The Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament will launch the first series of events in the FAI Schools calendar this year: The tournament will see the first and second round of games played at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore while Sunday morning’s fixtures will be played at Athlone Town FC:
The Interprovincial’s are 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:
Leinster have a fantastic record in this tournament, having captured the title nine times in eleven years: Manager John McShane will be hoping to make it four in a row this year: The Leinster lads worked extremely hard last season to grind out victories over Ulster in the opening encounter while continuing their good run of form with a convincing win over Munster and then drawing level with eventual runners up Connacht in the final game of the competition:
The Leinster side just did enough to overcome the westerners challenge last year however it could be a reversal of roles this time around:
McShane has selected a mix of talent from around the Province with players from Athboy, Athlone, Athy, Bray, Blackrock, Kilcoole, Leixlip, Palmerstown and Tullow all represented:
Net minder Greg Murray from Pobailscoil Iosolde is the sole survivor from last season’s panel: Having tasted success last year the Palmerstown student will be hoping to continue their rich run of form:
Mark Leavy, Athboy, Sean Plunkett, Bray and Dean Mason of Raheny will be players to watch out for as the leinster lads kick off the defence of their title against runners up Connacht in the opening game of the tournament on Friday evening (Leah Victoria Park, 5pm):
It should be a pulsating tie as Connacht welcome back six players from last season: The men making a return include Martin Owens, Shane Keogh, James Casserley, Shane Gallagher, Billy Lane and Barry McEntee: The experience gained last time around should put them in a commanding position against a well prepared Leinster outfit:
St: Muredach’s duo of Brian Lacey and Emmet Peyton take over the reins of the Connacht team for a second consecutive year which shows a strong St: Mary’s presence in the squad: It’s not surprising given the School captured the FAI Schools Senior All Ireland Cup last March:
Lacey suffered a major blow with the withdrawal of U17 International star Colm Horgan: The youngster picked up an injury while playing for his club and has been ruled out of proceedings: Sharp shooter Tony Ward is also a late injury concern for the Connacht management:
Munster will see three familiar faces return to the foe: Kevin Barry, St Paul’s Community College, Waterford, Andrew Bhandarkar, Presentation Brothers College, Cork and Kealan O’Gorman of Cashel Community College will all feature for David Dineen’s side:
Mercy Mount Hawk student, Barry Galvin is the only representative from Kerry to make the final cut: The net keeper will be hoping to keep his side in contention this year as they failed to get off the mark last season:
Cork trio consist of James O’Brien, Colaiste Sprioraid Naoimh, Alan O’Flynn, Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh and the experienced Andrew Bhandarkar of Presentation Brothers:
The famous Sexton Street, CBS in Limerick will be represented by Alan Rissoko, Cian Collins, Michael Menton, Aaron Cooney, Colin Daley and net minder Stephen McNamara: Indeed Menton and McNamara were late introductions alongside Barry Sheedy and Craig Keane: The youngsters will be relishing the opportunity to represent their Province this weekend:
Paddy Carr’s Ulster outfit are a new look side with only Finian Farrelly of Inver College in Carrickmacross returning from last season:
The Ulster team can’t escape the Donegal dominance in the line/up which features players from the Buncrana, Dungloe, Gweedore, Stranorlar, Raphoe, Milford, Carndonagh, Moville and Falcarragh:
The rejuvenated team will need to be highly motivated as they kick off their season’s campaign against the mighty Munster team in the second of the evenings fixtures on Friday at Tullamore (KO 6:30pm)
The competition went down to the wire last year with the final game of the tournament deciding the winners: Connacht required a win while Leinster only required a draw: This tantalising tie produced an exciting encounter: The westerners enjoyed the early exchanges with a number of chances in the second half falling to Billy Lane: Defenders Marty Owens and James Casserly put in a solid performance alongside both keepers: They served up a match winning performance while demonstrated agility, speed and excellent shot stopping ability: The game ended in deadlock which was frustrating for Lacey but exhilarating for the Leinster lads:
The Connacht management will be hoping that sharp shooters Billy Lane and Dylan McConville will be on song as they go in pursuit of a win against old rivals Leinster:
Lacey admits that it will be a difficult task to come away with the silverware but he has faith in the selection he has chosen to face the title holders in the opening game of the tournament:
Niall Murphy of Summerhill College will be a central figure to watch out for, as well as Martin Owens of St Joseph’s Charlestown: The boys will be hoping to progress further this year as International management will be in attendance to oversee proceedings:
St: Joseph’s College, Galway who are a dominant force in schools football has surprisingly only one player featuring with goalkeeper Evan Duffy given a deserved call up:
Ballina will see John Mountney reach Provincial level status: While Sligo have the impressive Killian Sweeney and Niall Murphy ever present in the final selection:
Munster and Ulster have always been evenly matched so the first round of games may prove decisive in their campaign: With a new pool of talent in stock these two teams could produce a surprise for McShane and Lacey as they go in search of the silverware in 2010:
As part of the International trial process, a training squad will be selected by the Irish School’s management team: This consists of Mr: Ollie Horgan (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Mr: Hugh Colhoun (St: Laurence College, Loughlinstown), Mr: Dave Archbold (Palmerstown Community School) and Ian Carry (FAI National Development Officer for Schools):
This provisional training squad will have a major three day session at the end of the month as well as numerous sessions early next year ahead of their first competitive game of the International series which is scheduled at home to Wales on the 4 March in Killarney: In preparation for the opening Centenary Shield encounter, the Irish will play Poland in an International Friendly on 17 February in the Oscar Traynor Centre, Coolock: The management will use this friendly encounter to finalise their squad to defend their Centenary Shield title:
In keeping with the long standing tradition of maintaining the interest in the competition until the final matches on Sunday morning, the draw for Saturday and Sunday’s matches will be made following the games on Friday evening:
This year, Student Travelcard has teamed up with the FAI Schools to proudly sponsor the Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament: This mutually beneficial relationship will see the players awarded student travel cards which offer exclusive travel discounts of up to 40% as well as over 200 discounts available for retail outlets, gyms, food and entertainment: Check out www:studenttravelcard:ie for further information
PROVINCIAL PANELS:
Leinster: Lee Brandon (Presentation College, Bray), Dean Mason (De La Salle, Raheny), Conor Earley (Colaiste Chraobh Abhainn, Kilcoole), Gavin Colton (Confey College, Leixlip), Ryan Matthews (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), James Kavanagh (Oatlands College), Mark Leavy (Athboy Community School), Sean Plunkett (St: Brendan’s College, Bray), Daniel Murphy (Confey College, Leixlip), Chris Lyons (Presentation College, Bray), Paul Mannion (St: Benildus College), Mark Hughes (Scoil na Trionoide, Athy), Eric Molloy (Tullow Community School), Rob Murray (Athlone Community School), Giovani Boccarossa (Oatlands College), Greg Murray (Phobailscoil Iosolde, Palmerstown)
Management: John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), Paddy O’Reilly (Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun), Conor Foley (Athlone Community College), Ger Prendergast (Physio, Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun)
Munster: Barry Galvin (Mercy Mount Hawk, Tralee), Alan Rissoko (Limerick CBS), Kevin Barry (St: Paul’s Community College, Waterford), James O’Brien (Colaiste Spioraid Naoimh), Ian Fahy (Colaiste Chluain Meala) Craig Keane (St: Paul’s Community College), Cian Collins (Limerick CBS), Michael Menton (Limerick CBS), Alan O’Flynn (Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh), Barry Sheedy (St: Joseph’s College, Kilmallock), Andrew Bhandarkar (PBC, Cork), Kealan O’Gorman (Cashel Community College), Conor Coad (De La Salle, Waterford), Aaron Cooney (Limerick CBS), Colin Daley (Limerick CBS), Stephen McNamara (Limerick CBS)
Management: Dave Dineen (CBS High School, Clonmel), Darius Delahunty (CBS High School, Clonmel), Peter O’Sullivan and Tom Morrissey:
Ulster: Finian Farrelly (Inver College, Carrickmacross), Conor Keddy (Carndonagh Community School), Colm McLaughlin (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Emmett Patterson (St: Columbas College, Stranorlar), Ryan McLaughlin (Carndonagh Community School), Anthony Blair (Pobalscoil Gweedore), Gary Merritt (Loreto Community School Milford), Shane McGinty (Deele College, Raphoe), Jordan Duffy (St Columbas College, Stranorlar), Liam Martin (Abbey Vocational School), Mark Timlin (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Stephen Rodden (Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, Falcarraigh), Calvin Bradley (St Columbas College), Michael Barr (Moville Community College), Tony McNamee (Loreto Community School, Milford), Christopher McGlynn (Rosses Community School)
Management: Paddy Carr (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Sean McFadden (Crana College), William O’Connor (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Conal McBride (Inver College, Carrickmacross):
Connacht: Evan Duffy (St: Joseph’s College, Galway), Martin Owens (St: Joseph’s Secondary School, Charlestown), Shane Keogh (St: Mary’s College, Galway), James Casserley (St: Mary’s College, Galway), AN OTHER, Niall Murphy (Summerhill College, Sligo), Shane Gallagher (St: Mary’s College), Ian Batley (Clifden Community School), Tony Ward (St: Mary’s College), Billy Lane (Presentation College, Athenry), Dylan McConville (Colaiste Einde, Galway), Killian Sweeney (Summerhill College, Sligo), Barry McEntee (St: Mary’s College), John Mountney (St: Muredach’s College, Ballina), Damien Connaughton (Colaiste Einde, Galway), Connor Glesson (St: Mary’s College)
Management: Brian Lacey & Emmet Peyton (St: Mureduch’s College, Ballina), Michael Feeney (FAI/FAS), Seamus McWalter (Physio)
INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES:
Friday 15th October (Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore)
5:00pm Leinster v Connacht
6:30pm Munster v Ulster
Saturday 16th October (Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore)
2:00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
4:00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
Sunday 17th October (Athlone Town FC)
10:00am Fixtures TBC
11:30am Fixtures TBC
BOYS’ INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES:
Friendly
17 February Republic of Ireland v Poland (Oscar Traynor Centre, Coolock)
Centenary Shield
4 March Republic of Ireland v Wales (Killarney, Kerry)
17 March Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland (Newry)
1 April Scotland v Republic of Ireland (Dumfries)
29 April Republic of Ireland v England (TBC) Live on Sky Sports
END