IRISH RUGBY STARLET MAKES LAOIS PROUD
Ireland’s U-20 Rugby side has created a wonderful piece of history this week by claiming a first-ever spot in the IRB Junior World Cup semi-finals. Facing the young Irish men this Sunday in the QBE Stadium, North Harbour, New Zealand will be a huge and powerful England side. A crucial cog in this Irish side is no other than Abbeyleix man Rory Moloney. The Connacht player is really having a dream end to what has been a marvellous season for the Laois youngster. It’s wonderful that the young Laois man has his father in attendance, supporting him all the way.
Not content with nailing down Connacht’s U-19 Player of the Season award the back-row forward was pushing hard for a starting spot come Sunday after his very bright display in the previous game. The Connacht dynamo will start the game against England on the bench but is sure to feature in what will undoubtedly be a teak-tough test.
Ireland Under-20 Team to play England Under-20 (IRB Junior World Championship Semi-Final, QBE Stadium, Auckland – Sunday 15th June, kick-off 17.05hrs local time/06.05hrs Irish Time)
15 Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)
14 Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht)
13 Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)
12 Dan Goggin (Young Munster /Munster)
11 Alex Wootton (Garryowen/Munster)
10 Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
9 Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
1 Peter Dooley (Lansdowne/Leinster)
2 Max Abbott (Cork Constitution/Munster)
3 Rory Burke (Cork Constitution/Munster)
4 Stephen Gardiner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5 Ross Molony (UCD/Leinster)
6 Peadar Timmins (UCD/Leinster)
7 Frank Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/ Ulster)
8 Jack O’ Donoghue (ULBohemians/Munster) (Capt)
Replacements
16 Dylan Donnellan (UCD/Leinster)
17 Denis Coulson (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18 Oisin Heffernan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19 Darragh Moloney (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 Rory Moloney (Buccaneers/Connacht)
21 Ryan Foley (Lansdowne/Leinster)
22 Conor McKeon (Lansdowne/Leinster)
23 Harrisson Brewer (Terenure/Leinster)