The Ireland Club squad has been named for the Dal Riada Cup clash with Scotland Clubs in Glasgow on Friday and it includes some familiar Limerick faces. Young Munster’s Ed O’Keefe starts on the wing for the Ulster Bank League side with three Garryowen club stalwarts, Neil Cronin, Ed Rossiter and Peter O’Shea named on the bench.
The Ulster Bank Club International side will play their Scottish counterparts at Old Anniesland in Glasgow on Friday, February 6 before lining out at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, February 14 as part of a unique double header against the French alongside the RBS 6 Nations senior international match.
Tickets for the game in Aviva Stadium are on sale now from ticketmaster.ie
Ireland are the current holders of the Dal Riada cup having won this fixture 28 – 3 in Cork Constitution last year. Head coach Paull Cunningham can call on some experienced players at this level as well as selecting from the top players in the Ulster Bank League.
Clontarf’s Matt D’Arcy will captain the side at inside centre, pairing up with Lansdowne’s Mark Roche. The Cork Constitution duo of Darragh Lyons and last season’s Club International skipper, Gerry Hurley, form an experienced half back partnership.
The back three sees Ulster Bank League Division 1A Player of the Year for 2014 Danny Riordan, who bagged a brace in the corresponding fixture last season, at fullback; Terenure’s Stephen O’Neill and Young Munster’s Ed O’Keeffe complete the back three.
In the front row Ian Prendiville of league leaders Lansdowne and Andrew O’Driscoll, Cork Constitution, are joined by Declan Lavery from Old Belvedere.
Fergal Walsh, Terenure and Stephen Gardner, Lansdowe, are the locks. Belvo’s Jonathan Slattery anchors the scrum with Stephen Mulholland of Ballymena and Paul Pritchard of Ballynahinch on either side.
Ireland Club XV (v Scotland Club, Old Anniesland, Glasgow, Friday, February 6th,19:30)
15. Danny Riordan (Old Belvedere)
14. Stephen O’Neill (Terenure)
13. Mark Roche (Lansdowne)
12. Matt D’Arcy (Clontarf) Captain
11. Ed O’Keeffe (Young Munster)
10. Darragh Lyons (Cork Constitution)
9. Gerry Hurley (Cork Constitution)
1. Ian Prediville (Lansdowne)
2. Andrew O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution)
3. Declan Lavery (Old Belvedere)
4. Stephen Gardner (Lansdowne)
5. Fergal Walsh (Terenure)
6. Stephen Mulholland (Ballymena)
7. Paul Pritchard (Ballynahinch)
8. Jonathan Slattery (Old Belvedere)
Replacements
16. Eddie Rossiter (Garryowen)
17. Ger Sweeney (Cork Constitution)
18. Peter O’Shea (Garryowen)
19. Sean Walsh (Cashel)
20. Kieran O’Gorman (Old Belvedere)
21. Neil Cronin (Garryowen)
22. Stephen Murphy (UCD)
23. Kevin McGrath (Skerries)
Editors Notes
Ireland Club International Backroom Team –
Head coach: Paul Cunningham;
Assistant coach: Killian Keane;
Team manager: Seamus McDermott;
Team services: Sinéad Bennett;
Baggage master: Alan Hickey;
Doctor: Alan Rankin;
Physio: Ailbe McCormack;
S&C coach: Martin McKiernan
Ireland Club International Fixtures:
Scotland Club XV v IRELAND CLUB XV
Friday, February 6, 7.30pm
Old Anniesland, Glasgow
IRELAND CLUB XV v France Club XV
Saturday, February 14, 8pm
Aviva Stadium
Previous Meeting
Ulster Bank Club International 2014: Ireland Clubs 28 – 3 Scotland Clubs
