Ireland U-20s Beat Leinster Opponents

The Ireland Under-20s defeated a Leinster Development side 40-15 in the annual challenge match at Donnybrook on Thursday afternoon.

ANNUAL TRAINING MATCH: Thursday, December 22

LEINSTER DEVELOPMENT XV 15 IRELAND UNDER-20s 40, Donnybrook

Scorers: Leinster Development XV: Tries: Jack O’Connell, David Doyle, Darren Hudson
Ireland U-20s: Tries: Conor Gilsenan, Cathal Marsh, Barry Daly, Jack Carty, Jack Conan, Kieran Marmion; Cons: Cathal Marsh 3, Jack Carty 2

Ireland Under-20 captain Conor Gilsenan swept through for a second minute try following a block down by Daniel Qualter. It was converted by the impressive Cathal Marsh to get proceedings underway.

Out-half Marsh then converted his own try nine minutes later to assert an early spell of pressure by Mike Ruddock’s young side.

Leading 14-0, they looked potent but gradually Leinster clawed their way back into the game and were rewarded with a Jack O’Connell try after 25 minutes.

But as the first half wore on, the Ireland U-20s began to threaten once more. Centre Barry Daly took a wonderfully weighted pass from Marsh, who had back a clearance kick, to race clear and show good pass to score at the Bective end of the ground, with Marsh converting, to make it 21-5 at the interval.

A raft of substitutions on both sides at half-time gave opportunities to virtually two new teams and the break had the desired effect for Leinster with first hooker David Doyle (45 minutes) and then Darren Hudson (50), who did superbly well to keep the ball alive firstly and then capitalise on a kick and chase, to make it 21-15.

But the recovery was short-lived and the Ireland U-20s scored three late tries. Jack Carty exposed some loose defending in the 64th minute after good work from the pack and Jack Conan then followed him over, having intercepted a pass on halfway and charging over from 50 metres out.

Both of those tries were converted by Carty and finally the electric Kieran Marmion rounded off a fine win by taking a quick tap inside his own half and weaving his way away from the Leinster cover to score a terrific individual try.

It was a sharp and cohesive display from Ruddock’s charges, with Marsh, Daly and Tadhg Leader standing out in the backs during the first 40 minutes and Qualter and Aaron Conneely, both returning from last season’s squad, excelling up front.

LEINSTER DEVELOPMENT XV: Darren Hudson (St. Mary’s College); Mark Corballis (Old Belvedere), Alex Kelly (UCD), Collie O’Shea (Clontarf), Andrew Boyle (UCD); Noel Reid (Clontarf), Patrick O’Driscoll (Lansdowne); Jack O’Connell (Lansdowne), Tom Sexton (Lansdowne), Martin Moore (Lansdowne), Neilus Keogh (Lansdowne), Jerry Sexton (St. Mary’s College), Ciaran Ruddock (St. Mary’s College) (capt), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne), Eoghan Masterson (Clontarf).

Replacements (all used): David Doyle (UCD), Adam Clarkin (UCD), James Tracy (UCD), Conor Owende (Old Belvedere), Michael Oyuga (Old Belvedere), Brian du Toit (Dublin University), Aaron Sheehan (Old Belvedere), Craig Ronaldson (Lansdowne), Stephen Murphy (UCD), Daniel Ruddock (Seapoint).

IRELAND UNDER-20: Shane Layden (Buccaneers/Connacht); Conor Finn (Buccaneers/Connacht), Barry Daly (UCD/Leinster), Tadhg Leader (Galwegians/Connacht), Callum Boland (Buccaneers/Connacht); Cathal Marsh (Dublin University/Leinster), Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster); Des Merrey (CLontarf/Leinster), James Rael (Garryowen/Munster), Peter Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster), Conor Kindregan (UL Bohemians/Connacht), Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht), Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster), Conor Gilsenan (UCD/Leinster) (capt), Aaron Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht).

Replacements (all used): Stephen MacAuley (Exiles), Foster Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Paddy Lavelle (Dublin University/Leinster), Sam Coghlan Murray (UCD/Leinster), Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), Diarmuid Higgins (Buccaneers/Connacht), Alan O’Connor (UCD/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jordan Coghlan (UCD/Leinster)

Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)