Junior Inter Provincials Get Under Way In Charleville.

Munster take on defending champions Leinster this Friday evening in Charleville kick off 6.45 in the opening game in this season’s Junior Inter Provincial championship.

Following last season’s last minute defeat by Connacht which allowed Leinster claim the title Munster will be anxious to get off to a winning start in their only home game of the campaign.

Last season the sides played a 15-15 draw in Killiney. Munster’s preparations have been hampered by the non availability of Cashel players, due to the Tipperary club’s involvement in last week’s Munster Junior Cup tie.

Twelve clubs are represented in the squad and they come from all three divisions with Cashel the Munster Junior League champions having four on the side and two on the bench.

Ciaran O’Coilleain becomes the first player from Corca Dhuibhne to be picked and he will be hoping get some game time during the contest. Kilrush another Third Division side have Trevor Downes starting at prop.

There are two sets of brothers in the squad. Pat and Eoin O’Connor from Cashel are in the starting line up and Dermot O’Sullivan from Tralee is also in the starting fifteen and his brother Brian is listed among the replacements

Kilfeacle’s Ger Luby will captain the side from wing forward and will hope to get the best out of a pack that has plenty of experience.

Coach John O’Neill will be hoping that his side come good despite all the problems encountered in getting this squad together.

Munster follow up this game with away ties against Ulster at Limavady next week and finish against Connacht in Galway the week after.

The Munster team is:- Pat O’Connor (Cashel); Mike Deane (Tralee), Dermot O’Sullivan (Tralee), Kieran Merrigan (Clanwilliam), Darragh O’Brien (Cashel); Dara Meade (Kanturk), Ollie McGlinchey (Cashel); Trevor Downes (Kilrush), Darragh Fitzgerald (St Mary’s), Tom Keaveny (Cobh Pirates); JJ Frahill (Cobh Pirates), Eoin O’Connor (Cashel); Ger Luby (Kilfeacle) Capt, David McCormack (Clanwilliam), Tadgh Wright (Kinsale).