Ireland Club International Side Confirmed For Second Scotland Test
14th March 2018 By The Editor
Garryowen's Neil Cronin kicks a conversion against Scotland
The Ireland Club XV team, sponsored by Ulster Bank, has been confirmed for their second game against Scotland, this Friday night in Netherdale, Galashiels.
A total of six players from clubs across Munster have been included in the squad, with Garryowen’s Neil Cronin set to captain the side for the second time.
Head Coach Morgan Lennon and Assistant Coach Johne Murphy have made three personnel changes to the starting side, and a number of positional changes that won the opening fixture in Dubarry Park just over a fortnight ago.
Hooker Robbie Smyth comes into the side and forms a front-row partnership with Old Wesley’s Cronan Glesson and Young Munster’s Colm Skehan.
Clontarf Captain Ben Reilly comes into second-row and packs down alongside Terenure’s Alex Thompson.
Thompson’s Terenure clubmate Michael Melia moves from second-row to flanker, and forms a back-row with Lansdowne’s Jack Dwan and Clontarf’s Michael Noone.
The side will again be captained by scrum-half Cronin, who is joined by his Garryowen club mate Jamie Gavin at half-back.
Outside the Garryowen pair, Clontarf’s Matt D’Arcy again partners Cork Con Captain Niall Kenneally, and it’s an all-Lansdowne back field, with wingers Daniel McEvoy and Harry Brennan lining out with full-back Eamon Mills, who is the third personnel change to the side.
In the replacements, Dublin University hooker Patrick Finlay is part of front-row cover with Tom O’Reilly of St.Mary’s College and James Kendrick of Cashel RFC.
Cork Con’s Joe McSwiney and Paulie Tolofua from Naas complete the forward replacements.
Scrum-half Angus Lloyd (DUFC), Mark O’Neill (Terenure RFC) and Fionn Higgins (Naas RFC) are the back substitutes.
This is the twelfth season of the Club International fixture between Ireland and Scotland, and as it stands, Ireland’s record is six wins and five defeats.
The sides will compete for the Dalriada Cup, which was first introduced in 2011 and the Scottish side have lifted it on the last two occasions – 2015 at Netherdale and 2016 at Temple Hill.
Ireland Club XV Squad
15. Eamonn Mills – Lansdowne FC
14. Harry Brennan – Lansdowne FC
13. Niall Kenneally – Cork Constitution FC
12. Matt D’Arcy – Clontarf FC
11. Dan McEvoy – Lansdowne FC
10. Jamie Gavin – Garryowen FC
9. Neil Cronin – Garryowen FC Captain
1. Cronan Gleeson – Old Wesley RFC
2. Robbie Smyth – Terenure RFC*
3. Colm Skehan – Young Munster RFC
4. Ben Reilly – Clontarf FC
5. Alex Thompson – Terenure College RFC
6. Michael Melia – Terenure College RFC
7. Jack Dwan – Lansdowne FC
8. Michael Noone – Clontarf FC
16. Patrick Finlay – Dublin University FC
17. Tom O’Reilly – St. Marys College RFC
18. James Kendrick – Cashel RFC*
19. Joe McSwiney – Cork Constitution FC
20. Paulie Tolofua – Naas RFC
21. Angus Lloyd – Dublin University FC
22. Mark O’Neill – Tenenure College RFC
23. Fionn Higgins – Naas RFC*
*Denotes Uncapped at this level.
Ireland Club XV Management
Head Coach – Morgan Lennon
Assistant Coach – Johne Murphy
Team Manager – Maurice Hartery
Baggage Master – David Jermyn
S & C Coach – Cathal Murtagh
Doctor – Stuart O’Flanagan
Physio – Ailbe McCormack
Ireland Club XV Fixtures
Ireland Club XV 26-23 Scotland Clubs
Friday, February 23,
Dubarry Park, Athone, Co.Westmeath
Scotland Clubs v Ireland Club XV
Friday, March 16, kick-off 7.30pm
Netherdale, Galashiels