Foley Opts for Mix of Youth and Experience

Six of those who showed so impressively for Munster in last Sunday’s win over Connacht at The Sportsground are included in Anthony Foley’s British & Irish side for the semi-final clash with Ulster in Thomond Park Stadium tomorrow afternoon (3.30pm).

Forwards Dave Ryan, Dave Foley, Peter O’Mahony and backs Declan Cusack, Jeremy Manning and Danny Barnes can only have benefited from the experience while Foley has opted for the wily Mossy Lawler to man the last line of defence. Lawlor, current captain of Shannon won 69 caps for Munster.

Eoghan Grace returns to the side having limped out injured when Connacht visited here in February and he links up with Tommy O’Donnell and skipper O’Mahony in what looks a potent back row.

Duncan Williams and Cusack maintain a partnership at half back that has served their side so well while Sean Scanlon – a bench replacement last Sunday – and Danny Barnes have the sort of pace to stretch the Ulster defence.

Ulster Ravens coach Neil Doak travels his squad with a fair degree of confidence. “Training has been going really well this week. We all know the experience Munster have. They have a big squad that they can rotate, which feeds into their A team.

“It is always hard travelling to Thomond Park to play Munster. With the British and Irish Cup game being played before the Magners League Munster v Ospreys, there should be a great atmosphere for the players.

“This is the younger players chance to shine on a big stage. If we perform well and do the basics well, we have a good chance.”

Munster: Mossy Lawler (Shannon); Ronan O’Mahony (Garryowen), Danny Barnes (Dolphin), Jeremy Manning (Cork Con), Sean Scanlon (UCC); Declan Cusack (Thomond), Duncan Williams (Cork Con); Dave Ryan (Dolphin), Mike Sherry (Garryowen), Stephen Archer (Cork Con); Dave Foley (UL Bohs), Ian Nagle (Cork Con); Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohs), Eoghan Grace (Shannon), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Con) capt. Replacements: Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohs), Sean Henry (UL Bohs), Dave O’Callaghan (UCC), Paddy Butler (Shannon), Conor Murray (Garryowen), Mike Kelliher (Richmond), Luke O’Dea (Shannon).

Ulster Ravens: David McIlwhaine (Queens University); Chris Cochrane (Dungannon),  Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins), Johnny Shiels (Queens University), Tommy Seymour (Ballymena); James McKinney (Queens University), Ian Porter (Queens University); Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch), Nigel Brady (Dungannon) capt, Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon); Andrew Linton  (Queens University),
Neil McComb (Belfast Harlequins); Ali Birch (Dungannon), Stephen Dougall (Malone), Scott Lavella  (Trinity College). Replacements:
Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins), Paul Karayiannis (Queens University), Neville Magee (Dungannon), Stuart McKenzie (Dungannon),  Michael Pyper (Queens University), Luke Marshall (Ballymena), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon).