IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS ADVANCE TO FINAL

jolley123

The Ireland U-18 School team advanced to the final of the Elite group at the Justin Bridou U-18 FIRA/AER Championships in Auch on Sunday night with a hard fought win over France U-18s.

The Ireland U-18 School side now face England in the final of the tournament in Tarbes on April 23rd.

Ireland, who trailed 10 - 9 at half time came back from a 17 - 12 deficit with a 61st minute try from flanker Daniel Leavy which was converted by scrumhalf Luke McGrath to take a 17 - 19 lead which they duly held on to.

France opened the scoring with a penalty fom fullback Quentin Pilet thirteen minutes into the game but McGrath pulled the sides level just two minutes later.

From the restart France struck and a well worked move saw Mathieu Guillomot touch down with Pilet adding the conversion to put them 10 - 3 in front.

Ireland reduced the lead with further penalties from McGrath in the 28th and 37th minute to trail by a point at half time.

McGrath put Ireland in front on 47 minutes with another well struck penalty but a yellow card for Mark Best saw Ireland down to 14 men on 50 minutes.

France piled on the pressure and despite some stout resistance from the Ireland defensive line winger Thomas Teddy scored a neat try just as the ten minutes was nearly up. Clement Vernnezoul added the conversion to put them 17 - 12 ahead.

But just as France had done in the first half so too Ireland in the second when from the restart they regained the ball and mounted a well worked attack.

Leavy went in for the try to level the game and McGrath, who was really on form with the boot, added the crucial conversion to put Ireland back in front just two minutes later.

Both sides used the bench well and France maintained the pressure as they chased the game but the Ireland U-18 School side were resolute and held firm for a well earned victory and a place in the final against England.

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Luke McGrath seems to be a real talent and it's cool to see a scrum-half taking the kicks. He was MOM when they beat England and scored a good try that day and now it looks like he was the deciding factor in the French game. He was also very impressive in the schools competition this year.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Thanks man cool to know

Do you know what type of teams do other countries send, Ireland send their schools team, I think I read before that England sends a combined schools and clubs team so beating the English may be a big achievment, what about the French?

jolley123

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Thanks man cool to know

Do you know what type of teams do other countries send, Ireland send their schools team, I think I read before that England sends a combined schools and clubs team so beating the English may be a big achievment, what about the French?

Sorry couldn't tell you. Although I do know that France have won the competition 5 out of the last 7 times so they do take it seriously.

profitius

I think the French A team played Ireland youths (Ireland youths won that one). They mix the teams up alot so the line is blurred.

ormond lad

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Thanks man cool to know

Do you know what type of teams do other countries send, Ireland send their schools team, I think I read before that England sends a combined schools and clubs team so beating the English may be a big achievment, what about the French?

afaik nearly all other countrys send school/club combo teams as their u18 team for these comps

ormond lad

the game against england saturday evening will be shown live on eurosport 2

jolley123

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS Team & Replacements (v England Under-18s, FIRA-AER U-18 European Championship final, Stade Maurice Trelut, Tarbes, Saturday, April 23, kick-off 6.30pm local time/5.30pm Irish time):

15 - Rory Scholes (Campbell College)
14 - Conor McEllin (Blackrock College)
13 - Robert Henshaw (Marist College, Athlone)
12 - Chris Farrell (Campbell College)
11 - Mark Roche (Blackrock College)
10 - Stuart Olding (Belfast Royal Academy)
9 - Luke McGrath (St. Michael's College) (capt)
1 - Gordon Frayne (Clongowes Wood College)
2 - Bryan Byrne (Clongowes Wood College)
3 - Edward Byrne (Clongowes Wood College)
4 - Jerry Sexton (St. Mary's College)
5 - Gavin Thornbury (Blackrock College)
6 - Donagh Lawler (St. Michael’s College)
7 - Dan Leavy (St. Michael’s College)
8 - Ryan Murphy (Presentation Brothers College, Cork)

Replacements:

16 - Andrew Murphy (St. Michael’s College)
17 - Thomas Ferrari (Sligo Grammar School)
18 - Chris Taylor (Wallace High School)
19 - Luke Satchwell (The King’s Hospital)
20 - Mark Best (Campbell College)
21 - Jack O’Neill (Castleknock College)
22 - David Shanahan (Belvedere College)
23 - Rory Scannell (Presentation Brothers College, Cork)
24 - Jack Fitzpatrick (Gonzaga College)
25 - Cian O'Halloran (Christian Brothers College, Cork)
26 - Seamus Glynn (Presentation Brothers College, Cork)

Fight_Night

Haven't really been following the U18s, how has the scrum been holding up so far?

Monty Burnz

jolley123 wrote: »

Luke McGrath seems to be a real talent and it's cool to see a scrum-half taking the kicks.

You think that's cool? I remember Anthony Foley taking the kicks for St. Munchkins back in the day...
Deliberate mispelling is deliberate

jolley123

Fight_Night wrote: »

Haven't really been following the U18s, how has the scrum been holding up so far?

I don't think any of these matches have been televised so it's hard to know.
However, no.3 Edward Byrne is a real talent and was a stand-out player for Clongowes this year. A lot of coaches in the Leinster set-up are tipping him to be Ireland's next tight-head. Any time I've watched him he's been a demon in the loose and intelligent. Just need a closer look at his scrummaging.

This game will be televised according to an above poster so I suppose we'll see then.

Monty Burnz

jolley123 wrote: »

Just need a closer look at his scrummaging.

One of those tightheads, huh?

profitius

1 Munster players again! Were they supposed to give everybody a run or something?

Btw, I think the match is on eurosport 2.

Monty Burnz

It would be great if someone could stream this match, but I'm not optimistic.

Risteard

11-0 to Ireland.

England on top in the Scrum but we look better overall.

First time seeing McGrath and have been pretty impressed by him.

jolley123

11-3 to Ireland
Jerry Sexton off with shoulder injury
31 mins gone

jolley123

14-3 to Ireland
60 mins gone

Monty Burnz

I may be being influenced by the English commentators, but in the 15 minutes I've been watching, England are being whistled right off the park.

cruiserweight

Ireland lead 17-3 and England with a man in the bin, 10 minutes to go

jolley123

17-8
England try 68 mins

Monty Burnz

Commentators very impressed with McGrath.

cruiserweight

Ireland win 17-8

jolley123

Ireland win title, McGrath MOM.

thomond2006

Wow well done Ireland!!

Burgo

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Commentators very impressed with McGrath.

FT Ireland 17 - 8 England.

only saw the second half, but yeah he was excellent around the park. well deserved MOTM.

jolley123

Commentators impressed with Mark Roche as well. He had a good enough game considering he doesn't play wing.

Fight_Night

Great result for the lads well played.

jolley123

Vert stupid and immature from Jerry Sexton after the game. When the players made a tunnel he walked up to the camera, stuck out his tongue and gave the middle finger. He was also acting the idiot, yelling in the English players faces after the game.

If I was a coach in the Leinster set-up, I'd be wondering if he's ready for the responsibilities that come with being a professional athlete.

Monty Burnz

jolley123 wrote: »

Vert stupid and immature from Jerry Sexton after the game. When the players made a tunnel he walked up to the camera, stuck out his tongue and gave the middle finger. He was also acting the idiot, yelling in the English players faces after the game.

No place for that in the game. Depressing tbh.

andrewdcs

Huge congrats to young lads, England schools must have at least 10 times the player choice, but none of the choice players (whah!).
Huge plaudits to the schools systems generally, and the IRFU it has to be said. And the mammys. Always remember the poor mammys.

if even 2 or 3 "make it" professionally from this team it'd be fantastic.

andrewdcs

jolley123 wrote: »

Vert stupid and immature from Jerry Sexton after the game. When the players made a tunnel he walked up to the camera, stuck out his tongue and gave the middle finger. He was also acting the idiot, yelling in the English players faces after the game.

If I was a coach in the Leinster set-up, I'd be wondering if he's ready for the responsibilities that come with being a professional athlete.

thats unfortunate, sounds like his bro a few years back tbh.... maturity comes late to the sexton household. :rolleyes: