Youths Rugby.

[ormond lad]

Avonmore Milk Munster Youths Launch
16 February 2012, 10:34 am
By The Editor

Munster Senior players Ian Nagle, Scott Deasy and Tom Gleeson were on hand yesterday to launch the Avonmore Milk Munster Youths U17 and U19 Cups for 2012 at Midleton RFC.


Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Kieran O’Connor, Glanbia Sponsorship Manager said, "On behalf of Glanbia & Avonmore Milk I would like to say how delighted we are to once again be involved as sponsors of the Avonmore Milk Munster Youths U17 and U19 Cups which have been an outstanding success over the last few years promoting under age rugby in clubs right across the six counties of the providence.

As a pure food company and as sponsors of the Avonmore Milk Munster Youths and Schools Rugby we feel that it is an ideal fit for us to promote a healthy diet along with a healthy lifestyle for the youth of Munster. We would like to thank all the coaches, trainers and parents for the tremendous role they play in preparing and supporting all the various youth teams week in week out.

Last season’s Avonmore Milk Youths Cup Finals day in Thomond Park Stadium was a brilliant days rugby with Waterpark RFC winning both U17 and U19 Cups and hopefully this year’s cup campaigns and finals will create as much excitement”.Speaking at the launch, Denis Kelleher, President Munster Branch said, “As President of Munster Branch it has been a privilege to be associated with Munster Youths competitions over the last three years. I want to underline the appreciation of the Branch for the endeavours of so many people involved in Youth rugby in all our clubs.
It has been an honour to have sponsors of the caliber of Avonmore involved in our Youth competitions over many years. Many of our first team have come from the Youths over the last while and with the competitive nature of all our Youths Competitions I am sure many more will make the top grade over the next few seasons.

To all the players, coaches and youth officials I wish you well and promise our full support in your endeavours for the rest of the season.”
Denis Griffin, Chairman of the Munster Youths Committee added “The Avonmore Youth Cup is now entering the final stages this season, this competition gives teams from throughout the province the opportunity to compete at the highest level. It is a competition that is open to any club no matter what size, it gives players the opportunity to compete with their home club for a provincial title. The standard of rugby is consistently improving and We all look forward to an exciting finals day in March. Last season’s finals at both U 17 and U19 were marked by two competitive finals which were wholly entertaining for all who attended”
At the launch Kieran O’Connor, Glanbia Sponsorship Manager, announced that Avonmore will be presenting the winners of both U17 and U19 cup competitions with a €500 voucher towards rugby equipment for their Clubs and also an Avonmore Milk Super Hero Man of the Match Award for each final.
http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/news/10115.php

[ormond lad]

Ireland U-18 Club Team Named For Italy Game

17 February 2012, 3:03 pm
By Editor



The Ireland U-18 Club team to play Italy U-18 in Rovigo on Saturday has been named. Under head coach Wayne Mitchell and assistant coach Jimmy Duffy the team will play three games this season with the match in Italy up first.


Monivea's Caolin Blade starts at scrumhalf on Saturday while his older brother Darren will be leading Monivea in the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup.Blade is partnered by Navan's Fergal Cleary in the half backs. Sean O'Hagan and Adam Byrne form the midfield pairing while Alex Webb, James O'Sullivan and Adrian Enright make up the back three.
Up front Peter Dooley, Paul O'Donnell and Jacon Walshe form the front row with Ballymoney's Russel Blair and Charleville's John Madigan in the second row.
There are two Exiles in the back row - Frankie Taggart and Joe Bercis- with Waterpark's Jack O'Donoghue at number 8.
Ireland U18 Club Team & Replacements (V Italy U18, Badia Polesine, Rovigo, Saturday February 18th, 3pm local time)
15. Alex Webb (Merchiston/Exiles)
14. James O'Sullivan (Whitgift/Exiles)
13. Adam Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
12. Sean O'Hagan (St. Benedicts/Exiles)
11. Adrian Enright (Abbeyfeale/Munster)
10. Fergal Cleary (Navan/Leinster)
9. Caolin Blade (Monivea/Connacht)
1. Peter Dooley (Birr/Leinster)
2. Paul O'Donnell (Galwegians/Connacht)
3. Jacob Walshe (Ballinasloe/Connacht)
4. Russell Blair (Ballymoney/Ulster)
5. John Madigan (Charleville/Munster)
6. Frankie Taggart (Whitgift/Exiles)
7. Joe Bercis (Rugby Lions/Exiles)
8. Jack O'Donoghue (Waterpark/Munster)
Replacements:
16. Brian Cunningham (Navan/Leinster)
17. Stephen Dalton (Westcombe Park/Exiles)
18. Scott Flanagan (Buccaneers/Connacht)
19. Luke Connolly (Glamorgan/Exiles)
20. Killian Sweeney (Malahide/Leinster)
21. Killian O'Keefe (Crosshaven/Munster)
22. Seamus Keating (Dungarvan/Munster)
23. Jim White (Enniscorthy/Leinster)
http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/25650.php

5 players isnt too bad considering leinster have 6 and exiles who are always strong have 7

[Wasp]

Do Exiles compete in the youth inter-pros?

Interesting spread of origins for the Munster players.
Shows good penetration of the sport in non-traditional areas.

[ormond lad]

Do Exiles compete in the youth inter-pros?

Interesting spread of origins for the Munster players.
Shows good penetration of the sport in non-traditional areas.

No, but they usually play some of the provinces in august before the schools are back in england

IMO they should be competing for places in the schools squad considering many exiles are in or have been in some of the top rugby schools in england

[Wasp]

Are any of those 5 guys actually playing with their native clubs in the U19 competition or have they had to move to get game time?

I presume that the chap from Waterpark would be OK but what about the other 4?

[ormond lad]

Are any of those 5 guys actually playing with their native clubs in the U19 competition or have they had to move to get game time?

I presume that the chap from Waterpark would be OK but what about the other 4?

Keating is still with dungarvan,
madigan is with garryowen afaik, his father played with them so theres a connection there
jack o is still with park
enright is still with abbeyfeale afaik
o keefe still with 'haven

[John's Garden]

madigan's father played with Bohs, Enright also with Garryowen

[alldeway]

Madigan was told to move from Charleville to Garryowen in order to progress his career. His Da played for Bohs and Munster in his day (may have lined out against the All Blacks in 1973?) and is no fan of Garryowen

[John's Garden]

Madigan was told to move from Charleville to Garryowen in order to progress his career. His Da played for Bohs and Munster in his day (may have lined out against the All Blacks in 1973?) and is no fan of Garryowen

Told by whom? Charleville were not fielding at 19s and neither were Bohs.

[ormond lad]

madigan's father played with Bohs, Enright also with Garryowen

thanks, i knew his father had played with one of the senior limerick clubs. thought it had been g'owen but obv thought wrong

[Wasp]

This shows the value of lower division junior clubs - three of the five players come from clubs where their adult team play in Division 3 of the Junior Leagues.

[ormond lad]

This shows the value of lower division junior clubs - three of the five players come from clubs where their adult team play in Division 3 of the Junior Leagues.

shows how important the regional u17 games are as they give players from the weaker clubs a real shot at playing at higher levels compared to the players from the stronger clubs who also get the opportunity to impress in the pan munster

[Wasp]

shows how important the regional u17 games are as they give players from the weaker clubs a real shot at playing at higher levels compared to the players from the stronger clubs who also get the opportunity to impress in the pan munster

True

[ormond lad]

Sundays Well beat Ennis in 17s 1/4 in cork today 36-29

[ormond lad]

According to someone on twitter, the irish youths lost 17-11
Some pics of the game here

[minor b]

Highfield beat Clonakilty 13-8 in the 17s.Great game and a big crowd too.Superb defence in the closing stages saw Highfield through.

[99_oK?]

According to someone on twitter, the irish youths lost 17-11
Some pics of the game here

Cheers for posting that OL.
Must be some winter out there - snow on the side-lines - obviously shovelled off the pitch in preparation. Did anyone else think the pics seemed to show the Italians to be far beefier than our pale lads?

[locomotion]

Bruff beat Waterpark 6-- 3 in the Pan Munster quarter final today.

[ormond lad]

Bruff beat Waterpark 6-- 3 in the Pan Munster quarter final today.

Heard Bruff have a couple of very big players that wouldnt look out of place in most 19s teams and they also provided the bulk of the north squad that dominated the regional games this season so any team that will beat them will have to be very good

[ormond lad]

Cheers for posting that OL.
Must be some winter out there - snow on the side-lines - obviously shovelled off the pitch in preparation. Did anyone else think the pics seemed to show the Italians to be far beefier than our pale lads?

99, here's match report from irishrugby.ie
Match Report
Italy 17 - 11 Ireland Club U18
KO : 15:00
Sat 18th Feb 12
Italy Scorers
Tries: Samuel Seno; Pens: Filippo Buscema 4
Ireland Club U18 Scorers
Try: Caolin Blade; Pens: Fergal Cleary 2
Italy Lineup
Mattia Bellini (Petrarca Padova); Gabriele di Giulio (Frascati Rugby), Federico Salerno (Arix Viadana), Samuel Seno (Benetton Treviso), Lorenzo Bruno (Mantovani Lazio); Filippo Buscema (UR Capitolina), Steven Apperley Khyam (Arix Viadana); Marco Silva (Amatori Parma), Paolo Ragazzi (Petrarca Padova), Tiziano Pasquali (Leicester Tigers), Federico Ruzza (Valsugana Padova), Andrea Gobbo (Valsugana Padova), Matteo Corazzi (Cus Perugia), Filippo Scalvi (Amatori Parma), Mattia Catelan (Valsugana Padova) (capt).
Replacements used: Michele Boccardo (Petrarca Padova) for Catelan (53 mins), Derrick Appiah (BancaMonteParma Crociati) for Silva (65), Gianluigi Silvestri (Rugby Reggio) for Ruzza (70), Alessandro Torlai (Rugby Reggio) for Salerno (73).

Ireland Club U18 Lineup
Adrian Enright (Abbeyfeale/Munster); James O'Sullivan (Whitgift/Exiles), Adam Byrne (UCD/Leinster), Sean O'Hagan (St. Benedict's/Exiles), Jim White (Enniscorthy/Leinster); Fergal Cleary (Navan/Leinster), Caolin Blade (Monivea/Connacht); Peter Dooley (Birr/Leinster), Paul O'Donnell (Galwegians/Connacht), Jacob Walshe (Ballinasloe/Connacht), Russell Blair (Ballymoney/Ulster), John Madigan (Charleville/Munster), Frankie Taggart (Whitgift/Exiles), Joe Bercis (Rugby Lions/Exiles), Jack O'Donoghue (Waterpark/Munster).
Replacements used: Killian Sweeney (Malahide/Leinster) for Bercis, Luke Connolly (Glamorgan/Exiles) for Blair (61 mins), Seamus Keating (Dungarvan/Munster) for O'Sullivan (74), Sean Moran (Kilkenny/Leinster) for White (77). Not used: Brian Cunningham (Navan/Leinster), Stephen Dalton (Westcombe Park/Exiles), Scott Flanagan (Buccaneers/Connacht), Killian O'Keefe (Crosshaven/Munster).


The Ireland Under-18 Clubs team's opening match of the year saw them take on an experienced Italy Under-18 outfit in Badia Polesine

20 February 2012, 5:13 pm ::

Match Report By Editor

In their first match of a three-international programme, the Wayne Mitchell-coached Ireland Under-18 Clubs team lost to an experienced Italy Under 18 side in front of a passionate large crowd in Badia Polesine on Saturday afternoon.



Prior to departing for Italy, the Ireland Under-18 Clubs team management were forced into a reshuffle of their back-three when Exiles full-back Alex Webb suffered a hamstring injury.
Kilkenny and Leinster's Sean Moran was added to the replacements bench with Adrian Enright of Abbeyfeale and Munster moved to full-back and Enniscorthy and Leinster's Jim White replacing him on the left wing.

In ideal playing conditions, the Irish got off to a good start when Italy were penalised straight the kick-off. Navan and Leinster out-half Fergal Cleary converted the long range penalty to give his side a 3-0 lead.

The Italians were spurred into action and after sustained pressure they were awarded a penalty straight in front of the posts, on the 22, for an infringement at the breakdown. Filippo Buscema landed the resulting 12th minute kick.

Ireland put pressure on Italy from the restart and a strong run from Exiles winger James O'Sullivan brought play deep into the Italian half, but the Italians hit back on the counter attack.

Following a kick and chase, the ball bounced kindly for the hosts enabling their centre Samuel Seno to score in the corner. The conversion was missed, leaving Ireland 8-3 behind.

From the restart Irish pressure led to a penalty being awarded for a breakdown offence and from 35 metres out and straight in front, out-half Cleary once again split the posts.

However, minutes later, another Irish transgression at the breakdown led to the awarding of an Italian penalty and from a similar position to their first penalty Buscema stretched the home side's advantage to 11-6.

With half-time approaching, Wayne Mitchell's youngsters won a ball just inside the Italian half and moved it right across the back-line to winger O'Sullivan who outpaced the cover to score in the corner.

To the astonishment of the Irish players and the sizeable Irish support, English referee John Meredith disallowed the try after consultation with his Italian assistant.

Ireland had a further opportunity to close the gap when, following a penalty award, they kicked deep into the Italian 22. Yet, a knock on at the lineout allowed Italy to clear their lines and go in at half-time five points ahead.

A strong start to the second half by the Irish forwards led to sustained pressure on the Italian line. Following a number of pick and drives, Monivea and Connacht scrum half Caolin Blade darted over in the left corner for a try.

Cleary's conversion attempt unfortunately hit a post and rebounded out, leaving the sides tied at 11-all.

Ireland controlled the opening 10 minutes of the second half but an Italian counter attack led to another simple penalty opportunity for Buscema when yet again Ireland were deemed to transgress at the breakdown.

His kick, much to the delight of the vocal Italian fans, soared between the posts to once again give Italy a three-point buffer.

Ireland looked to have hit back when quick thinking saw Birr and Leinster prop Peter Dooley threw the ball in quickly at a lineout for Ballymoney and Ulster lock Russell Blair to race in for a try - but once again the score was disallowed.

Italy, having gained a reprieve, went on the attack and forced a penalty which was successfully converted by Buscema for a 17-11 score-line.

Ireland replaced the injured O'Sullivan with Seamus Keating (Dungarvan and Munster) and White with late call-up Moran.

In the forwards, Exile Luke Connolly replaced Russell Blair and Malahide and Leinster back rower Killian Sweeney replaced the Exiles' Joe Bercis.

Ireland were determined to get a result and pressurised the Italian defence in the closing minutes. However, the determined and well-organised hosts kept the Irish at bay.

After a succession of pick and drives with Waterpark and Munster's Jack O'Donoghue to the fore, Ireland seemed to have breached the Italian defence close in.

But referee Meredith, after consulting with one of his assistants, deemed that Ireland's final effort was held up. This signalled the end of the match and led to wild celebrations from the ecstatic Italian players and management.

This was an excellent effort by an untried Irish squad who can take great heart from the number of chances they created against a much more experienced Italian side, who will be representing their country in the European Under-18 Championships in Spain in Easter.

The Ireland Under-18 Clubs side's next match will be against the France Under-18s at St. Mary's College RFC on Thursday, April 5.

Referee: John Meredith (England)

[ormond lad]

17s semis on this weekend
Kanturk v Highfield and Sundays Well v Bruff. Presume both will be played saturday??

EDIT, someone on boards said both semis are on saturday week not this weekend

[Wasp]

From the match report, it appears that the Irish reporter was distinctly underwhelmed by the ref and his Italian assistants .............

[ormond lad]

East 17s/19s cup draws up on munster rugby


East u19 Cup
1/4s
1. Dungarvan - Waterford City v Kilfeacle and District
2. Cashel - Thurles v Clonmel
3. Waterpark bye
4. Nenagh v Clanwilliam
Semi-Final
1 v 2
3 v 4

East u17 Cup
Round 1
1. Cashel v Clanwilliam
2. Thurles v Clonmel
3. Waterpark v Dungarvan
4. Fethard v Nenagh
5. Galbally bye
6. Kilfeacle bye
7. Waterford City bye
8. Carrick on Suir bye
1/4s
A. 1 v 2
B. 3 v 4
C. 5 v 6
D. 7 v 8
Semis
A v B
C v D

[nuke]

East 17s/19s cup draws up on munster rugby


East u19 Cup
1/4s
1. Dungarvan - Waterford City v Kilfeacle and District
2. Cashel - Thurles v Clonmel
3. Waterpark bye
4. Nenagh v Clanwilliam
Semi-Final
1 v 2
3 v 4

East u17 Cup
Round 1
1. Cashel v Clanwilliam
2. Thurles v Clonmel
3. Waterpark v Dungarvan
4. Fethard v Nenagh
5. Galbally bye
6. Kilfeacle bye
7. Waterford City bye
8. Carrick on Suir bye
1/4s
A. 1 v 2
B. 3 v 4
C. 5 v 6
D. 7 v 8
Semis
A v B
C v D

Haven't Dungarvan & Waterford City merged with Youghal ? At least I understand they have for the League and playing in the south at the moment.

[ormond lad]

Haven't Dungarvan & Waterford City merged with Youghal ? At least I understand they have for the League and playing in the south at the moment.

they did merge as they wanted more games which was possible by playing in south dev league. i presume Dun &W City had to enter the east cup

[nuke]

they did merge as they wanted more games which was possible by playing in south dev league. i presume Dun &W City had to enter the east cup

I don't think they merged till after the dev league had run it's course. It's been good for them I believe though as with the pick of 3 clubs they have been doing well.

I hope they weren't forced to seperate and if they were hope both sections can field.

[ormond lad]

2m remaining u19 1/4s are on this weekend. On Saturday Highfield playing host to Crosshaven in Woodleigh Park at 1.45pm
And on Sunday Garryowen have home advantage against Bruff in Dooradoyle at 12:30pm
Winners of Saturdays game will have home advantage against Shannon in 1 semi and the winner of Sundays game will be at home to Bandon in the other semi

[bannerman]

Having watched Schools Senior Cup over the last few weeks, it has confirmed my opinion that the skills level are atrocious and you are much more likely to see an entertaining game of rugby at u19 club level. All you will see at schools are crash, bang merchants trucking the ball up persistently with invention or skills going out the window. They (coaches and branch) are destroying rugby by breeding and promoting brainless, one dimensional monsters to play "rugby by numbers". There is no flair or willingness to do something off the cuff. No wonder our provincial teams are getting rogered. The skills level at schools 25 years ago were better than they are now.

[John's Garden]

Garryowen v Bruff kick off now 12.00

[ormond lad]

Having watched Schools Senior Cup over the last few weeks, it has confirmed my opinion that the skills level are atrocious and you are much more likely to see an entertaining game of rugby at u19 club level. All you will see at schools are crash, bang merchants trucking the ball up persistently with invention or skills going out the window. They (coaches and branch) are destroying rugby by breeding and promoting brainless, one dimensional monsters to play "rugby by numbers". There is no flair or willingness to do something off the cuff. No wonder our provincial teams are getting rogered. The skills level at schools 25 years ago were better than they are now.

Can agree with you on that. The 2 games ive seen so far of the senior cup, munchins v ard scoil and muchins v castletroy have been of a very poor standard
Yesterdays game was very poor. The amount of times munchins just passed to a forward in 10 or 12 channel to take it into contact again or gave it to the outhalf to hoof it into the air was unbelievable