LEINSTER’S IMPRESSIVE STRENGTH in depth is underlined by the fact they have been able to name a strong team for tomorrow’s British and Irish Cup final against Ealing Trailfinders.
All but one of the province’s starting XV has featured in the Guinness Pro14 this season, with coach Noel McNamara able to call upon experienced players such as Ian Nagle and Mick Kearney, as well as Ireland international Adam Byrne.
Leinster ‘A’ will again be captained by Bryan Byrne, with the Carlow native joined in the front row by brother Ed and Vakh Abdaladze, while Nagle and Kearney make up the second row pairing.
Josh Murphy, Peadar Timmins and Max Deegan make up a powerful back row unit having featured regularly for the senior team this term, as Leinster bid to win the competition for the third time.
In the back line, Ciarán Frawley moves from fullback to out-half and will be partnered in the half-backs by Charlie Rock, who last week helped Lansdowne to the AIL title at the Aviva Stadium.
Jack Kelly — the only player in the side yet to make a senior appearance for the province — comes in to start in the 15 shirt, with Tommy O’Brien and Byrne once again selected on the wings.
Conor O’Brien and Gavin Mullin will continue their midfield partnership in the final, which gets underway at 2pm and will be streamed live on Leinster Rugby Facebook page.
Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Caelan Doris and Will Connors are among those named on the bench, while Hugh O’Sullivan and Tom Daly provide the back line cover.
Leinster ‘A’:
15. Jack Kelly
14. Adam Byrne
13. Gavin Mullin
12. Conor O’Brien
11. Tommy O’Brien
10. Ciarán Frawley
9. Charlie Rock
1. Ed Byrne
2. Bryan Byrne (captain)
3. Vakh Abdaladze
4. Mick Kearney
5. Ian Nagle
6. Josh Murphy
7. Peadar Timmins
8. Max Deegan
Replacements:
16. Sean McNulty
17. Peter Dooley
18. Jack Aungier
19. Caelan Doris
20. Will Connors
21. Hugh O’Sullivan
22. Tom Daly
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Imo Sean Andy shhould have got that award and votes should have been done by a panel of analysts … any player he marked he marked out off all the games he played they had to get moved off him especially in the Kerry game where there best forward got switched off him.. that includes the Dublin team where he was definitely man of the match on a losing team as well .
Yeah Sean Andy definitely should have got it. Was imperious in both the semi final and final. It was a public vote though and Dublin has a much bigger population than Galway hence the outcome.
@Sean Moore: Galway no.3 looks a top player no doubt and hopefully will be part of a new era for Galway football. To say he was imperious in the final, not sure, his direct opponent Con O’Callaghan scored 1-1 from play and won a free off Sean Andy for dublins first score of the game and O’Callaghan also laid off at least two gimme points directly. I thought it was a great contest between COC and Sean Andy and for my money the Galway man shaded it but imperious, no. Aaron Byrne was key in the victory for dublin as he was in the semi against Donegal. Neither Galway or Donegal were able to cope with the controlled direct running of the dublin half forward, for me he was the key man in the destination of the title this year. Hopefully we will see more great contests between these players in the years ahead.