JACK DINEEN ARRIVED into the Connacht Academy last season as a promising flanker. On Saturday evening, at The Sportsground, the 19-year-old should make his senior debut at hooker. To make the occasion all the more memorable, Dinneen is set to line out against Munster, a club that is dear to his father’s heart.
Dinneen has been heavily involved in Galwegians RFC’s first, seconds and U20 teams this season and has also lined out for Connacht Eagles. An injury crisis in the hooker’s department means he is named on the bench as back-up for Jason Harris-Wright.
Should he come off the bench against Munster, he will be the youngest of Connacht’s debutants this season. As the surname suggests, there is a Limerick and Munster background to Dineen. His father, Len Dinneen, is a former Munster legend with Old Crescents College roots. The teenager has been playing as back-row with the Galwegians senior team [in Ulster Bank League 2A] while lining out as hooker for the seconds and U20s.
Cory Brown, who is skills coach with Connacht and head coach at Galwegians, explains the logic of his dual roles. He told TheScore.ie: “Connacht Academy Manager Nigel Carolan and Jimmy Duffy discussed with Jack to convert from him from back row to hooker in the last six months.”
“Jack has jumped straight into hooker role” added Brown, “and has worked very hard, he is very dedicated with diet, gym, etcetera and is very coach-able, does his home work and has a great attitude.” Brown continued:
I think he will go well, he is a great ball carrier and a solid kid so physically he will be fine. He is only 19 but is very mature for his age and I hope he takes his chance with both hands and I think he has a great future.
One of the Connacht senior players who has worked closely with Dinneen is a back row himself. John Muldoon, who is captaining the province in the absence of Craig Clarke, is assistant coach with Galwegians this season. Brown says Muldoon’s thoroughly professional attitude, on and off the field, has rubbed off on the college-going rugby starlet.
Looking ahead to Saturday evening’s clash at The Sportsground, Connacht coach Pat Lam said, “It doesn’t get any bigger than Munster at home. It’s always a tough game for us no matter where we play them. It’s been seven weeks since we’ve played at the Sportsground and with a huge crowd expected, it’s certainly going to be a special night. We can feel the buzz in training, the buzz around town. Everyone is up for it.”
Munster’s loss to Glasgow weekend saw them leapfrogged by Ulster in the hunt for a top two [home semi-final] place. “We know this is a must-win game for Munster too,” said Lam. “Like us, they’ll be hurting after their loss last week and they’ll want to lay down a marker ahead of their big game with Toulon. We expect a big back lash and we need to be able to deal with it.”
