Boys' Interprovincial squads announced

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 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.

Reigning Champions Leinster will open their campaign against Ulster at 4pm on Friday evening as the AUL Complex, Dublin plays host.

Leinster have a phenomenal record in this tournament, having captured the title 12 times in 15 years. However it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the students. The Leinster crew snatched victory at the death last season to take the title from Munster on goal difference.

Manager John McShane was delighted with the teams performance which saw his side put five past title contenders Connacht in the final game on Sunday morning. Two goals within the last six minutes ensured the Leinster celebrations with Jamie Aherne (Confey College) bagging a wonderful hat-trick for his side.

It will be another stern contest for the provincial sides as Connacht, Munster and Leinster finished all square on 4 points each twelve months ago so an opening day win will be vital for these lads.

Albert Sugg (St. Kilian’s DSD) takes over managerial duties from John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), who has been promoted to the International set up as Sugg goes for a hat-trick of titles wins. Ian Ryan will join Fintan Sheridan (both St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin) in the management team for 2016. 

It’s a new look Leinster outfit with the Dublin schools supplying a array of talent most notably from Castleknock, Marino, Lucan, Sutton, Raheny, Blackrock, Templeogue and Ballsbridge as well as outside the Pale; as Wexford Town, New Ross, Athlone, Arklow, Carlow and Kilkenny are all represented. 

Ulster’s management duo of Paul Browne and David O’Herlihy (both St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny) will welcome back four pupils from last season with netminder Jason McCallion (Moville CC), Conor Gormley (Loreto CS, Milford), Seán McBride (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar) and Shane Blaney (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny) all adding value to the squad. Ulster had a disappointing campaign last year but will be hoping to turn fortunes around against the Leinster lads.

Connacht and Munster will feature in the second game on Friday evening which kicks off at 5pm.

Alan Murphy is in a strong position in Connacht with young goalkeeper Lorcan Callaghan (St. Mary’s College, Ballysadare), Noa Baba’s brother Thierry (St. Gerald College, Castlebar), Evan Murphy (St. Enda’s College, Salthill) and Ruadhan Feeney (Summerhill College, Sligo) all returning. Their experience should add another dimension to proceedings.

Another notable inclusion is Christopher Horgan of St. Enda’s College, Galway. Daryl, Kevin and Colm all came through the FAI Schools channels in recent years so it will be great to see the family tradition continue.

QPR and Irish U19 International Ryan Manning (Yeats College, Galway) picked up the FAI Schools International Player of the Year award in 2013/14 and we will see his younger brother Ronan line out for Calasanctius College, Oranmore this weekend.

Connacht last won the title back in 2013. Can these talented individuals secure success this time around?

Ardscoil na Mara teacher Derek O’Brien has a fresh faced squad heading to the capital on Friday. Football strongholds such as Carrigaline Community School, De La Salle College, Waterford, CBS Sexton Street, Limerick, Presentation Brothers College, Cork and CBS High School, Clonmel will all be represented this weekend. 

Munster to their credit have experienced Interprovincial success back in 2006 in Limerick and again in 2012 when the tournament was moved to Dublin so they’re no strangers to upsetting the odds. They came extremely close to capturing the honours in 2015, can they go one better now on Sunday?

Presentation Brothers College, Cork were gallant runners up in the Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Final last season and it’s great to see Brian Mulcahy and Eoin Davis included in the squad.

Ben Murray (De La Salle College, Waterford) and Eoin Power (CBS High School, Clonmel) will fight it out between the sticks as their selection for the Munster schools select is duly warranted.

We look forward to a tantalising tie on Friday with the four teams in action.

Following the tournament on Sunday evening, a training squad will be selected by the Irish Schools’ management with dates at the Halloween break in October and November pencilled in to assess the players.  A finalised squad will then be announced after Christmas for the first International fixture on February 16 at home to Wales.

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.

PROVINCIAL PANELS:

Leinster: Tiernan Murray (Gaelcholáiste na Mara, Arklow), Luke McNally (Castleknock College), Sam Hickey (St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny), Joe Manley (Ardscoil Rís SS, Marino), Luke Boore (Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan), Luke Byrne (St. Fintan’s HS, Sutton), Michael Murphy (St. Paul’s College, Raheny), Neil Farrugia (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock), Jack Ryan (Templeogue College), Eoin Porter (Good Counsel College, New Ross), Seán McDonald (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Conor Laying (Athlone Community College), Mark Dignam (Blackrock College), Adam Feeney (Knockbeg College, Carlow), Joe Carmondy (Marist College, Athlone), Adam Dempsey (Wexford CBS).

Management: Albert Sugg (St. Kilian’s Deutsche Schule), Fintan Sheridan & Ian Ryan (St. Kevin’s CC, Clondalkin), Stephen O’Reilly (GK Coach), Ferdia McKeown (Physio)

Munster: Ben Murray, Adam Conway & Shane Griffin (De La Salle College, Waterford), Cian Flanagan & Jack Larkin (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Ryan O’Regan (Carrigaline CS), Darryl Walsh (St. Declan’s CC), Brian Mulcahy & Eoin Davis (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Ger Barry (CBS Sexton Street, Limerick), Matthew Lambe (St. Colman’s CC, Midleton), Beineoin O’Brien (St. Colman’s College, Fermoy), Seán Martin & Eoin Power (CBS High School, Clonmel), Ryan Lambe (Rockwell College, Cashel), Ronan Hennessy (Christian Brothers College, Cork)

Management: Derek O’Brien (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Daniel Murphy (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Conor Coad (Coach), Seamus McWalter (Physio)

Ulster:  Jason McCallion (Moville CC), Jeaic MacCeallabhuí (Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny), Ryan Cunningham (St. Catherine’s VS, Killybegs), Connor Gormley & Shane McNamee (Loreto CC, Milford), Shane Blaney, Conor O’Donnell & Jordan Ryan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Jack Keaney (Abbey VS, Donegal Town), Corrie-Lee Bogan, Seán McBride & Jamie Bell (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Scott Prendergast (Virginia College), Aaron McColgan & Shane Dillon (Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana), Adam O’Connor (St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff)

Management: Paul Browne & David O’Herilhy (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny)

Connacht: Lorcan Callaghan (St. Mary’s College, Ballysadare), Ryan Smith, Darren Sommers & Ruadhan Feeney (Summerhill College, Sligo), Thierry Baba (St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar), Evan Murphy & Christopher Horgan (St. Enda’s College, Salthill), John Mahon (Coola Post Primary School, Sligo), Wilson Waweru, Ronan Asgari, Cian Mulryan (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Aidan Gaughan (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina), Ronan Manning (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Luke Kelly (St. Aloysius College, Athlone), Tommy Molloy (St. Mary’s College, Galway), Aaron Perry (St. Attracta's CS, Tubbercurry)

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

U18 BOYS’ INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT: AUL COMPLEX, CLONSHAUGH

35 mins per half. No extra time. 10 min h/t interval

Friday, October 7

4.00pm Leinster v Ulster 

5.00pm Connacht v Munster (under lights) 

Saturday, October 8

2.00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening

3.30pm Draw will be made on Friday evening

Sunday, October 9

10.00am Fixtures TBC

11.30am Fixtures TBC

Roll of Honour: Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament Winners

END