Extended Squad Announced For 2019 Club Internationals

An extended 32-man Ireland Club International squad has been named for the 2019 Series. Ireland Club XV Head Coach Morgan Lennon made the announcement ahead of Dalriada Cup games against Scotland Clubs on February 1st and 8th.

14 clubs are represented among the 32 players with Old Wesley’s Lennon and Assistant Coach Johne Murphy (Naas RFC) at the helm for a third year.

Seven of the squad come from current All-Ireland League Division 1A leaders and Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Challenge Cup winners Cork Constitution, including Brian Hayes – one of 19 players uncapped at this level.

Garryowen are represented by Liam Cronin and Andrew Keating with UCC’s John Poland and Young Munster’s Dan Walsh taking the total of Munster club players selected to 11.

Prop Ian Prendiville is the most experienced of Lansdowne’s six-strong contingent with five Club XV appearances to date, despite missing out on the 2018 series.

Matt D’Arcy among the five Clontarf players named in the squad. The centre could make a record eighth Club XV start during the two-game series. The record for most caps is held by Dolphin’s Barry Keeshan who made seven starts in 11 appearances while scoring a record 51 points.

Cronin’s inclusion continues a proud history at this level for the Cronin family – his brother Neil made eight appearances in a Club International jersey prior to linking up with Munster on a full-time basis this season.

Garryowen team mate Andrew Keating is also named and St. Mary’s College (1), Terenure College (1), UCC (1) and Young Munster provide the remaining Division 1A players.

Peter Starrett could become the first City of Armagh player to contest a Club International. There are two players each from Old Wesley and Naas with one player each drawn from Buccaneers, Malone and Old Belvedere.

Speaking at the squad’s first camp at Ashbourne RFC, Head Coach Morgan Lennon said:

“It’s such a tough selection process because there are so many quality players in the league. What we’re looking for is leadership. We will give them the framework to work in and it will be down to the right players to make the right decisions on the field.

“We played poorly for 40 minutes in Scotland last year and we lost the Dalriada Cup on the back of that. The guys that were involved last year know the standard required if we are going to win this. We know where we have to get to by February 1st and again for the home game on February 8th.”

IRELAND CLUB INTERNATIONAL Squad (v Scotland Clubs February 2019):
Alan Bennie (Lansdowne)
Harry Brennan (Lansdowne)
Michael Brown (Clontarf)
Royce Burke Flynn (Clontarf)
Luke Cahill (Cork Constitution)*
Adam Coyle (Naas) *
Liam Cronin (Garryowen)
Matt D’Arcy (Clontarf)
Cronan Gleeson (Old Wesley)
Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution) *
Andrew Keating (Garryowen) *
Jack Keating (Old Belvedere) *
Niall Kenneally (Cork Constitution)
Tom Kiersey (Old Wesley) *
Conor Kindregan (Cork Constitution) *
Dan McEvoy (Lansdowne)
Joe McSwiney (Cork Constitution)
Michael Melia (Terenure College)
Eamonn Mills (Lansdowne)
Aidan Moynihan (Cork Constitution) *
Michael Noone (Clontarf)
JJ O’Neill (Cork Constitution) *
Peter Osbourne (Naas)
Tom O’Reilly (St. Mary’s College) *
Jack O’Sullivan (Lansdowne) *
John Poland (UCC) *
Ian Prendiville (Lansdowne)
Tony Ryan (Clontarf)
Callum Smith (Malone) *
Peter Starrett (City of Armagh) *
John Sutton (Buccaneers)
Dan Walsh (Young Munster) *

*Denotes previously-capped player at this level

Head Coach – Morgan Lennon
Assistant Coach – Johne Murphy
Team Manager – Maurice Hartery
Baggage Master – David Jermyn
Strength & Conditioning Coach – Cathal Murtagh
Doctor – Stuart O’Flanagan
Physio – Ailbe McCormack

2019 CLUB INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES:

Scotland Clubs v Ireland Club XV
Friday, February 1, kick-off 7.30pm
Myreside Stadium, Edinburgh

Ireland Club XV v Scotland Clubs
Friday, February 8, kick-off 7.30pm
Energia Park, Donnybrook

Ireland Club XV Top Scorers – Points:
Barry Keeshan (Dolphin) 51
Craig Ronaldson (Lansdowne) 37
Scott Deasy (Lansdowne) 26
Ireland Club XV Top Scorers – Tries:
Barry O’Mahony (Clontarf), Mark Roche (Lansdowne) 4
Frank Cogan (Clontarf/Cork Constitution), Simon Crawford (Clontarf), Paddy Finlay (Clontarf/Dublin University), Daniel Riordan (Old Belvedere) 3

Ireland Club XV Caps:
Barry Keeshan (Dolphin) 11
Frank Cogan (Clontarf/Cork Constitution), Gerry Hurley (Garryowen/Cork Constitution) 10