Ireland Club team head coach Tom Tierney has been forced into a late change for Friday’s clash with England Counties at Mowden Park RFC in Darlington. Declan Lavery will start in place of Christy Condon.
Following the Ireland Club XV’s impressive display against Scotland Clubs at Temple Hill, Tom Tierney has kept faith with the combinations that put 28 points passed the Scots.
Old Belvedere’s Daniel Riordan, who scored a brace against the Scots as man-of-the-match, continues at full-back.
Clontarf’s David Joyce resumes his half-back partnership with Cork Constitution scrum half Gerry Hurley who again captains the Irish side.
In a late change announced on Wednesday, Old Belvedere prop Declan Lavery will start in place of Christy Condon with Young Munster’s Hugh McGrath promoted to the bench.
Ballynahinch centre Stuart Morrow was one of the try scorers in Ireland’s 30-20 victory over England Counties in Cork last February.
Hurley, Morrow and forwards Colm McMahon and William Ryan all started against England twelve months ago.
Notably, Darragh Fanning, Craig Ronaldson and Ger Slattery also played in the Clubs-Counties match last year and have since gone on to be capped by Leinster, Connacht and Munster respectively.
Tierney, who won eight caps for Ireland, is in charge of the Ireland Club side for 2014. He is the current Garryowen head coach.
He is assisted by fellow former international Mick O’Driscoll who is part of the current Cork Con coaching team. Garryowen’s Seamus McDermott fills the role of team manager.
Tickets for Friday’s game at the Northern Echo Arena are priced at £5 (pre booked), £7 on the gate and it is free in for Under-16s. To book your ticket(s), please telephone 0044 (0)1325 350267 or email: info@mowdenpark.com.
IRELAND CLUB XV Team & Replacements (v England Counties, Club International Match, Northern Echo Arena, Darlington Mowden Park RFC, Friday, February 21, kick-off 7.30pm):
15. Daniel Riordan (Old Belvedere RFC)
14. Michael McGrath (Clontarf FC)
13. Stuart Morrow (Ballynahinch RFC)
12. Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
11. Cian Aherne (Lansdowne FC)
10. David Joyce (Clontarf FC)
9. Gerry Hurley (Cork Constitution FC) (capt)
1. Colm McMahon (St. Mary’s College RFC)
2. Tyrone Moran (Lansdowne FC)
3. Declan Lavery (Old Belvedere RFC)
4. Dean Moore (Old Belvedere RFC)
5. Fergal Walsh (Terenure College RFC)
6. Willie Earle (Lansdowne FC)
7. Charlie Butterworth (Lansdowne FC)
8. William Ryan (Cork Constitution FC)
Replacements:
16. Andrew O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution FC)
17. Ian Hirst (Clontarf FC)
18. Hugh McGrath (Young Munster RFC)
19. Sean Walsh (Cashel RFC)
20. James Ryan (Cork Constitution FC)
21. Neil Cronin (Garryowen FC)
22. Ritchie McMaster (Queen’s University RFC)
23. Barry Daly (UCD RFC)
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