FRESH FROM SECURING victory for the Ireland U20s against Argentina with a last-gasp penalty, Cork Con out-half Tomás Quinlan has been named in Munster’s academy intake for 2015/16.
Quinlan is one of seven new recruits to Peter Malone’s academy, with fellow Ireland U20 men Liam O’Connor and Conor Oliver also signed up.
Oliver is an interesting acquisition for Munster, given that he came through the Leinster Schools system and played all of his underage representative rugby with the eastern province.
Oliver – who first came through in the club game with Skerries - was a try-scorer for Blackrock College in the 2014 Leinster Schools Senior Cup final, before moving into senior club rugby with St. Mary’s this season.
He played for Munster A against the Ulster Ravens in April and has now earned his academy shot.
Cork Con prop O’Connor was not originally part of the Ireland U20 squad that travelled to Italy for the current World Championship, but a broken nose for Jeremy Loughman saw him called up.
Already a Munster A rep, the talented O’Connor will relish his international opportunity.
Ned Hodson is the third Cork Con player to join Munster’s academy for next season, having been promoted from the sub-academy. The intelligent centre shone for Munster’s 7s side in last summer’s Limerick World Club 7s and is highly rated within the province.
Tighthead prop JP Phelan is another man who will join Munster’s academy after making his name in Leinster. The former Newbridge College student has been with UCD in recent times and has played for Leinster up to U20 level.
There are two further promotions from the sub-academy as the excellent Young Munster back row Ben Kilkenny and Garryowen wing Steven McMahon both join the academy under Malone.
Ex-St. Munchin’s number eight Kilkenny has been on Munster’s radar for some time, while Ireland U19 international McMahon doubles the number of Waterford men on the books in the province.
The Dungarvan native, who has played in the centre too, joins as Jack O’Donoghue moves on to a development contract with Anthony Foley’s senior squad.
Munster have also confirmed that previous academy members Jamie Glynn, Ryan Murphy and Max Abbott have been released, while Darren Sweetnam joins O’Donoghue in moving on to a development deal.
2015/16 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy
Year 1: Ned Hodson (Centre/Cork Con), Ben Kilkenny (Back-row/Young Munster), Steven McMahon (Winger/Garryowen), Liam O’Connor (Prop/Cork Con), Conor Oliver (Back-row/St Mary’s), JP Phelan (Prop/UCD), Tomás Quinlan (Outhalf/Cork Con).
Year 2: Stephen Fitzgerald (Fullback/Ard Scoil Rís), Ryan Foley (Scrumhalf/Cork Con), Dan Goggin (Centre/Young Munster), Darragh Moloney (Lock/Cork Con), Brian Scott (Prop/Dolphin).
Year 3: Rory Burke (Prop/Cork Con), Jack Cullen (Scrumhalf/Bruff), Niall Horan (Prop/Shannon), David Johnston (Fullback/UL Bohs), Gearoid Lyons (Outhalf/Shannon), Sean McCarthy (Lock/Shannon), John Madigan (Lock/Dolphin), Greg O’Shea (Winger/Shannon), Rory Scannell (Centre/Dolphin), Alex Wootton (Winger/Garryowen).
