The Interprovincial series is the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools International squad for next year's Centenary Shield competition so as well as provincial honours, there is plenty at stake with sixty four of the top players in Irish schools taking part:
THE CONNACHT SCHOOLS side travel to the Capital seeking to retain the title they captured twelve months previously (2013 Champions): Preparations have been going well for mentor Alan Murphy in recent weeks with a new look side at his disposal: He welcomes back Ben Brennan to the side having featured strongly for Connacht last year:
Murphy teachers in the prestigious St: Joseph's College, Galway (the Bish) which captured the All Ireland Schools title at U17 level, the Tom Ticher Cup, last season: Coincidently, the Bish have an impressive seven players selected namely Brian Lally, Tommy McClean, Conor Melody, Joshua Marvesley, Ben Brennan, Gary Kinneen and goalkeeper James Grealis
Murphy has previously played in this competition as a youngster and was very honoured to have led them to victory in 2013: The side were unfortunate not to capture a title before this as steady progress has been made in recent times under the stewardship of Emmet Peyton (St: Muredach's College) and Tom Byrne (St: Gerald's College, Castlebar): The Westerners came close in 2011 only to be beaten on the final day by Leinster and similarly in 2012 by Munster:
What will be their faith as they take to the field in the second fixture of the afternoon on Friday as they take on Ulster with a 5pm kick off scheduled?
Ulster's mentor William O'Connor (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) has goalkeeper Lee McCarron and Patrick Diver returning: The Donegal native is confident that his squad can case an upset this time out having managed a 1/1 draw with the title contenders last year: The build up to the tournament has been going well for the northerners and they're looking forward to taking on the competition: O'Connor has a fresh squad traveling to the Clonshaugh venue with a predominately Donegal select with Cavan players Cormac Boyle and Stuart Dunne making the cut
Munster stars David Grant O'Sullivan and Conor Ellis are again in the fray for Derek O'Brien's side as they kick off the tournament on Friday with a mouth/watering tie against a strong Leinster side: Ross Welch Evan Cusack and Conor McCarthy are one's to watch out for in the Munster panel
O'Brien and McShane are two ambitious managers who want to return to winning ways in this annual event: Leinster have a phenomenal record at this level with title wins since 2001 with the exception of 2006 and 2012 when Munster upset the odds:
Dublin Oak Academy mentor John McShane welcomes back net minder Lee Doyle and Troy Carey for a second season as Fintan Sheridan and Albert Sugg remain in the management setup
All sixty four players will be looking to impress International manager, Paddy O'Reilly (Ballymun Comprehensive School) as he uses the tournament as a trialling process for the Centenary Shield campaign:
Following the tournament on Sunday evening, a training squad will be selected by the Irish Schools' management with dates in October (27 & 28) and November (14 & 15) pencilled in to assess the players:
A provisional squad will line out against Australia in an International Friendly on January 26 ahead of the first game of the international season which is scheduled for March 17 against Northern Ireland in Ballinamallard United FC:
In keeping with the long/standing tradition of maintaining the interest in the competition until the final matches on Sunday, the draw for Saturday's and Sunday's matches will be made following the games on Friday evening:
*** late change to the panel for Leinster, Dan Tobin out Paul Murphy in (#2)
PROVINCIAL PANELS:
Leinster: Lee Doyle (Chanel College, Coolock), Paul Murphy (Gorey Community College), Liam Scales (Gaelchoilaiste na Mara), Jordan Delmar (Coláiste Phadraig, Lucan CBS), Mikey Hannigan (Chanel College), Aaron Robinson (St: Benildus College), Troy Carey (St: Paul's CBS), Dylan Watts (Clonkeen College), Paul Bracken (Templeogue College), Darragh Markey (Colaiste Phadraig, Lucan CBS), Jason McClelland (Old Bawn Community School), Daire O'Connor (Gaelcholaiste na Mara), Jamie Hollywood (Templeogue College), Malike Benrouguibi (Firhouse Community College), Lee Mitchell (St: Benildus College), Ben Kelly (Malahide Community School)
Management: John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), Fintan Sheridan (St: Kevin's CC, Clondalkin), Albert Sugg (St: Kilian's Deutsche Schule), Stephen O'Reilly (GK Coach)
Munster: Caoimhin Kelleher (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), David Grant O'Sullivan (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Alex O'Brien (CBC, Cork), Adam O'Sullivan (Colaiste Muire, Cobh), Conor McCarthy (Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Cork), Seán Cooke (Carrigaline CS), Evan Cusack (Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick), George Gill (Rochestown College), Conor Ellis (Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai), Ross Welch (Ashton School), Adam Horgan (Glanmire CC), Roy Butler (De La Salle College, Waterford), Declan Cusack (Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick), Seán McSweeney (Colaiste Mhuire, Askeaton), Mark Buckley (MICC Dunmanway), David Coffey (Colaiste Muire, Cobh)
Management: Derek O'Brien (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Conor Uhl (Coláiste Muire, Cobh), Gary Power (FAI DO, Waterford)
Ulster: Lee McCarron (Crana College, Buncrana), Jack Blake (St: Columba's College, Stranorlar), Lee McColgan (PCC Falcarragh), Jason McGee (PCC Falcarraigh), Sam Todd (Carndonagh CS), Gareth Doherty (St: Columba's College, Stranorlar), Adrian Delap (Loreto CS, Milford), Stuart Dunne (St: Bricin's College, Belturbet), Aiden Friel (Carndonagh CS), Patrick Diver (St: Eunan's College, Letterkenny), Cormac Boyle (Breifne College, Cavan), Sam Murphy (St: Eunan's College, Letterkenny), Ducan Patterson (Loreto CS, Milford), Declan Sharkey (Deele College, Raphoe), Keelan McElwaine (Mulroy College), Mark McElhinney (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana)
Management: William O'Connor (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Paul Browne (St: Eunan's College, Letterkenny), John Kerr (Patrician High School, Carrickmacross) Enda McHugh (GK Coach)
Connacht: Colm Murray (CBS Roscommon), Brian Lally (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Gary Anderson (Corran College, Ballymote, Sligo), Mark Hannon (St: Mary's College, Ballisodare, Sligo), Evan Murphy (St: Enda's College, Galway), Kevin Daly (St: Aloysius College, Athlone), Tommy McClean (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Conor Melody (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Joshua Marvesley (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Ben Brennan (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Gary Kinneen (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Eamonn Conroy (Colaiste Iognaid, Galway), Oisin Connolly (Ballinrobe CS, Mayo), Ryan Forde (Presentation College, Headford, Galway), Jason Hunt (Davitt College, Castlebar), James Grealis (St: Joseph's College, Galway)
Management: Alan Murphy (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Alex Lee (St: Joseph's College, Galway), Kevin Murphy (St: Joseph's College, Galway)
FIXTURES (AUL Complex, Dublin)
Friday, October 3, 2014
4:00pm Leinster v Munster
5:00pm Connacht v Ulster
Saturday, October 4, 2014
2:00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
3:30pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
Sunday, October 5, 2014
10:30am Fixtures TBC
11:00am Fixtures TBC