Connacht to defend Boys' Interprovincial title

Thursday, December 1, 2022

TOMORROW afternoon (December 2) will see sixty-four of the top players in Irish schools line out for the FAI Schools Under 18 Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament which will take place in the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh.

Alan MURPHY (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) led Connacht to the coveted title twelve months ago and he will be eager to continue this success in 2022. 

It’s always a close encounter among the four provincial teams and this year will be no different. Murphy may have the slight advantage with five of that match winning team making a welcome return. We will see Niall HOLOHAN (Carrick on Shannon Community School), Mark O’HALLORAN, Adam O’HALLORAN (Clarin College, Athenry), James LUKAU (Merlin College, Galway) and netminder James MURPHY (Calasanctius College, Oranmore) all involved again.

Munster Head Coach Billy WOODS (Glanmire Community College) has Liam MURRAY (Skibbereen Community School), and goalkeeper Dara KAVANAGH, (De La Salle College, Waterford) revisting the Capital.

While Ian RYAN sees Stephen MOHAN (Clonkeen College, Blackrock) and Cian DOYLE (Woodbrook College, Bray) rejoining the Leinster crew.

Ulster have a fresh look about them with a whole new squad involved as well as a rejuvenated management team. Oísin McMENAMIN (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar) will take charge, replacing stalwart Paul BROWNE (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny) who has spent the last 8 years with his province.

Joining Oisín will be James RODGERS (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar) and Gary McHUGH (Royal School, Cavan).

Interestingly Oisín played in this tournament in 2007 while representing St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny with Leinster winning the tournament in Monaghan that season.

Similar to Alan Murphy who played in 1997 and 1998 as a Ballinrobe Community School scholar, both went on to play for the Republic of Ireland Schools with great distinction.

In fact Murphy was named Schools International Player of the Year in 2000.

The Interprovincial series will be the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools International 18 man squad which will compete in the SAFIB Centenary Shield competition. The 2022/23 campaign will see John McSHANE’s charges travel to Scotland in the opening clash on February 23.  The Irish will entertain Wales at home on March 9 while England come to town a fortnight later. The conclusion of our series will see the North host us on March 30.

With this in mind, all eyes will be on the Interprovincial series to scout for the best talent on display within our network of post primary schools. The three day event will see a series of six matches played with Provinces awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw. The format leaves for an exciting finale in the Sunday morning outings.

We look forward to a competitive outing on Friday evening with the four teams in action as 2019 Winners Leinster line out against Munster at 4pm while Ulster will take on the defending Champions Connacht at 6.30pm.

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.

Schools International Head Coach John McShane is hoping to hold his first assessment on December 17 as the players look to impressive over the course of the weekend.

INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS

CONNACHT | Brian CUNNINGHAM (Presentation College, Headford), Niall HOLOHAN (Carrick on Shannon Community School), Milo O’MALLEY (Coláiste Iognaid, Galway), Ben COSTELLO (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Mark O’HALLORAN, Adam O’HALLORAN (Clarin College, Athenry), James MURPHY (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Dara KAVANAGH, Kyle FITZGERALD (Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Co na Gaillimhe), James KELLY, Tommy LILLIS (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), James LUKAU (Merlin College, Galway), Junior THIAM (Coláiste Éinde, Salthill), Eli ROONEY, Gavin LYNCH (Summerhill College, Sligo), Conor REYNOLDS (Rice College, Westport)

Management | Alan Murphy (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Alex Lee (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Kevin Murphy (Coach), Keith McTigue (Coach)

LEINSTER | Dáithí FOLAN (Confey College, Leixlip), Jonathan ADEDEJI (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry), Jesse DEMPSEY, Shay O’LEARY (Wexford CBS), Dan McHALE (Firhouse Community College), Brandon ROSSITER (Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew), Shane TRACEY, Eoin KENNY (St. Mary’s College, Dundalk), Stephen MOHAN (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Cian DOYLE (Woodbrook College, Bray), Dylan O’BOYLE, Ryan McBREARTY (St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Dundalk), Tom McLOUGHLIN (Malahide Community School), Callum BONNER (St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan), Hugh PARKER (Temple Carrig, Greystones), Aidan RUSSELL VARGAS (Lusk Community College)

Management | Ian Ryan, Conor Canavan (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Fintan Sheridan (St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin), Ferdia McKeon (Physio)

MUNSTER | Liam MURRAY (Skibbereen Community School), Romeo AKACHUKWU, Callum FLYNN, Dara KAVANAGH, Mikey CARROLL (De La Salle College, Waterford), Rhys KELLY NOONAN (Coláiste Muire, Crosshaven), Josh FITZPATRICK (Douglas Community School), Daniel LEONARD, Patryk SWIECZKA-ANDRZEJCZAK (Glanmire Community College), Sam BAILEY (Clonakilty Community College), Matthew KIERNAN (St. Francis College, Rochestown), Ronan MANSFIELD (Blackwater Community School),  AJ BOWMAN (St. Declan’s Community College, Kilmacthomas), Eanna FITZGERALD (Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, Carraig na bhFear), Michael DIKE (Thomond Community College), Robbie LYNCH (Hazelwood College, Limerick)

Management | Billy Woods (Glanmire Community College),  Brian Nolan (Mount Sion CBS, Waterford), Kevin Condon (Coláiste Dun Íascaigh, Cahir),  David Browne (Physio)

ULSTER | Dylan McFARLAND, Thomas BRADY (Largy College, Clones), Conor McGINTY, Oisín DUFFY (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Dylan McATEER, Adam McDAID (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), James McATEER (Loreto Community School, Milford), Conor GRAHAM, Jay BRADLEY, Shaunie BRADLEY, Darragh COYLE (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Kevin MULDOON (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town), Max JOHNSON (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe), Aaron McLAUGHLIN (Mulroy College, Milford), Dualta HONNEY (Patrician High School, Carrickmacross), Mark McGLYNN (Deele College, Raphoe)

Management | Oisín McMENAMIN (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), James RODGERS (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar), Gary McHUGH (Royal School, Cavan).

UNDER 18 BOYS’ INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT | AUL COMPLEX, CLONSHAUGH

Friday, December 2

4.00pm Leinster vs Munster

6.30pm Ulster vs Connacht

Saturday, December 3

3.00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening

5.30pm Draw will be made on Friday evening

Sunday, December 4

10.30am Fixtures TBC

12.30pm Fixtures TBC

Roll of Honour | Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament Winners

END