Screening Commences For Munster U20s

The Munster U20s have started the squad selection process for the 09/10 season with a training session and a challenge game under their belts management have plenty to take from when deciding on final numbers.

The U20s hit the ground running last Wednesday with forty four players attending a training and screening session in Fermoy RFC. The session was then followed up with a challenge game at the weekend against the English Colleges side.

Once the screening session and challenge game are reviewed numbers will be finalised and the named squad will then commence training in early July in preparation of the 2009/2010 Interprovincial campaign.

Munster U20 Coaching and Management Staff

Head Coach Anthony Foley
Assistant Coach – Backs Ian Costello
Assistant Coach – Forwards Ken O’Connell
Manager Alan Miller
Fitness/Conditioning Coach Feargal O’Callaghan
Video Analyst Len Browne
Kit Manager Alan Hickey
Physiotherapist Damien Mordan

Challenge Game Match Report by Cormac Liddy

Munster U20, 21
English Colleges, 19

The Anthony Foley coached Munster side got off to a great start in their game against a very strong English Colleges side at Dooradoyle yesterday.

Using the game as a preparation for next season’s under 20 championship Munster looked very impressive when they did all their scoring in the first half which had a delay when referee Darragh Kelly had to retire with a calf muscle injury.

Winger Craig O’Hanlon scored the opening try and fullback Luke O’Dea came into the threequarter line for the second half. Just before the interval scrumhalf Brian Slater had the third try and all three were converted by outhalf Cormac Flynn.

But the English Colleges, preparing for their games against their Welsh and Scottish counterparts upped their game in the second half.

Tries by replacements, Jamie Hearne and Alex Cuthbert, also a replacement, one of which Mike Ayrton converted brought them back into contention. Ayrton then had a try which he converted but the first conversion miss proved the difference between the sides.

Munster U20: L O’Dea, C O’Hanlon, J Mccarthy, K kidney, D Moroney; C O’Flynn, B Slater; C Corkery, D Casey, JP Cooney; E Kelly, S Duggan; G McClay (c), J Quill, P Butler.
Replacements, B Cagney, K Stokes, M Maddn, B Quill, J Holland, J J Hanrahan, A healy, G Burke, P Parfrey, all used.

English Colleges: M Ayrton, R Allen, H Bird, S Wells, R Teager; D Griffin, A Garner; S Chard, A Casey, K Jones; W Cooper, R Conquest; J Backe, W James, S Vine.
Replacements, J Woolmore, M Bishop, S Marsh, P Howard, A Goodman, A Cuthbert, J Hearne, all used.

Referee: D Kelly, MAR