Categories: Ireland U18

Changes Made To Under-18 Clubs Side

The Ireland Under-18 Clubs team (sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers) to face France in the Group A final of the FIRA-AER U-18 European Championship has been named.

The Ireland U-18 Clubs side won through to the final following a hard-fought 19-11 win over Georgia in the semi-final at the Casale Sul Sile Stadium in Treviso on Wednesday.

That semi-final victory followed an opening game win for Greg Lynch’s youngsters over Germany by 20-11.

The Irish management has opted to make three changes to the starting side that played against Georgia.

Centre Michael Sherlock picked up an injury in the semi-final and has been replaced by Christopher Farrell, who starts at inside centre, with Thomas Daly moving to outside centre.

Charles Gallagher comes into the back row in place of Conor Clancy and the left wing berth goes to Shane Layden who starts in place of Joe Keane.

Saturday’s final will be played at Stadio Comunale di Monigo – the home of Benetton Treviso.

It will be the third time in four years that Ireland and France have clashed in the FIRA-AER Group A decider, with France the victors in the previous two encounters.

IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS Team & Replacements (v France Under-18s, FIRA-AER U-18 European Championship Group A final, Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso, Saturday, April 3, kick-off 4.15pm local time (3.15pm Irish time)):

15. Callum Boland (Buccaneers – Connacht)
14. Ferdia Kenny (Presentation Bray/Greystones – Leinster)
13. Thomas Daly (Carlow – Leinster)
12. Christopher Farrell (Clogher Valley – Ulster)
11. Shane Layden (Cistercian Coll. Roscrea – Connacht)
10. Grant Connon (Newcastle Falcons – Exiles)
9. Kieran Marmion (Kirkham GS – Exiles)
1. Kieran Ball (Wellington College/Saracens – Exiles)
2. Jonathan Murphy (Banbridge – Ulster)
3. Tadhg Furlong (New Ross – Leinster) (capt)
4. Conor Kindregan (Monivea – Connacht)
5. Alan O’Connor (Skerries – Leinster)
6. Daniel Mannion (Wicklow – Leinster)
7. Charles Gallagher (Banbridge – Ulster)
8. Eoghan Masterson (Portlaoise – Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Jake Considine (Young Munster – Munster)
17. Tom Margetson (Wellington College – Exiles)
18. Christopher Tonge (Skerries – Leinster)
19. Conor Ryan (Navan – Leinster)
20. Akhlaque Khan (Navan – Leinster)
21. Conor Clancy (Stoneyhurst College/London Irish – Exiles)
22. Jack Walsh (London Wasps – Exiles)
23. Jack Carty (Buccaneers – Connacht)
24. Joe Keane (UL Bohemians – Connacht)
25. Cian McGovern (Crosshaven – Munster)
26. Michael Sherlock (Skerries – Leinster)