Academy 2017/2018

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster U18 Schools (v Musnter U18 Schools, 9th September, Cork IT, KO 4pm)

15. Sam Dardis(Terenure) VICE-CAPTAIN
14. Tom Maher(Blackrock)
13. Ross McInness(Terenure)
12. Mick O’Gara(Pres Bray)
11. John Maher(Clongowes)
10. Cian Egenton(Castleknock)
9. Ben Murphy(Pres Bray)
1. Conor Duff(Clongowes)
2. Jerry Cahir(Roscrea)
3. Luke Rigney(Roscrea)
4. Jody Booth(St.Michaels)
5. Cian Prendergast(Newbridge) CAPTAIN
6. Anthony Ryan(Clongowes)
7. Jack Cooke(Terenure)
8. Ed Brennan(Blackrock)

Replacements
16. Bobby Sheehan(Clongowes)
17. Simon Clear(Gonzaga)
18. Thomas Clarkson(Blackrock)
19. Gavin Dowling(Clongowes)
20. Ethan Baxter(Gerards)
21. Adam McEvoy(St. Marys)
22. Ben Watson(Gerards)
23. Max O’Reilly(Gerards)

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster U18 Schools 23 Munster 12
Leinster U18 Clubs 45 Ulster 0
Leinster U19 59 Ulster 15

[dropkick]

Any names to look out for this season or is it too early to say?

[mildlyinterested]

Any names to look out for this season or is it too early to say?

in regards to?

who might join academy next summer?
who to watch for in the academy?
something else?

[dropkick]

Any names to look out for this season or is it too early to say?

in regards to?

who might join academy next summer?
who to watch for in the academy?
something else?

Any U20s looking like they'll make the Ireland squad?

[mildlyinterested]

Any names to look out for this season or is it too early to say?

in regards to?

who might join academy next summer?
who to watch for in the academy?
something else?

Any U20s looking like they'll make the Ireland squad?

Be surprised if the following didn't, assuming health:

Jordan Duggan(LH Prop/Naas)
Ronan Kelleher(Hooker/Lansdowne)
Jack Aungier(TH Prop/Clontarf)
Jack Dunne(Second Row/DUFC)
Caelan Doris(Backrow/St. Marys)
Hugh O'Sullivan(Scrumhalf/DUFC)
Conor Dean(Outhalf/St. Marys)
Tommy O'Brien(Centre/UCD)
Michael Silvester(Back Three/DUFC)

Squad will be dominated by Leinster/Ulster IMO.

Top U19's out of school:

Charlie Ryan(Second Row)
Harry Byrne(Outhalf)

[mildlyinterested]

Coach Dan van Zyl would have warned against the spectre of complacency given Ulster’s poor recent history in this competition.

Leinster looked to get out of the blocks sharply and let their forwards, led by captain Luke Thompson, take the fight to their hosts.

They were merciless in their approach, right wing Matthew Jungmann exploiting the short side for the opening try and scrum-half Shane Murphy converting as early as the fourth minute.

The solid work of the forwards was rewarded when second row Fionn Gilbert burst over for Murphy to add the extras in the 15th minute.

The impression that the back three looked dangerous on the ball was supported by full-back Diarmuid Egan’s finish down the left hand side for Murphy to convert.

The one-way traffic continued with a penalty from Murphy on the half hour.

Then, Leinster raided down the right-hand side for wing Josh O’Connor to show his pace for Murphy to stretch the lead to an unassailable 31-0 lead at the break.

Thereafter, the accuracy suffered from multiple replacements as Leinster cleared the bench as Gilbert showed up to sell two dummies for his second try.

The game was closed out by replacement prop Jordan Kelly, Murphy making it six out of six conversions to round off an impressive start to the three-match campaign.

In truth, the Clubs have been showing improvement in all their preparatory games and this was proof positive that they are on the right road.

“We had Belvedere College, The Exiles and Blackrock College in the lead-in to the series,” said Team Manager Louis Magee.

“Blackrock was probably the defining one for us, winning that game gave us a decent standard to work from.

“We stuck to our game plan to keep width on our game and work through our processes.

“We made few mistakes in very wet conditions and had the game in hand at half-time.”

Coach Van Zyl will take the show on the road out west to Connacht in Galway next Saturday where the plan is to keep on doing what they have been doing.

“We can’t get too ahead of ourselves. We will focus on Connacht. They are always tough at the Sportsground.”

At Armagh RFC – ULSTER 0; LEINSTER 45 (F Gilbert 2 tries; M Jungmann, D Egan, J O’Connor, J Kelly try each; S Murphy pen, 6 cons).

Leinster U18 Clubs

15. Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore)
14. Matthew Jungmann (Seapoint)
13. Luis Faria (Wanderers) / Thomas O’Brien (Skerries) 35 mins;
12. Karl Martin (Boyne)
11. Josh O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers)
10. Paddy McKenzie (Wicklow) / Adam Nealon (DLSP) 46 mins
9. Shane Murphy (Skerries) / Jack Ussher (Suttonians) 45 mins
1. Marcus Hannon (Clane) / Sean O’Rourke (Athy) 52 mins
2. Barry Ryan (Wexford) / Mark Nicholson (Wicklow) 46 mins
3. Michael Power (Clontarf) / Jordan Kelly (Enniscorthy) 45 mins
4. Fion Gilbert (Clontarf)
5. Sam Porter (Wicklow)
6. Brian Deeney (Wexford Wanderers) / Robert Murphy (Gorey) 45 mins
7. Luke Thompson (Wicklow, Capt)
8. David Murphy (Blackrock College) / Tadgh Butler (Kilkenny) 20 mins

Leinster u18 clubs win.

[mildlyinterested]

Munster posted some interpro highlights, includes some leinster tries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BsapX1Qzc0

[mildlyinterested]

Coaches Andy Wood and Simon Broughton made three changes to the side which squeezed past Munster bringing in wing Adam La Grue, tight-head Conan Dunne and number eight Dan O’Donovan.

The feeling out process produced a penalty for Leinster. They went through their phases and Ulster lost their patience at a ruck for centre David Ryan to kick three in the third minute.

The concession of two quick penalties was all the invitation Ulster needed to come forward.

They were relentless in their driving game, the ball finally moved right for wing Mark Thompson to dive in at the corner for 5-3 in the seventh minute.

Strong pressure from loose forwards Scott Penny and Dan O’Donovan resulted in a knock-on for an attacking scrum which was well defended by Ulster.

The visitors blew the chance to extend their lead when fine counter-rucking was undone by a player speaking out of turn to the referee.

The remarkable capacity of out-half David Hawkshaw to withstand a hit and keep going created a penalty when full-back Michael O’Neill didn’t release after the tackle for Ryan to edge Leinster back in front.

Second row Adam Melia’s failure to hold the restart was compounded by Ryan Baird instinctively playing the ball from in front, only for out-half Bruce Houston’s kick to slide right of the posts.

A cracking tackle from loose-head Niall McEniff was matched by the burst of Ulster captain Clayton Milligan.

The visitors were growing into the game, illustrated by the short passing of their forwards, like prop Paul McGookin.

They came calling with intent and forced a five-metre lineout which flanker Matthew Crowther could not gather.

The Ulster centres David Lyttle and Stewart Moore were proving a real handful, the latter spinning a miracle ball for left wing Jonny Hunter to require Adam La Grue to be sharp in defence.

When Leinster did react, Penny could not quite break free of the clutches of fly-half Houston.

It took a stupendous piece of work on the floor by Liam Turner to garner a penalty, Hawkshaw finding touch inside the 22.

There was a fine take from Ryan Baird at the lineout, a controlled maul, significant drive from O’Donovan and sure hands across the line for Ruairi Shields to fly to the left corner.

Ryan’s conversion from the left touchline was a thing of beauty on the half hour.

The response was swift, Ulster moving well enough to force a penalty which Houston nailed for 13-8 right on half-time.

It was all to play for and Baird’s thundering carry took Leinster out of trouble.

The intervention of Reuben Pim and soft hands of Melia put scrum-half Cormac Foley through a hole to step the last man, Ryan’s conversion making it 20-8 in the 38th minute.

The game was put beyond recall when Leinster mesmerised with their movement and passing from Foley, Ryan, Turner and La Grue for prop Niall McEniff to seal the deal.

Ryan’s conversion made it 27-8 in the 45th minute.

They had solved the puzzle by moving the ball wide instead of into the guts of the Ulster midfield, their next foray drawing another three for Ryan before the centre got on the end of another sweeping move for the fourth try for 35-8 in the 48th minute.

The impact of prop Michael Milne was immediate, combining with McEniff for ground gained and rifling through the middle for the fifth try converted by Ryan.

It wasn’t long before Ryan’s inside ball had Penny strolling over without a care in the world for another seven points.

Ulster did manage their second try from Stewart Moore’s interception only for replacement Declan Adamson to send wing Shields in for his second in the 63rd minute.

Finally, Melia was there to pick up the pieces when the other Baird came up short of the line to complete the eight try haul.

At Donnybrook – LEINSTER 59 (D Ryan try, 3 pens, 5 cons; R Shields 2 tries; A Melia, S Penny, C Foley, N McEniff, M Milne try each;); ULSTER 15 (S Moore, M Thompson try each; B Houston pen, con).

Leinster U19

15. Robert Russell (St Michael’s)
14. Adam La Grue (Terenure)
13. Liam Turner (Blackrock) / Brian O’Donnell (Gonzaga) 46 mins
12. David Ryan (St Michael’s)
11. Ruairi Shields (St Mary’s)
10. David Hawkshaw (Belvedere, Capt) / Conor Kelly (Cistercian, Roscrea) 52 mins
9. Cormac Foley (St Gerard’s) / Garrett Fitzgerald (Tullow RFC) 56 mins
1. Niall McEniff (St Mary’s) / Aziz Naser (St Fintan’s HS) 57 mins
2. Richard Bergin (St Mary’s) / Declan Adamson (St Fintan’s HS) 26 mins – temp & 54 mins
3. Conan Dunne (Kilkenny RFC) / Michael Milne (Cistercian, Roscrea) 41 mins
4. Adam Melia (Terenure)
5. Ryan Baird (St Michael’s)
6. Reuben Pim (Kilkenny) / Ronan Watters (St Mary’s) 41 mins
7. Scott Penny (St Michael’s)
8. Dan O’Donovan (St Michael’s) / Ruadhan Byron (Belvedere) 46 mins.

Leinster u19 win

[mildlyinterested]

There is nothing the red machine likes more than to take Leinster to the trenches and force a dogfight, especially with the assistance of a strong first-half wind.

However, Leinster had been forewarned from the 34-22 win at home to Munster and they were also nursing something of a hangover from the one-point defeat (18-17) in Ulster the week before.

They were determined to lay down a marker even into the elements and they looked after the ball very well in the circumstances.

The ‘ball focus’ was a step up from that produced against Ulster the previous week and number eight Ed Brennan was the beneficiary for the opening try which was improved on by a penalty from the right boot of centre Mick O’Gara for 8-0 at the break.

In one sense, the hard work had been done. Leinster just had to be careful about not falling into the trap of feeling the job was done.

They did that by consolidating their superiority and building on their advantage, full-back Sam Dardis following up his long kick to seize on the second try in the 40th minute.

O’Gara increased the lead with a penalty and replacement Ethan Baxter blocked down a Munster attempted clearance to pounce for the third try, O’Gara converting from the touchline to make it 23-0 going into the final quarter.

The combination of Leinster’s fatigue and the never say die attitude of Munster led to two tries by the hosts in the last ten minutes.

They opened their account in the 53rd minute as Tommy Downes embarked on a soccer-style dribble from the visitors’ 22 to score his side’s first try.

Aaron Hennessy scored Munster’s second try in stoppage time following a ruck outside the visitors’ 22 and Andrew Hogan converted.

In addition, it meant Leinster took away the Dudley Herbert Cup, named in honour of the doyen of Crescent College, up for grabs to the team which wins this age-old Schools rivalry on Munster soil.

“We learned from the final quarter that we can’t switch off at all, especially against Munster, who kept coming and coming,” said coach Jeff Carter.

“They had a lot of pride in their play and we just got tired even with the substitutions. We need to be a 70-minute team the next day.

“We don’t play for two weeks. Munster and Ulster have to play each other in Belfast and we will have Ulster in Donnybrook on the 23rd of the month,” said Carter.

“It gives us a chance to have a look at our options for the last game. We played away last week and this week. It is probably no harm to take a breather, especially with lads back in the various schools.”

At Cork IT – MUNSTER 12 (T Downes, A Hennessy try each; A Hogan con); LEINSTER 23 (S Dardis, E Brennan, E Baxter try each; M O’Gara 2 pens, con)

Leinster

15. Sam Dardis (Terenure)
14. Tom Maher (Blackrock) / Max O’Reilly (St Gerard’s) ht
13. Ross McInness (Terenure) / Ben Watson (St Gerard’s) 65 mins
12. Mick O’Gara (Pres Bray)
11. John Maher (Clongowes Wood)
10. Cian Egenton (Castleknock)
9. Ben Murphy (Pres Bray)
1. Conor Duff (Clongowes Wood) / Simon Clear (Gonzaga) 60 mins
2. Jerry Cahir (Cistercian, Roscrea) / Bobby Sheehan (Clongowes) 45 mins
3. Luke Rigney (Cistercian, Roscrea) / Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock) 50 mins
4. Jody Booth (St Michael’s) / Gavin Dowling (Clongowes) 58 mins
5. Cian Prendergast (Newbridge, Capt)
6. Anthony Ryan (Clongowes Wood) / Ethan Baxter (St Gerard’s)
7. Jack Cooke (Terenure)
8. Ed Brennan (Blackrock)

Leinster Schools win.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster u18 & u19 backrow Patrick Ryan from Newbridge has joined the Northampton Saints Academy.

[mildlyinterested]

Prop
Oisin Heffernan(Year 3/TH Prop/Terenure)
Jeremy Loughman(Year 3/TH Prop/UCD)
Vakh Abdaladze(Year 1/LH Prop/Clontarf)
Jack Aungier(Year 1/TH Prop/ST. Marys)

Hooker
Sean McNulty(Year 3/UCD)
Ronan Kelleher(Year 1/Lansdowne)

Lock
Oisin Dowling(Year 1/Lansdowne)

Backrow
Josh Murphy(Year 3/UCD)
Will Connors(Year 2/UCD)
Caelan Doris(Year 1/St. Marys)

Scrumhalf
Charlie Rock(Year 3/Lansdowne)
Hugh O'Sullivan(Year 1/Clontarf)

Outhalf
Ciaran Frawley(Year 1/UCD)

Outside Backs
Ian Fitzpatrick(Year 4/Lansdowne) - Back Three
Conor O'Brien(Year 2/Clontarf) - Centre
Jimmy O'Brien(Year 2/UCD) - Centre
Hugo Keenan(Year 2/UCD) - Back Three
Terry Kennedy(Year 2/St. Marys) - Back Three
Jordan Larmour(Year 2/St. Marys) - Back Three
Jack Kelly(Year 2/DUFC) - Centre/Wing/Fullback
Gavin Mullin(Year 1/UCD) - Centre
Tommy O'Brien(Year 1/UCD) - Wing/Centre

[rdsblue]

You haven't included Max Deegan with the Academy. Has he been given a Senior contract?

[johng]

Yes

[mildlyinterested]

You haven't included Max Deegan with the Academy. Has he been given a Senior contract?

Yeah was announced during summer IIRC

[mildlyinterested]

Sub academy lock Jack Dunne on bench for DUFC.
Was rewarded an academic scholarship - the naughton scholarship along with presumably his sports scholarship to trinity.
Big talent, was listed at 6'7 108kg in 6th year.

[mildlyinterested]

More interpro highlights provided by Munster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFLyu7d93bM

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster U18 Clubs (v Connacht U18 Clubs)

15. Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore RFC)
14. Sean Wafer (Gorey RFC)
13. Karl Martin (Boyne RFC)
12. Mikey McGiff (Clontarf RFC)
11. Matthew Jungmann (Seapoint RFC)
10. Paddy McKenzie (Wicklow RFC)
9. Shane Murphy (Skerries RFC)
1. Marcus Hanan (Clane RFC)
2. Mark Nicholson (Wicklow RFC)
3. Charlie Ward (Tullow RFC)
4. Fionn Gilbert (Clontarf RFC)
5. Sam Porter (Wicklow RFC)
6. Brian Deeney (Wexford Wanderers RFC)
7. Robert Murphy (Gorey RFC)
8. Luke Thompson (Wicklow RFC) CAPTAIN
16. Harry Noonan (Greystones RFC)
17. Michael Power (Clontarf RFC)
18. Jordan Kelly (Enniscorthy RFC)
19. Tadgh Butler (Kilkenny RFC)
20. Luis Faria (Wanderers RFC)
21. Fiachra Hourihane (Enniscorthy RFC)
22. Adam Nealon (DLSP FC)
23. Josh O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC)

[IanD]

Leinster U18 Clubs (v Connacht U18 Clubs)

15. Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore RFC)
14. Sean Wafer (Gorey RFC)
13. Karl Martin (Boyne RFC)
12. Mikey McGiff (Clontarf RFC)
11. Matthew Jungmann (Seapoint RFC)
10. Paddy McKenzie (Wicklow RFC)
9. Shane Murphy (Skerries RFC)
1. Marcus Hanan (Clane RFC)
2. Mark Nicholson (Wicklow RFC)
3. Charlie Ward (Tullow RFC)
4. Fionn Gilbert (Clontarf RFC)
5. Sam Porter (Wicklow RFC)
6. Brian Deeney (Wexford Wanderers RFC)
7. Robert Murphy (Gorey RFC)
8. Luke Thompson (Wicklow RFC) CAPTAIN
16. Harry Noonan (Greystones RFC)
17. Michael Power (Clontarf RFC)
18. Jordan Kelly (Enniscorthy RFC)
19. Tadgh Butler (Kilkenny RFC)
20. Luis Faria (Wanderers RFC)
21. Fiachra Hourihane (Enniscorthy RFC)
22. Adam Nealon (DLSP FC)
23. Josh O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC)

Where and when is the match taking place?

Also great for Wicklow RFC to have 4 players in the 23.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster U18 Clubs (v Connacht U18 Clubs)

15. Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore RFC)
14. Sean Wafer (Gorey RFC)
13. Karl Martin (Boyne RFC)
12. Mikey McGiff (Clontarf RFC)
11. Matthew Jungmann (Seapoint RFC)
10. Paddy McKenzie (Wicklow RFC)
9. Shane Murphy (Skerries RFC)
1. Marcus Hanan (Clane RFC)
2. Mark Nicholson (Wicklow RFC)
3. Charlie Ward (Tullow RFC)
4. Fionn Gilbert (Clontarf RFC)
5. Sam Porter (Wicklow RFC)
6. Brian Deeney (Wexford Wanderers RFC)
7. Robert Murphy (Gorey RFC)
8. Luke Thompson (Wicklow RFC) CAPTAIN
16. Harry Noonan (Greystones RFC)
17. Michael Power (Clontarf RFC)
18. Jordan Kelly (Enniscorthy RFC)
19. Tadgh Butler (Kilkenny RFC)
20. Luis Faria (Wanderers RFC)
21. Fiachra Hourihane (Enniscorthy RFC)
22. Adam Nealon (DLSP FC)
23. Josh O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC)

Where and when is the match taking place?

Also great for Wicklow RFC to have 4 players in the 23.

sportsground 2.30pm saturday