Limerick players impress for Ireland U20s and Munster Development XV in Musgrave Park fixture

THERE was strong Limerick representation at Musgrave Park as the Ireland U20s defeated a Munster Development XV 40-26 in their fixture played at Musgrave Park on Friday.

The Ireland U20s starting line-up included three locally-based players. The highly rated Evan O'Connell, of UL-Bohemian, impressed in the second row, while Garryowen's exciting scrum-half Jack Oliver scored one of his side's six tries as well as kicking a conversion. Both players are members of the Munster Rugby Academy.

The Ireland U20 pack also included the impressive Ruadhan Quinn, of Old Crescent, who was also among their tryscorers. 

Nineteen-year-old Quinn, who became Munster's youngest player of the professional era when he came off the bench against Zebre in the URC at Musgrave Park in October, won a Munster Schools Senior Cup medal with Crescent College Comprehensive last March.

Ireland U20s led the Munster Development XV, who also included several Limerick players in their line-up, 19-12 at half-time. The Munster Development XV scored four tries in reply with scrum-half Ethan Coughlan helping himself to a brace, while Josh Costello and Chris Moore also touched down. Shannon RFC player Coughlan also kicked a conversion, while Jeff Williams added two more. 

Ireland U20s enjoyed their seven-point interval lead thanks to John Devine’s second-minute try and further five-pointers from  Diarmuid Mangan and Quinn. Josh Costello and Coughlan touched down for Munster.

Above, Jack Oliver, of Ireland U20s, on his way to scoring a try in Friday's game. Picture: Kieran Ryan Benson

Despite scrum half Coughlan squaring it up with his second try, a run of scores from replacements Rory Telfer and Gus McCarthy, and Jack Oliver, had the Ireland U-20s out of reach before Chris Moore replied for Munster.

The Ireland U20s will start the New Year by playing a Leinster Development XV at Energia Park on Friday, January 6, four weeks out from their U-20 Six Nations opener away to Wales.

IRELAND U-20: Henry McErlean (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), John Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Noah Sheridan (Clontarf FC/Leinster); Harry West (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Jack Oliver (Garryowen FC/Munster); Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Matt Victory (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Fiachna Barrett (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster), Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Ruadhan Quinn (Old Crescent RFC/Munster), James McNabney (Ballymena RFC/Ulster). Replacements: Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster), George Hadden (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Ronan Foxe (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Joe Hopes (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), George Shaw (Cardiff University RFC/IQ Rugby), Oscar Cawley (Naas RFC/Leinster, Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Rory Telfer (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Sam Berman (Dublin University FC/Leinster), James Doyle (Lansdowne FC/Leinster).

MUNSTER DEVELOPMENT XV: Conor Phillips (Young Munster RFC); Josh Costello (Shannon RFC), Fionn Gibbons (Young Munster RFC), Liam McCarthy (Highfield RFC), Ihechi Oji (UL Bohemian RFC); Jeff Williams (UCD RFC), Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC); Kieran Ryan (Shannon RFC), Danny Sheahan (UCC RFC), Darragh McSweeney (Shannon RFC), Fearghail O’Donoghue (Cashel RFC), Eoin O’Connor (Young Munster RFC) (capt), Jack Kelleher (Cork Constitution FC), Jacob Sheahan (UCC RFC), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC). Replacements: Chris Moore (Young Munster RFC), Mark Donnelly (Garryowen FC), Danny McCarthy (UCC RFC), Oisin Toland (Old Crescent RFC), Ronan O’Sullivan (Young Munster RFC), Kyle Read (Midleton RFC), Aaron Quirke (UCC RFC), Cian O’Halloran (Shannon RFC), Oli Morris (Garryowen FC), Shay McCarthy (Young Munster RFC), Daniel Hurley (Cork Constitution FC), George Coomber (Cork Constitution FC).

REFEREE: Joy Neville (IRFU)