Youths Rugby

Ireland U-18 Clubs Record Big Win
18 April 2011, 1:21 pm ::
Match Report By Editor
In front of a crowd in excess of 4000 locals the Ireland U 18 Clubs team turned in a convincing performance to beat their French hosts under the Stade Penvilliers floodlights in Quimper, Brittany by 27 points to 14, outscoring France by 3 tries to one.
The Irish boys started in confident mood taking the game to France and gained an early reward when centre Thomas Daly knocked over a penalty from 35 metres in the opening minutes. From the kick off France pressurised the Irish side but strong defence kept them at bay and a great turnover in mid field saw the ball reach centre Kieran Butler, who made a great midfeld break, to score close to the posts. Daly added the conversion to give Ireland a 10-0 lead after 10 minutes.
This stung the French into action and after a period of pressure Ireland infringed at the breakdown and France were awarded a penalty which they converted to narrow the gap to 10-3.
Debutant out half George Cullen, who was having a fine game, threatened the French defence with a side stepping break which took play deep into the French half.
Ireland were awarded a scrum and scrum half Barry Digby made a sniping break from the base only to be cut down within sight of the French try line. Unfortunately he was penalised for holding on and the French were able to clear their lines.
On 25 minutes, out half Cullen made another break on the French 22 metre line and good feet and a strong hand off saw him cross for a try which Daly converted once again thus extending the Irish lead to 17-3.
Ireland won the ball at the kick off but were turned over leading to a period of French pressure. However a well organised Irish defence kept the French at bay but just minutes before half time the French were awarded another breakdown penalty which they converted to trail by 17-6 at half time.
Ireland made a nervy start to the second half and soon found their lead narrowed as the French scored an unconverted try to narrow the gap to 6 points (17-11).
Ireland's defence was being truly tested at this period but the French were unable to penetrate a well drilled defence whose committed tackling ensured the Irish line was kept intact.
The French scrum half was causing problems with breaks from the ruck and he added a penalty 10 minutes into the second half to narrow Ireland's lead to 17-14. Ireland then lost influential out half Cullen to injury.
This caused a reshuffle to the back line with Daly moving to out half and Conall Doherty replacing Cullen. They also made a front row change with Ryan Furniss replacing Jamie Dever.
Up front the Irish pack was in control in the lineout with Captain Eoghan Masterson, Sean O'Brien and Ultan Dillane all turning in big performances. Flanker Conor Joyce was also having a big game carrying ball well and making big hits in defence.
Irish nerves were settled 15 minutes into the second half when Daly, who was having a good night off the tee and in defence, slotted a penalty to extend Ireland's lead to 20-14.
Ireland, now playing with growing confidence went on the attack and after fine work by the forwards, lock Dillane crossed for Ireland's third try of the match. Once again Daly added the extra points to give Ireland a 13 point lead.
Coach Greg Lynch then used his bench bringing on replacements Adam Byrne, Dave O'Connell, Eoin Stynes and Josh O'Rourke for Tom Flynn, Sean O'Brien, Barry Digby and Peter Dooley who were unsurprisingly showing signs of tiring in what had been a very physical and quick paced game.
This was a strong all round team performance with the Irish boys showing great commitment, passion and skill throughout earning them a well deserved first ever victory over France.
The Ireland U-18 Club team have done very weel this season with a comprehensive win over Germany U-18s and a draw against a combined England Club & School side last weekend.
Ireland U18s Lineup
David Panter; Tom Flynn; Kieran Butler; Thomas Daly; Conor Fitzgibbon; George Cullen; Barry Digby; Peter Dooley; George McGuigan; Jamie Dever; Sean O'Brien; Ultan Dillane; Conor Joyce; Eoghan Masterson (c); Akalaque Khan.
Replacements:
Ryan Furniss; Josh O'Rourke; Cillian Walsh; David O'Connell; Cronan Gleeson; Eoin Stynes; Conall Doherty; Adam Byrne
http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/22970.php

ormond lad wrote: »

all-ireland u17 final between galwegians and gorey has been deferred from sat to sun the 1st may

Final preview here
Hope both teams play to their potential and show how good youths rugby is

ormond lad wrote: »

all-ireland u17 final between galwegians and gorey has been deferred from sat to sun the 1st may

galwegians won 20-7
Galwegians Triumph In Under-17 Final
2 May 2011, 2:57 pm
By Editor

Sunday afternoon's All-Ireland Under-17 Cup final was won by Galwegians, who claimed the title for the first time at this grade. They beat Gorey 20-7 in the decider in Naas.
IRFU ALL-IRELAND UNDER-17 CUP FINAL: Sunday, May 1
GALWEGIANS 20 GOREY 7, Forenaughts, Naas RFC

Scorers: Galwegians: Tries: Paul Power, Sean O'Brien; Cons: Ciaran Gaffney 2; Pens: Ciaran Gaffney 2
Gorey: Try: Eddie Earle; Con: James Nolan

After a few close attempts in recent years, Galwegians finally claimed the title of All-Ireland Under-17 champions with a comprehensive and thoroughly deserved win over Leinster Premiership and Plate champions Gorey.

Playing into the teeth of a strong first half breeze, 'Wegians showed some signs of early nerves but eventually settled into their pattern of play.

They were making light work of facing the elements with another powerful display from their pack paving the way.

Their back row combination were beginning to get on top with captain and Ireland underage international Sean O’Brien leading by example, aided and abetted by flankers Ross Kerrigan and John Martin and an impressive front five unit in front of them.

The Sky Blues had the first chance to take the lead but the stiffening breeze denied out-half Ciaran Gaffney with an early penalty opportunity.

However, they made the vital breakthrough in the 20th minute when some excellent driving play from the forwards gave scrum half Paul Power the chance to dive over for a well-deserved opening try. Gaffney landed the conversion to put the 'Wegians 7-0 to the good.

Nonetheless, the Wexford youngsters, in their first national final, were undaunted and they threatened at times to take advantage of the elements in their favour, only to meet a stern defensive wall of resistance.

And the Connacht side struck a killer blow right on half-time when Gaffney struck a superb penalty from the 10-metre line against the breeze to make it 10-0 at the break.

Gorey came out all guns blazing in the second half and their pressure was forcing a succession of penalties, which eventually led to the sin-binning of 'Wegians winger Niall Kane for a deliberate knock on.

However, 'Wegians showed their worth with a remarkable 10 minutes of play with a man down, during which they scored 10 unanswered points.

Gaffney added a second penalty shortly after the sin-binning when the Sky Blues turned defence into attack, and the defining moment came when skipper O'Brien intercepted a pass and dashed home unopposed to touch down under the posts for a second try.

Gaffney's conversion made it 20-0, and with the out-half and his half-back colleague Power now in control of the game, the title was all but secured.

Gutsy Gorey did manage a consolation score on the hour mark with a converted try from their inspirational captain Eddie Earle, but it was a case of too little, too late. The final whistle sparked wild celebrations from the Galwegians supporters on the sidelines.

GALWEGIANS: P Kitt; N Kane, P O'Donnell, P Hackett, N Grogan; C Gaffney, P Power; M Joyce, C Gavin, D McArdle, S Murray, P Dervan, R Kerrigan, J Martin, S O'Brien (capt).

Replacements: D Byrne, S Fallon, E O'Brien, E O'Dwyer, E Hughes, F Stoneman, A Butler.

Referee: Mark Patton (IRFU)

from: http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/23047.php

Heard tonight that Alan Quinlan and Andrew Thompson are the new coaches of north munster youths u16 and u17s. Great to see such high profile players getting involved in youths rugby, hopefully they do well and go on to the munster set-up in a few years time and more top level players follow in their footsteps

Eoin Reddan recently presented a new Under 19 North Munster Cup at a function in Old Crescent rugby club.
The U19 Cup was commissioned by Old Crescent and named after Eoin's late mother, Geraldine Reddan, to mark the long association of the Reddan family with Old Crescent and Limerick rugby.
Eoin presented the new cup and medals to the inaugural winners, the Old Crescent Under 19 squad, who won the North Munster Under 19 Cup Competition at the end of the season.
Fixtures are up on munsterrugby.ie for all east munster leagues as well as u13-u15 north munster leagues

rugby_fan wrote: »

Anyone know venues for u18 youths interpro fixtures?!?

Leinster and munster is on in donnybrook, havent heard anything about the other games yet
Munster have added a few players to their squad who start training on monday, shows mistakes were made in picking the initial squad as afaik all the call ups are in the backs

rugby_fan wrote: »

thanks:)...thats strange to hear about munster adding to there squad...You would imagine after all the screenings and trials etc they would have there best players selected...you would think the new players will be at a slight disadvantage with all other panel members training throughout the summer..

Not really that strange in hearing players being dropped and picked etc at this stage, Its happened most years recently. From what ive heard the coaches realised that some of the players that had been picked(especially in the backs as this years Munster Pack is super but the backs are not that great in comparison) were not up to interpro standard after seeing them train for the last month or so
One of the lads called up is from Nenagh and has been training with our AIL team and one of the best skills coaches in the country(Pat Whelan from Nenagh) as well as tipp u17 gaelic football and is an all ireland finalist 100m and 400m so wont be at much of a disadvantage to those in the squad already

rugby_fan wrote: »

The munster pack will be good this season so will they!?..Yeah thats a valid point I suppose most players that have been brought in have been doing some sort of training, that player from nenagh sounds very talented. Is there many players after been brought in do ya know!?

The pack should be very strong, Rockwell and some of the other schools have been sniffing around several of the East Munster Players that dominated the u17 competition that helps decide the squad that was played in feb/march
I think 2 or 3 have been added to the squad but im not sure, it probably will not be any more than that

Thursday, 25th August:
Yorkshire Schools v Leinster, Leeds, tbc

Sunday, 28th August:
Exiles v Leinster, Manchester, tbc

Wednesday, 14th September:
Naas v Leinster, Naas RFC, 7.30pm

Sunday, 25th September
Connacht v Leinster, Sportsground, 1pm

Saturday, 1st October
Leinster v Munster, Donnybrook, 1pm

Saturday, 8th October:
Ulster v Leinster, tbc, 1pm