Munster A Head Coach Mick O’Driscoll has named his side to face Nottingham in Round 4 of the British & Irish Cup tomorrow afternoon at Temple Hill – KO 3pm.
O’Driscoll’s 22-man squad features a strong mix of senior, academy and club talent.
An all senior front row sees loosehead Alan Cotter and hooker Niall Scannell start alongside tighthead Martin Kelly who makes his first appearance for the province after successfully rehabbing a calf injury. Kelly began a one year development contract in July and has featured for Young Munster in the Ulster Bank League in recent weeks.
Shane Buckley makes the switch from blindside to second row this weekend and will partner year two academy player Sean McCarthy who makes his fourth consecutive B&I start.
Having featured in Munster’s PRO12 win away to Newport Gwent Dragons last weekend, Dave O’Callaghan will start at 6 with academy representatives Ryan Murphy and captain Jack O’Donoghue completing the back row at 7 and 8 respectively.
In the half backs, year one academy scrum half Jamie Glynn is set to make his first B&I Cup start with Johnny Holland continuing at 10.
Academy centre Rory Scannell – Munster A’s leading points scorer in the competition (25) – starts at inside centre, while in the outside channel, Ivan Dineen makes his first appearance of the 2014/15 B&I Cup having already featured for Munster in four PRO12 clashes to date this season.
Luke O’Dea takes charge of the left wing with the academy’s Darren Sweetnam another to make his first appearance of the 2014/15 B&I Cup as he comes in on the right wing, while Johne Murphy completes the back three at full back.
Impressive performances at club level has seen the likes of Andrew O’Driscoll (Cork Con), Christy Condon (Midleton), Lee Nicholas (Shannon), Joe McSwiney (Lansdowne) and Gerry Hurley (Cork Con) named amongst the replacements alongside academy backs Greg O’Shea and Dan Goggin.
Munster A: Johne Murphy, Darren Sweetnam, Ivan Dineen, Rory Scannell, Luke O’Dea; Johnny Holland, Jamie Glynn; Alan Cotter, Niall Scannell, Martin Kelly; Shane Buckley, Sean McCarthy, Dave O’Callaghan, Ryan Murphy, Jack O’Donoghue Capt.
Replacements: Andrew O’Driscoll, Christy Condon, Lee Nicholas, Joe McSwiney, Gerry Hurley, Greg O’Shea, Dan Goggin.
