IRELAND’S MINDS ARE firmly on Argentina, but they sat up and took notice of how Leinster’s young guns shone on Friday night in Galway.

On what was a miserable evening for Stuart Lancaster’s team, a youthful Leinster side dominated the westerners to earn a resounding 50-5 win.

The Irish coaches were watching closely and loved what they saw from several youngsters who seem likely to feature prominently in Ireland camp in years to come. Or perhaps even sooner.

“I thought Leinster were phenomenal,” is how Paul O’Connell put it on Sunday.

“It is brilliant as a coach, as a national coach, to see young players that aren’t trying to be too tidy in what they’re trying to do. They’re just getting after it and trying to deliver a performance. I’m sure there’ll be a few bolters in the next year.”

Leinster boss Leo Cullen is never one to show too much excitement after games, yet it’s always clear just how much he enjoys young homegrown players making an impact for the province.

That was the case on Friday as he reflected on a night that included debuts for centre Connor Fahy and tighthead prop Alex Mullan, both 21.

“It’s just magic,” said Cullen in Galway before Leinster’s bus set off home.

“It’s what it’s all about, really, isn’t it?

“It’s great. I’m delighted. There’s a great crowd out there of Leinster fans. Seeing even Alex Mullan is in the crowd with so many people there. That’s the stuff, isn’t it?

“It’s a great pleasure to tell young players that they’re going to be representing Leinster this weekend. Then they go out and play like that, so it’s great. Lots of positive from today, so really pleasing.”

Leinster’s pathway is a big provider of players to the three other provinces too, and Cullen takes obvious pride in the production line.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

He said it remains a central focus of the entire organisation, with every single member of the match day 23 against Connacht having developed through the Leinster academy.

“We put a lot of work into it,” said Cullen.

“Everyone across the club puts a lot of work into it, so it’s great to see that, young players coming into the pro game. I think Connacht were the favourites going into the game, so it’s a really positive piece to see some of those performances.

“For everyone in the pathway from academy, sub-academy, they’re great days, particularly when you see a schools player and a clubs player making their debuts together on the same day.

“Alex Mullan coming through, Blackrock, schools player. Seamus Toomey would have been his mentor, converted him. We saw a lot of young pictures of Alex this week, but he was a second row in school, which is a great credit to the work that Seamus has done in the school up until recently. Obviously, he’s taken on a role [as performance pathway scrum coach] with the IRFU now.

“Then Connor Fahy has come through the youths pathway, and some of the images I have of him when he’s come through from Enniscorthy and Good Counsel College, New Ross. It’s very, very positive.”

Cullen is also a big advocate of the importance of the All-Ireland League, which is where Leinster’s young players develop when they’re not getting a shot for his senior side.

The current top seven clubs in AIL Division 1A are all Dublin clubs, and Cullen said that working with them remains a priority for the province.

“We’ll have a big focus around AIL now over the coming weeks,” said Cullen, with Leinster’s next game five weeks away.

“I’m hoping most of these guys that are out there today will be representing their clubs in the AIL this weekend coming. Even with a few guys down here covering as travelling reserves, they’re all on the road there tonight.

“Guys like Dylan McNeice, Ollie Coffey, Andrew Sparrow, Andrew Osborne. So you’ll see them playing AIL.

“There’s great stuff going on in the AIL, there really is, which is very, very positive.

“We’ve tried to do our best with the club coaches and keep them involved as much as possible. It’s a really important aspect of what we do.”

Leo Cullen with Todd Lawlor. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Among the standout players on Friday night was 21-year-old fullback Todd Lawlor, who has impressed in his three starts for the province this season.

Newbridge College alumnus Lawlor has also been shining for Lansdowne in the AIL too and is clearly one to watch. Lawlor’s father, Phil, played for Leinster and Ireland and now works as the domestic rugby manager for Leinster Rugby.

“He’s got great rugby instincts,” said Cullen of fullback Lawlor.

“His father, Phil, has been coaching him from a very young age, so it was great having Phil over in South Africa for Todd’s debut. It was a lovely moment for the club.

“Phil, who is Leinster through and through, has been involved in the pathway for such a long period of time, so to have him over there is a very cool moment. Unfortunately, it was a loss, so you don’t quite get the sense in terms of the Fahy and the Mullan families that are in the dressing room there currently, but that’s just the way it goes.

“Todd had lots of good contributions there today. Very good instincts, very good footballer, good footwork, beats players, makes things happen around him in a positive sense.”