Teams announced ahead of Boys’ Interprovincial tournament

FAI Schools Under 18 Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament 

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

This weekend will see sixty-eight 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.

The Interprovincial series will be the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools International squad which will compete in the SAFIB Centenary Shield competition against Wales, Scotland, England, and reigning Champions Northern Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland Schools will play Australia on January 18 in Home Farm FC to start their preparations for the Shield campaign. Derek O’Brien’s side will entertain Wales on March 20 in their opening game of the series while a week later they travel to Scotland on March 27. The penultimate fixture will see them feature against Northern Ireland on April 11 in Belfast while they conclude their season on April 24 at home to England.

This weekend will be the start of the recruitment process, and it will see two changes to the provincial management set-up with Alan Murphy (Connacht) and Ian Ryan (Leinster) departing this term after some exceptional years at the helm. Connacht captured the Interprovincial title in 2018 and 2021 under Murphy’s stewardship while Ryan had success in 2017 and 2019.  

Alex Lee (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) takes the reins from Murphy. He will see a boost to the squad with Tommy LILLIS ((Yeats College, Galway), Callum LYNCH (Summerhill College, Sligo) and Eoin HANNON (Presentation College, Athenry) making another appearance in the Connacht ranks. This will be the youngest squad to line out at the weekend with five players eligible for next year’s competition.

Templeogue mentor Conor Canavan will oversee the Leinster side and he will be delighted to see duo Filip WASILEWSKI (Wexford CBS) and Alain KIZENGA (St. Mac Dara’s Community College)making a comeback for the province. 

Conall ALFRED (Coláiste Oiriall, Muineachán), Seaghan McCORMICK (Gairmscoil Chú Uladh), Conor McGRANAGHAN (Deele College, Raphoe) and Luke MULLIGAN (Ballybay Comunity College),will all feature for the Ulster select for a second consecutive year under Oisín McMenamin’s tutelage. 

Munster come into Friday’s showcase as defending Champions.  Head Coach Billy Woods, (Glanmire Community College) took over the role in 2021 and he has won back-to-back titles in the last two years.

Munster will have four players return from last season with Luke DOWNEY (Glanmire Community College),  Seán RICHMOND (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Aaron CASS (Abbey Community College, Waterford) and Zak O’SULLIVAN (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore) featuring again.

As Woods aims for an incredible three in a row, the other provinces will be looking to upset the odds. It’s always a close encounter as the 4 teams do battle over the 3-day series.

We look forward to a competitive outing on Friday evening as Leinster take on Connacht at 4pm while Munster entertain Ulster at 5.30pm.

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.

INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS

CONNACHT | Kyle GABBIDON (Coola Post Primary School, Sligo), Qudus ADELANWA, Jack SWEENEY, Denis SIRBU (Merlin College, Galway), Tommy LILLIS (Yeats College, Galway), Eoin GACQUIN, Jacob CARROLL, MacDaragh SCANLON, James MORAHAN (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Oisín KELLY (Ballyhaunis Community School), Cillian TOLLETT (St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard) Callum LYNCH (Summerhill College, Sligo), Eoin HANNON, Zach LAWLESS (Presentation College, Athenry), Reuben GILLESPIE (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina), Luc GRIALLAS (Coláiste an Eachréidh, Athenry), Luca MENARINI (Coláiste na Coiribe, Cnoc na Cathrach)

Management | Alex LEE (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Martin CONNEELY (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua), Ger CURRAN (Merlin College, Galway)

LEINSTER | William GAUL (St. Peter’s College, Wexford),  Ben WALSH (Skerries Community College), Ross YOUNG, Rhys KNIGHT (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Adam NOLAN (Maynooth Community College),  Alain KIZENGA (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Eoin MAHER (Lucan Community College), Ronan DAWSON, Tariq ALMASRY, Leon CREIGHTON (Coláiste Éanna CBS, Rathfarnham), Kaylem HARNETT, Filip WASILEWSKI (Wexford CBS), Muhammad HARIS (Skerries Community College), Sam NEVILLE, Ethan CHEESE, Shaun HALL (Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge), Marven CHAN (Templeogue College)

Management | Conor CANAVAN (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Karl HEGARTY (St. Kevin’s Community College, Dunlavin), Fintan SHERIDAN (St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin)

MUNSTER | Daniels LAKIS (Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Cork), Finn DALTON (Christian Brothers College, Cork),  Aaron CASS (Abbey Community College, Waterford), Alan ZBOROWSKI (St. Paul’s Community College, Waterford), Noah O’BRIEN (De La Salle College, Waterford), Luke DOWNEY (Glanmire Community College), Matt JONES (St. Flannan’s College, Ennis), Dylan O’CONNELL (Patrician Academy, Mallow), Zak O’SULLIVAN (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore),  Luke PALMER (Coláiste Íde agus Íosef, Abbeyfeale), Harry BROWNE (Glanmire Community College), Charle CAMPBELL (St. Munchin’s College, Corbally), Liam QUINN (St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West), Evan PEELO (Coláiste an Phiarsaign, Glanmire), Jayden O’DONOVAN (St. Clement’s College, Limerick) Seán RICHMOND (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), AJ NASH (Kinsale Communty School)

Management | Billy WOODS (Glanmire Community College),  Kevin CONDON (Coláiste Dun Íascaigh, Cahir),  John KAVANAGH (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), John McGUIRE (Physio)

ULSTER | Lewis McCAUGHAN, Jack GLAPA (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town), Conall ALFRED (Coláiste Oiriall, Muineachán), Declan PATTON (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Daibhaid LYNCH (Mulroy College, Milford), Daniel CUNNINGHAM (Coláiste na Carraige, Carrick), Zach McAULEY (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe), Seaghan McCORMICK (Gairmscoil Chú Uladh), Conor McGRANAGHAN (Deele College, Raphoe), Luke MULLIGAN (Ballybay Comunity College), Colm Ó DOCHARTAIGH (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair), Fionn McNAMARA (St. Patrick’s College, Cavan), Conor GIBSON, Rowan McGROARTY (Loreto Community School, Milford), Tiarnan CALLAGHAN McELWAINE (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Niko LOVREKOVIC (Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblaney), Corey SHERIDAN (Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon)

Management | Oisín McMENAMIN (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Gary McHUGH (Royal School, Cavan), Alan BOAL (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe)

UNDER 18 BOYS’ INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT | AUL COMPLEX, CLONSHAUGH

Friday, November 29

4.00pm Leinster vs Connacht (4G Pitch)

5.30pm  Munster vs Ulster (4G Pitch)

Saturday, November 30

3.00pm  Match 3 (4G Pitch)

4.30pm  Match 4  (4G Pitch)

Sunday, December 1

10.30am  Match 5 (4G Pitch)

11.30am   Match 6 (Pitch 11)

Roll of Honour | Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament Winners

END