Irish Colleges Continue Campaign

The Irish Colleges embark on their second full fixture of the 2008 season when they play the Scottish Universities at the University of Ulster grounds, Jordanstown, this Friday, kick-off 6pm.

Irish Colleges V Scottish Universities
at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown on Friday 23rd February at 6pm

Irish Colleges will no doubt use this occasion to avenge their 22pts to 21 pts home defeat of last year to the Scottish Universities side. The inaugural fixture was in 2006 at the Edinburgh University grounds, a game that the Irish Colleges convincingly won 47 pts to nil. This, the third meeting should prove an interesting encounter between two well prepared sides in the newly established Four Nations Tournament.

The Irish Colleges had the perfect start to their current campaign in this year’s tournament when they defeated United Kingdom Combined Services U23’s in London earlier this month by 40pts to nil. The Irish Colleges side will be hoping for victory against the Scottish Universities side, a victory that will prepare them for what will be the final and most difficult game of the season against the English Universities side in the Championship decider.

The Irish Colleges selection certainly covers a wide span of colleges with representation from all the provinces. The Irish Colleges side is again managed by Moss Dineen former President of the ICRU and City of Derry Rugby Club. He is again assisted by Mike Poole current Team Manager at City of Derry.
Head Coach is Eamonn Molloy, Connaught Branch, IRFU assisted by Chris Galway University of Ulster, Jordanstown and Eoin Hogan, IRFU and Development Officer for the Irish Colleges.

The University of Ulster, Jordanstown are hosting the Irish Colleges in this their first Four Nations Tournament in Ulster. The Pro Vice Chancellor Jim Allen has been very much to the fore in getting this fixture for the Jordanstown College. It is indeed appropriate that this International game is taking place at the University. Their newly opened High Performance Centre should prove an ideal back drop for this eagerly awaited game.

Irish Colleges Squad:

Paddy O’Toole Garda College (Connemara), David Rowan Inst. Art Design Tech Dun Laoghaire(Blackrock), Craig Morrin IT Tallagh (St.Marys), Mick O’Shea Garda College (Suttonians), Darragh Fanning IT Tallagh (St.Marys), Phil DeBarra IT Carlow (DLSP), Brendan O’Brien Blackhall Place Dublin(Wanderers), Shane Cahill Dun Laoghaire VEC (Blackrock College), Alex O’Sullivan Inst. Art Design Tech Dun Laoghaire (Greystones), Stephen Snell NCI (Greystones), Barry Holmes DIT (Greystones),
Chris Napier Belfast Metropolitan College (Ballynahinch), Brian Moroney ITT (Terenure), Dan Kenny Dun Laoghaire VEC (Greystones), Ian Cullinan NUI Galway (Galwegians),
Replacements: Jonathan Molloy IT Tallagh (St.Marys), James Taggert UUl (Ballymena), Ben Reilly DCU(Suttonians), John Downey Sallynoggin VEC (Greystones), Philip Howard Inst. Art Design Tech Dun Laoghaire (Clontarf), Brian Collins IT Blanchardstown (Old Belvedere), Dermott Sherridan LIT (Shannon)

Officials:
Team Manager: Moss Dineen, Assistant TeamManager: Mike Poole, Head Coach: Eamonn Molloy,Coaches: Chris Galway,Eoin Hogan.

Scottish Universities Squad:

Jonathan Manning (Glasgow Caledonian ),Tim Bergin (Aberdeen), Peter Saunders (Heriot Watt), Marcus Mc Callister (Heriot Watt), Kelechi Esenou (Edinburgh), David O Hagan (Queen Margareth), Gordon Mc Rorie (Sterling),Gabriel Holmes (Aberdeen),Greig Ramsay (Aberdeen),Gavin Hulme (Hariot Watt), Mark Jenkinson (Dundee), Fraser Galbraith (Aberdeen), Andrew Thompson (Glasgow), TBA (Dundee), Murray Wylie (Aberdeen).
Replacements:
Tom Dunnett (Aberdeen),Craig Samuel(Stirling),Nick Mc Auley (Strathclyde),David Mc Kenna(Glasgow Caledonian),Jerry Tsang(Edinburgh),James Mc Kinnel(St Andrews)Fergus Knight (St Andrews)

Officials:

Team Manager: Matt Adcock, Head Coach: Chris Rickie, Coaches: Mark Couper,Campbell Scott,

Referee: Paul Haycock, Touch Judges: Jonathan Peak,Peter Fergueson.