Munster 'A' side to face Leinster in interprovincial fixture named

THE Munster A squad for this Friday evening’s interprovincial clash against Leinster 'A' at Terenure College, 5pm, has been named.

Limerick Academy lock Evan O’Connell, who earned his first Munster cap against the All Blacks XV earlier this month, will captain the 25-man squad with a mix of senior, Academy and club players selected.

Senior players Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson, Eoghan Clarke, Tom Ahern, Jack Daly and Brian Gleeson are all named in the starting XV with Scott Buckley and short-term signing Conor Bartley (Young Munster) among the replacements.

There are 12 Munster Rugby Academy players included. Ben O’Connor, Gordon Wood, Gene O’Leary Kareem and Shay McCarthy start in the backline with George Hadden, Ronan Foxe, O’Connell and Ruadhán Quinn in the pack. Seán Edogbo, Jack Oliver, Dylan Hicks and Danny Sheahan are among the replacements.

Cork Constitution’s Eoghan Smyth, who came up through the ranks at Midleton RFC, starts at inside centre.

Fellow club players Emmet Calvey (Shannon RFC), Oisin Pepper and Hubert Gilvarry (both Young Munster) and Conor Ryan (UCC RFC) are among the replacements.

Entrance to the game at Lakelands is free of charge.

MUNSTER 'A': Ben O’Connor; Gordon Wood, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Eoghan Smyth, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson; George Hadden, Eoghan Clarke, Ronan Foxe; Tom Ahern, Evan O’Connell (C); Ruadhán Quinn, Jack Daly, Brian Gleeson. Replacements: 16. Scott Buckley, 17. Conor Bartley, 18. Emmet Calvey, 19. Conor Ryan, 20. Seán Edogbo, 21. Jack Oliver, 22. Dylan Hicks, 23. Oisín Pepper, 24. Danny Sheahan, 25. Hubert Gilvarry.