Ireland Club Team Named For Dalriada Cup Trip To Scotland

29th January 2019 By The Editor

Cork Con's Niall Kenneally scored two of his side's eight tries against Old Crescent. INPHO/Oisin Keniry

The Ireland Club team has been confirmed for this week’s trip to Edinburgh to face their Scottish counterparts in the 2019 Club International Series.

A total of nine Munster club players have been selected, including Cork Constitution’s Niall Kenneally who will captain the side, while club teammates Aidan Moynihan, Brian Hayes, Conor Kindregan, Joe McSwiney, Luke Cahill, UCC’s John Poland and Garryowen’s Liam Cronin and Andrew Keating are also named.

Head coach Morgan Lennon and assistant coach Johne Murphy have blended experience throughout the squad while naming seven debutants in the starting 15. Kenneally captains the side and is one of nine Irish players who featured in both games of the 2018 series.

Kenneally starts at centre alongside former captain Matt D’Arcy who makes a record eighth start at this level. Jack Keating will make his debut on the left wing while Lansdowne’s Dan McEvoy and Eamonn Mills complete the back three.

Garryowen Hooker Cronin will make his first start in the pack with the experience of Lansdowne’s Ian Prendiville and Old Wesley’s Cronan Gleeson either side of him. Prendiville’s first campaign was in 2015 and made five consecutive starts before missing out on the 2018 series.

It’s a new pairing in the second row where Cork Constitution’s Hayes and Kindregan combine. The Division 1A leaders contribute six players in total to the starting 15.

Terenure College’s Michael Melia switches from the second row to the back row for this game where he packs down with McSwiney and debutant Cahill. Melia was man of the match in the 26-23 win at home last season, with McSwiney grabbing one of Ireland’s tries.

Tom O’Reilly and Michael Noone are the experienced forwards among the five on the bench while Alan Bennie, Callum Smith and Michael Brown will be hoping to make their debuts if called upon.

The sides play on Friday February 1st at Myerside Stadium before the return fixture on Friday February 8th at Energia Park in Donnybrook. Tickets for the Dublin fixture are available at ticketmaster.ie

The Dalriada Cup will go to the side with the higher aggregate score in the two-game series.

IRELAND CLUB XV Team & Replacements (v Scottish Clubs, 2019 Dalriada Cup Series Test Match, Myreside Stadium, Edinburgh, Friday, February 01, kick-off 7.30pm)

Player/Club/Club International Caps

15. Eamon Mills (Lansdowne/3)

14. Dan McEvoy (Lansdowne/2)

13. Niall Kenneally (Cork Constitution/2) (capt)

12. Matt D’Arcy (Clontarf/7)

11. Jack Keating (Old Belvedere/0)

10. Aidan Moynihan (Cork Constitution/0)

9. John Poland (UCC/0)

1. Cronan Gleeson (Old Wesley/2),

2. Liam Cronin (Garryowen/0)

3. Ian Prenderville (Lansdowne/5)

4. Brian Hayes (Cork Constitution/0)