Hurley Starts For Ireland Club Side
The Ireland Club team to play England Counties in the Ulster Bank Club International match at Anglesea Road on Friday shows one change to the side that beat Scotland last weekend.
Cork Constitution’s Gerry Hurley will start at scrum half with Matt D’Arcy of St. Mary’s College named among the replacements.
Hurley will partner Dolphin’s Barry Keeshan in the half-backs. Evan Ryan, now with Clontarf but previously with Cork Constitution, partners Eric Moloney in the centre to increase the Cork influence.
John O’Brien, John Cleary and David Mongan again comprise a potent back-three.
Up front, head coach David O’Mahony has retained the same pack that helped power the Club side to 32-30 victory over the Scottish Clubs last weekend.
The back row of Hugh Hogan, Barry O’Mahony and team captain Frank Cogan may again prove influential as Ireland’s Ulster Bank League stars face a strong England Counties side.
The game kicks off at 5.30pm at Anglesea Road, the home of Old Belvedere RFC, and promises to be a cracking contest.
Ireland beat the England Counties outfit 20-17 at Donnybrook in 2007, the sides drew 13-13 at the same venue in 2009 and last year saw the English claim a 29-25 victory at Stourbridge RFC.
You can pay at the gate on Friday evening – admission is 10 euro for adults and 5 euro for children/OAPs.
ULSTER BANK CLUB INTERNATIONAL Team & Replacements (v England Counties XV, Anglesea Road, Friday, March 18, kick-off 5.30pm):
15. John O’Brien (Buccaneers)
14. John Cleary (Galwegians)
13. Eric Moloney (Dolphin)
12. Evan Ryan (Clontarf)
11. David Mongan (Old Belvedere)
10. Barry Keeshan (Dolphin)
9. Gerry Hurley (Cork Constitution)
1. John Ryan (UCC)
2. Richie Sweeney (St. Mary’s College)
3. Christy Condon (Dolphin)
4. Philip Donnellan (UCC)
5. Simon Crawford (Clontarf)
6. Hugh Hogan (St. Mary’s College)
7. Barry O’Mahony (Clontarf)
8. Frank Cogan (Cork Constitution) (capt)
Replacements:
16. Ciaran Kavanagh (Clontarf)
17. Ger Slattery (Young Munster)
18. Liam Og Murphy (Young Munster)
19. Damian Hall (St. Mary’s College)
20. Matt D’Arcy (St. Mary’s College)
21. Alan Kingsley (Young Munster)
22. Stuart Morrow (Ballynahinch)
* Denotes uncapped player at this level
Ireland Management Team:
David O’Mahony – Head Coach
Pat McHale – Team Manager
Andy Wood – Assistant Coach
Eugene McEntegart – Strength & Conditioning Coach
William Duggan – Doctor
Ailbe McCormack – Doctor
Pat Downey/Jim Barden – Bagmen
Related Links –
Dalriada Cup Success For Ireland Club Team