THE EXPERIENCED HEADS showed their value for Leinster in Galway.
30-year-old Joey Carbery reminded everyone of his class in the number 10 shirt as he played the conditions beautifully and brought nice balance to his and Leinster’s game.
Right wing Jordan Larmour (29) was another who underlined that he still has plenty to offer as he made a big impact on his first appearance of the season.
Skipper and blindside flanker Max Deegan, who turned 30 this month, led the way at lineout time and got among the tries in yet another strong outing, while 27-year-old Scott Penny showed his toughness in contact throughout.
Brian Deeny is hardly an auld lad at 26, but this was his 56th Leinster cap so he was a senior man and had one of his best outings for the province, while Peter Dooley brought all of his 100+ caps worth of experience off the bench.
They were all important, but Leinster’s resounding 50-5 win over Connacht is likely to be remembered just as much for the impact that the younger men had for Leo Cullen’s side.
With 17 Leinster players having gone into Ireland camp last Sunday, Cullen made 14 changes to his starting XV, which had a youthful look. And it was a good night for the youngsters.
Inside the opening five minutes, 21-year-old fullback Todd Lawlor was showing his running threat as he took a Deeny offload, accelerated upfield, and found scrum-half Fintan Gunne with an inside pass.
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Joey Carbery was player of the match. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Lawlor, making his third start for Leinster, soon made a classy offload of his own to Carbery as they counter-attacked out of their own 22. Later in the first quarter, they combined again when Carbery dinked a left-footed chip for Lawlor to steam onto before flicking the ball deftly with his right boot, nearly teeing up Connor Fahy to score.
Lawlor scored Leinster’s third try, showing great awareness and acceleration to run off Larmour on kick return, with the fullback slaloming outside and away from Shayne Bolton for a pacy score.
It was also Lawlor’s determined counter-attack that launched Deegan’s bonus-point try, with the number 15 breaking two tackle attempts in midfield before offloading to Deeny.
This was a thrilling demonstration of Lawlor’s attacking verve, which was also on show when he made his senior debut in the opening game of Leinster’s season away to the Lions. He played a week later against the Sharks, relying on his more foundational fullback qualities like positioning and fielding.
This has been an exciting start to life with Leinster for Lawlor, who was part of a back three that also included 23-year-old JJ Kenny, producer of an excellent first-half break after catching a high ball on the retreat.
21-year-old Wexford man Fahy enjoyed a promising debut at outside centre, with his power in contact clear for all to see. A product of the Youths system with Wexford Wanderers and Enniscorthy RFC, he was agonisingly close to a first-half try.
Charlie Tector is no kid at the age of 24, but he continues to improve every time he plays and was a key part of Leinster’s win in Galway.
Working perfectly in tandem with Carbery was 23-year-old scrum-half Gunne, who had one of his best Leinster games in the wet, windy weather. There were moments of silky skill, such as a delicate grubber kick, while Gunne bagged a deserved try late on after a combative, assured display.
Number eight James Culhane turned 24 this month but probably feels like he’s still only really getting going with Leinster in some ways. This was a convincing, complete performance from him.
Leinster number eight James Culhane. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Culhane was Leinster’s joint top ball-carrier on 16, along with Deeny, and he brought plenty of venom.
Towering 21-year-old lock Alan Spicer got his third start for the province in the engine room and had some nice touches on the ball, as well as using his hulking frame to good effect in the tight work, which was crucial in such challenging conditions.
And a youthful Leinster front row of 21-year-old Alex Usanov, 23-year-old Gus McCarthy, and 21-year-old Niall Smyth impressed, with 22-year-old Stephen Smyth and 21-year-old debutant Alex Mullan coming off the bench.
The manner in which Usanov got to grips with the experienced Finlay Bealham at scrum time was encouraging for Leinster, while hooker McCarthy was among the best players on the pitch partly thanks to his aggression and collision-winning.
McCarthy has lost his place in the senior Ireland squad to Ulster’s Tom Stewart but will captain the Ireland XV next month against Fiji A. On Saturday night in Galway, he was certainly a leader.
Tighthead prop Smyth made his Leinster debut in Galway back in January of this year, and it was a very challenging night for him, so this happy return to Dexcom Stadium was all the more pleasing. He is highly regarded within Leinster.
Making just his fifth appearance for Leinster, the exciting 21-year-old centre/wing Ciarán Mangan bagged an intercept try, while imposing 23-year-old lock Conor O’Tighearnaigh added to his growing reputation.
Out-half Caspar Gabriel (21) only got 10 minutes to make a dent, with Carbery moving to fullback when he came on, but he has signalled his talent already this season.
Leinster’s youngsters surely enjoyed the bus journey home to Dublin on Saturday night.
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Lawlor leads the way as Leinster's exciting young players shine
THE EXPERIENCED HEADS showed their value for Leinster in Galway.
30-year-old Joey Carbery reminded everyone of his class in the number 10 shirt as he played the conditions beautifully and brought nice balance to his and Leinster’s game.
Right wing Jordan Larmour (29) was another who underlined that he still has plenty to offer as he made a big impact on his first appearance of the season.
Skipper and blindside flanker Max Deegan, who turned 30 this month, led the way at lineout time and got among the tries in yet another strong outing, while 27-year-old Scott Penny showed his toughness in contact throughout.
Brian Deeny is hardly an auld lad at 26, but this was his 56th Leinster cap so he was a senior man and had one of his best outings for the province, while Peter Dooley brought all of his 100+ caps worth of experience off the bench.
They were all important, but Leinster’s resounding 50-5 win over Connacht is likely to be remembered just as much for the impact that the younger men had for Leo Cullen’s side.
With 17 Leinster players having gone into Ireland camp last Sunday, Cullen made 14 changes to his starting XV, which had a youthful look. And it was a good night for the youngsters.
Inside the opening five minutes, 21-year-old fullback Todd Lawlor was showing his running threat as he took a Deeny offload, accelerated upfield, and found scrum-half Fintan Gunne with an inside pass.
Lawlor, making his third start for Leinster, soon made a classy offload of his own to Carbery as they counter-attacked out of their own 22. Later in the first quarter, they combined again when Carbery dinked a left-footed chip for Lawlor to steam onto before flicking the ball deftly with his right boot, nearly teeing up Connor Fahy to score.
Lawlor scored Leinster’s third try, showing great awareness and acceleration to run off Larmour on kick return, with the fullback slaloming outside and away from Shayne Bolton for a pacy score.
It was also Lawlor’s determined counter-attack that launched Deegan’s bonus-point try, with the number 15 breaking two tackle attempts in midfield before offloading to Deeny.
This was a thrilling demonstration of Lawlor’s attacking verve, which was also on show when he made his senior debut in the opening game of Leinster’s season away to the Lions. He played a week later against the Sharks, relying on his more foundational fullback qualities like positioning and fielding.
This has been an exciting start to life with Leinster for Lawlor, who was part of a back three that also included 23-year-old JJ Kenny, producer of an excellent first-half break after catching a high ball on the retreat.
21-year-old Wexford man Fahy enjoyed a promising debut at outside centre, with his power in contact clear for all to see. A product of the Youths system with Wexford Wanderers and Enniscorthy RFC, he was agonisingly close to a first-half try.
Charlie Tector is no kid at the age of 24, but he continues to improve every time he plays and was a key part of Leinster’s win in Galway.
Working perfectly in tandem with Carbery was 23-year-old scrum-half Gunne, who had one of his best Leinster games in the wet, windy weather. There were moments of silky skill, such as a delicate grubber kick, while Gunne bagged a deserved try late on after a combative, assured display.
Number eight James Culhane turned 24 this month but probably feels like he’s still only really getting going with Leinster in some ways. This was a convincing, complete performance from him.
Culhane was Leinster’s joint top ball-carrier on 16, along with Deeny, and he brought plenty of venom.
Towering 21-year-old lock Alan Spicer got his third start for the province in the engine room and had some nice touches on the ball, as well as using his hulking frame to good effect in the tight work, which was crucial in such challenging conditions.
And a youthful Leinster front row of 21-year-old Alex Usanov, 23-year-old Gus McCarthy, and 21-year-old Niall Smyth impressed, with 22-year-old Stephen Smyth and 21-year-old debutant Alex Mullan coming off the bench.
The manner in which Usanov got to grips with the experienced Finlay Bealham at scrum time was encouraging for Leinster, while hooker McCarthy was among the best players on the pitch partly thanks to his aggression and collision-winning.
McCarthy has lost his place in the senior Ireland squad to Ulster’s Tom Stewart but will captain the Ireland XV next month against Fiji A. On Saturday night in Galway, he was certainly a leader.
Tighthead prop Smyth made his Leinster debut in Galway back in January of this year, and it was a very challenging night for him, so this happy return to Dexcom Stadium was all the more pleasing. He is highly regarded within Leinster.
Making just his fifth appearance for Leinster, the exciting 21-year-old centre/wing Ciarán Mangan bagged an intercept try, while imposing 23-year-old lock Conor O’Tighearnaigh added to his growing reputation.
Out-half Caspar Gabriel (21) only got 10 minutes to make a dent, with Carbery moving to fullback when he came on, but he has signalled his talent already this season.
Leinster’s youngsters surely enjoyed the bus journey home to Dublin on Saturday night.
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Connacht Leinster promise Prospects Todd Lawlor URC