redmond (Tullow RFC); Tadg Young (Sutonians RFC), David Cron (De La Salle Palmerston FC), Turlough Donnelly (Newbridge RFC), Franklin Onwuzulumba (Clondalkin RFC); Josh O’Keeffe (Newbridge RFC), James Walls (Skerries RFC); Aiden McGovern (Boyne RFC), Harry Heagney (Clontarf FC), Tadgh Halpenny (Dundalk RFC) (capt), Aidan Tamming (Naas RFC), Ciaran Dunne (Portlaoise RFC), Alan Higgins (Skerries RFC), Cillian McElwee (Kilkenny RFC), Éanna Moynihan (Portlaoise RFC).
Replacements: Seamus Whelan (Balbriggan RFC), Philip Murphy (New Ross RFC), Jack Power (MU Barnhall RFC), Juwon Adeoye (Boyne RFC), Harvey Butler (Skerries RFC), Byron O’Hara (Terenure College RFC), Dan Whelan (Portlaoise RFC), Sirio Scalabrino Noone (Suttonians RFC).
CONNACHT U-18: Cian Hynes (Tuam RFC/St. Jarlath’s College); Owen Egan (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College), Darragh Glennon (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College), John Brendan McDonnell (Galway Bay RFC/St. Joseph’s Patrician College), Shane Lally (Monivea RFC/Presentation College Athenry); Dylan Curran (Galway Bay RFC/Coláiste Chroí Mhuire), Luke Molloy (Galway Corinthians RFC/Presentation College Athenry); Reuben Galvan (Sligo Rugby/Sligo Grammar School), Hugh Óg Arnold (Sligo Rugby/Summerhill College), Corey Kelly (Tuam RFC/St. Jarlath’s College), Micheál Walsh (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Iognáid), JJ Phillips (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Iognáid), Rueben Colleran (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) (capt), Alastair Hewson (Carrick-on-Shannon RFC/Sligo Grammar School), Ruben Flynn (Galway Corinthians RFC/Cistercian College Roscrea).
Replacements: Felix Zeray (Westport RFC/Rice College Westport), James Siva (Galway Bay RFC/St. Joseph’s Patrician College), Daithí Lambe (Cashel RFC/Rockwell College), Joseph Boote (Connemara RFC/Galway Bay RFC/Clifden Community School), Cian Kiernan (Creggs RFC/CBS Roscommon), Connor O’Reilly (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Iognáid), Brian McHugh (Galway Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Bhaile Chláir), Dan Kelly (Creggs RFC/Coláiste Mhuire Ballygar).
PWC UNDER-18 BOYS CLUBS INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS/FIXTURES –
Saturday, August 16 –
Connacht 20 Munster 14, Creggs RFC
Sunday, August 17 –
Ulster 21 Leinster 45, Affidea Stadium
Saturday, August 23 –
Ulster v Munster, Newforge, 3pm
Sunday, August 24 –
Leinster v Connacht, Energia Park, 1pm
Saturday, August 30 –
Connacht v Ulster, Creggs RFC, 3pm
Sunday, August 31 –
Munster v Leinster, Virgin Media Park, 2.30pm