Ireland Under-18 Five Nations Schools Squad Announced

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

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http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_16696.php

The Irish Under-18 Schools squad, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, to take part in the Five Nations Schools Festival, which will be hosted in Parma, Italy this year, has been named.

The Festival, which last year was hosted by the IRFU in Cork, is a hugely popular event bringing together teams from five of the six nations (France are not taking part this year). Ireland will play games against Wales, Italy and England. The Paul Barr-coached squad will be based in Parma, and all the games take place in the Parma region of northern Italy.

This Festival is an important opportunity for the Irish Schools players to compete against the best European players at this age grade.

The last few weekends have seen the culmination of preparations that began last April with provincial screening of prospective players.

Players were nominated to participate in the provincial Summer Programmes, which focused on skills, decision-making and physical conditioning.

Schools interprovincial games took place in October and following two squad weekends, the Ireland Under-18 Schools squad played against Italy U-18 in Viadana in December, with the Irish winning 18-15.

All players were monitored during the provincial Cup campaigns, with national squads organised for players when they were eliminated from their respective cup competition.

The squad is looking forward to testing its rugby skills on the international stage.

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS SQUAD (Five Nations Under-18 Festival, Parma, Italy, April 12-18):

Niall Annett (Methodist College/Ulster)
Shane Buckley (Rockwell College/Munster)
Conor Carey (Methodist College/Ulster)
Chris Colvin (Royal School Armagh/Ulster)
Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Sam Coughlan Murray (Newbridge College/Leinster)
Harry Doyle (Royal School Armagh/Ulster)
David Doyle (Gonzaga College/Leinster)
Peter du Toit (King's Hospital/Leinster)
Rory Harrison (Methodist College/Ulster)
Alex Kelly (St. Michael's College/Leinster)
Stephen Leckey (Methodist College/Ulster)
Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Colin Mallon (St. Michael's College/Leinster)
Paddy Marks (RBAI/Ulster)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena Academy/Ulster)
James McKinney (Campbell College/Ulster)
Martin Moore (Castleknock College/Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Tiernan O'Halloran (Cistercian Roscrea/Leinster)
David O'Mahony (Presentation College/Munster)
Gareth Quinn McDonagh (Crescent CC/Munster)
Ben Sargent (Crescent CC/Munster)
Niall Scannell (Presentation College/Munster)
Aaron Spring (Sligo Grammar School/Connacht)
James Tracy (Newbridge College/Leinster)

Management -

Manager - Lorcan Balfe
Coach - Paul Barr
Assistant Coach - Kenny Hooks

Ireland Under-18 Schools Fixtures -

Sunday, April 12 (Wales v Ireland) Parma kick-off 4.30pm
Wednesday, April 15 (Italy v Ireland) Parma kick-off 4.30pm
Saturday, April 18 (England v Ireland) Colorno kick-off 4pm[/b]

I don't expect many people to care about this but it's often an indicator as to who the top up and coming players are. Ireland for the last few years have been physically underdeveloped at this level (in comparison with their opponents) but tend to catch up by the time they hit u20 level.

Again, I'm not overly familiar with too many of these players but some to look out for in years to come include Blackrock fullback Andrew Conway, 'Rock centre Brendan Macken, Newbridge centre/wing Sam Coghlan Murray and the Ulster flyhalves James McKinney and Luke Marshall. Of the pack, a lot has been spoken about Rock second row/backrow Jordi Murphy while Methody backrow Stephen Leckey has a bit about him.

 

[Bumbadum]

No Wallace High lads in, so clearly this team is inferior

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

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http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_16821.php

2009 UNDER-18 FIVE NATIONS FESTIVAL: Sunday, April 12 IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS 22 WALES UNDER-18 15, Stadio Aprile, Parma

Scorers: Ireland Tries: Andrew Conway 2, Alex Kelly; Con: Tiarnan O'Halloran 2; Drop: Gareth Quinn McDonagh
Wales: Pens: Tom Prydie 5

In sunny conditions at the Stadio Aprile in Parma, Ireland produced a winning blend of strong forward play and assured handling from their backs.

It was the Paul Barr and Kenny Hooks-coached Irish who garnered the first points with a drop goal by out-half Gareth Quinn McDonagh after an early bout of pressure close to the Welsh try-line.

Wales' indiscipline allowed Ireland to gain a strong field position through a couple of touchfinders from Crescent Comprehensive pupil Quinn McDonagh.

From the ensuing phase of play, number 8 Jordi Murphy burst away from the tail of the lineout before handing on to Brendan Macken who sent full-back Andrew Conway racing in for a fine try and an 8-0 lead.

It was a Blackrock 1-2-3 as Murphy, Macken and Conway all hail from the Williamstown school.

Wales came into the game with a penalty from full-back Tom Prydie but from set piece ball, impressive centre Macken again showed his handling skills to put Conway in for his second try, this time converted by Roscrea winger Tiarnan O'Halloran.

Barr's youngsters looked set to increase their lead when blindside flanker Stephen Leckey from Methody made a charge to the line only to be called back for crossing.

In the event, it was Wales who grabbed the next points with a second penalty by Prydie and just before half-time the full-back slotted his third goal to cut Ireland's lead to 15-9 at the break.

Another penalty by Prydie, at the beginning of the second half, narrowed Ireland's advantage to just three points, giving Wales the confidence to step it up in attack.

Ireland's defence, however, withstood a steady assault on the line, but at the expense of a fourth penalty goal from Prydie.

Having survived this siege, the boys in green returned to attacking play and were rewarded when St. Michael's student Alex Kelly slipped through a gap in midfield for a fine try, converted by O'Halloran.

A fifth penalty by Prydie brought Wales to within a converted try of Ireland and it seemed that the Welsh youngsters might just pull off a draw with several chances at the end.

First, Dale Ford was presented with an interception chance but the centre just failed to hold the ball and then when full-back Prydie made a determined run down the right touchline his pass to the supporting runners just failed to find target, leaving Wales left musing what might have been.

On the whole, it was a very encouraging start to the tournament for Barr, his management team and the players. Next up for them is a crunch game against hosts Italy in Parma on Wednesday (kick-off 4.30pm local time).

The Five Nations Festival, which last year was hosted by the IRFU in Cork, is a hugely popular event bringing together teams from five of the six nations (France are not taking part this year).

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS: Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster); Tiarnan O'Halloran (Cistercian College Roscrea/Leinster), Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster), Alex Kelly (St. Michael's College/Leinster), Chris Colvin (Royal School Armagh/Ulster); G Quinn McDonagh (Crescent CC/Munster), Peter du Toit (King's Hospital/Leinster); James Tracy (Newbridge College/Leinster), Niall Annett (Methodist College/Ulster) (capt), Martin Moore (Castleknock College/Leinster), David O'Mahony (Presentation College/Munster), Aaron Spring (Sligo Grammar School/Connacht), Stephen Leckey (Methodist College/Ulster), David Doyle (Gonzaga College/Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Blackrock College/Leinster).

Replacements used: Shane Buckley (Rockwell College/Munster), Paddy Marks (RBAI/Ulster), Niall Scannell (Presentation College/Munster).

WALES UNDER-18: Tom Prydie (Porthcawl Comp); Luke Williams (Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig), Dale Ford (Strade), Jack Gadd (Filton College), Eli Walker (Swansea College); Matthew Morgan (Bridgend College), Adam Jones (Filton College); Rowan Jenkins (CSG), Leaun Davies (Treorchy), Rhodri Jones (Llandovery College), Lloyd Peers (Pencoed College) (capt), McCauley Cook (Bridgend College), Edward Siggery (QEHS), Tom Young (Rhydywaun), David Barry (Neath College)

Replacements used: Nicky Williams (Filton College), George North (Llandovery College), Lewis Robling (Ysgol Gyfum Gwynliyw), Ben Thomas (Bryntirion CS), Tom Crandon (Cross Keys College), Gareth Harvey (Pencoed College), Lewis Smout (Coleg Powys)

Referee: Johann van der Merwe (Scotland)

Ireland Under-18 Schools Management -

Manager - Lorcan Balfe
Coach - Paul Barr
Assistant Coach - Kenny Hooks

Ireland Under-18 Schools Fixtures -

Wednesday, April 15 (Italy v Ireland) Parma kick-off 4.30pm
Saturday, April 18 (England v Ireland) Colorno kick-off 4pm[/b]

Andrew Conway is poised to make a similar impact to Luke Fitzgerald next year. He needs to work a bit on his kicking but he's a brilliant finisher and counter attacker. With players selected for the Lions reportedly missing the first 4 or 5 weeks of next season, I wouldn't be surprised if he got a shot on the wing early next season (asuming Kearney and Fitzgerald get Lions callups).

 

[cyRil]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Apr 13 2009, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

David Barry (Neath College)[/b]

weeeeeeeeeeyyyyyy!!!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Apr 13 2009, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Referee: Johann van der Merwe (Scotland)[/b]

....Eh? :huh:

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

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http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_16857.php

ITALY U-18 3 IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS 29, Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma

Scorers: Italy: Pen: Alberto Bonifazi
Ireland: Tries: Sam Coughlan Murray 2, Alex Kelly, Aaron Spring; Cons: James McKinney 3; Pen: James McKinney

It was a match of muscle versus skill and it was Ireland Schools that had the latter. Their slick play eventually put paid to the notion that Italy could impose themselves physically on the game.

Speaking afterwards, Ireland head coach Paul Barr said: "We knew we had to match them physically and we did.

"We struggled a bit in the first half but in the second half we were much more composed and began to find gaps in their defence."

The Irish schoolboys looked the better of the two sides but it was not until ten minutes before half-time that they scored their first points with a penalty goal from out-half James McKinney.

Then, just before the interval, scrum half Harry Doyle came desperately close to scoring with a clever chip ahead after his own break.

Doyle, however, was adjudged to have knocked on but from the ensuing five-metre scrum Ireland won a tighthead strike that gave them priceless possession.

They turned that possession into a try thanks to some finger-tip handling and precise finishing by winger Sam Coughlan Murray for a 8-0 interval lead.

Coughlan Murray made it a brace minutes into the second half. His fellow wing Chris Colvin ignited a counter attack and centre Tiarnan O'Halloran cut open the Italy defence before supplying the scoring pass to Coughlan Murray.

The try was converted from the touchline by McKinney but almost immediately after the restart Italy showed their goal-kicking skills with a 40-metre penalty kick from number 10 Alberto Bonifazi.

Italy showed skills when winger Tommaso Castello was released up the right touchline but good defence by McKinney brought an end to a potentially dangerous situation.

McKinney then showed his flair with a defence-splitting break before passing to lock Shane Buckley whose flipped pass out-of-the-tackle gave replacement centre Alex Kelly his second try of the tournament, converted by McKinney.

Ireland had time for a further score, a try by replacement Aaron Spring from a penalty-created lineout in the corner and a concerted drive by the Irish pack.

McKinney added the extras to complete a fine performance that earned him the man-of-the-match award.

With their confidence high after wins over Wales and hosts Italy, Ireland's final outing of the competition will be against England in Colorno on Saturday.

ITALY U-18: Alessandro Tartaglia; Tommaso Castello, Francesco Menon, Augusto Cosulich, Luigi Secchi Villa; Alberto Bonifazi, Vittorio Callori Di Vignale; Maurizio Aluigi, Andrea Lupetti (capt), Piermaria Leso, Alfio Luca Mammana, Gianmarco Duca, Matteo Dell'acqua, Nicolo Luxardo, Matteo Ferro.

Replacements used: Alessandro Furio, Jacopo Tassara, Marco Bercich, Marco Fuser, Guglielmo Palazzani.

IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS: Ferdia Doherty (Gonzaga College/Leinster); Chris Colvin (Royal School Armagh/Ulster), Tiarnan O'Halloran (Cistercian Roscrea/Leinster), Ben Sargent (Crescent CC/Munster), Sam Coughlan Murray (Newbridge College/Leinster); James McKinney (Campbell College/Ulster), Harry Doyle (Royal School Armagh/Ulster); Rory Harrison (Methodist College/Ulster), Niall Scannell (Presentation College/Munster) (capt), Conor Carey (Methodist College/Ulster), David O'Mahony (Presentation College/Munster), Shane Buckley (Rockwell College/Munster), Emmet McMahon (St. Michael's College/Leinster), David Doyle (Gonzaga College/Leinster), Colin Mallon (St. Michael's College/Leinster).

Replacements used: Jodi Murphy (Blackrock College/Leinster) for McMahon (half-time), James Tracy (Newbridge College/Leinster) for Harrison, Alex Kelly (St. Michael's College/Leinster) for Sargent (both 53 mins), Aaron Spring (Sligo Grammar School/Connacht) for Buckley (56), Niall Annett (Methodist College/Ulster) for D Doyle, Paddy Marks (RBAI/Ulster) for Murphy (both 61).

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Management -

Manager - Lorcan Balfe
Coach - Paul Barr
Assistant Coach - Kenny Hooks

Ireland Under-18 Schools Results/Fixtures -

Sunday, April 12: Wales 15 Ireland 22, Parma
Wednesday, April 15: Italy 3 Ireland 29, Parma
Saturday, April 18 (England v Ireland) Colorno kick-off 4pm[/b]