Extended Irish Club Squad Announced

Ireland Club coaches Conor Twomey and David Murphy have named a 26 man squad for the Ireland Club XV v England Counties game in Cork Constitution FC on Friday February 8th, ko 7.30pm.

Twomey, UCC Coach last season, and Murphy, DLSP, have been working hard with the squad since before Christmas and narrowed down the panel from an initial 35 to 26 this week.

Last year the Irish team were beaten by their English counterparts in Preston North End and Twomey feels he has assembled a strong squad for the game in Temple Hill.

Cork Con’s Gerry Hurley will captain the squad which includes several experienced players at this level such as former captains Frank Cogan, Simon Crawford and Sam Cronin.

Dolphin’s prolific points scorer Barry Keeshan is also named and is likely to partner Hurley in the half backs.

Also returning to the squad from last year are Neville Melbourne from Young Munster and Fergal Walsh from Shannon, with his club colleagues Kevin Griffin and Richie Mullane included for the first time. Cork Con's Andrew O'Driscoll and UL Bohs' Ed Kelly are also named in the squad.

Cork Con are encouraging as many supporters as possible to come along to Temple Hill and enjoy a great evening of rugby and the fantastic new facilities that will be officially opened on the day.

Ireland Club Squad:
Pa Regan (Old Belvedere)
Robert Sweeney (St Mary’s College)
Andrew O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution)
Risterad Byrne (UCD)
Richie Sweeney (St Mary’s College RFC)
Kevin Griffin (Shannon RFC)
Colm McMahon (St Mary’s College RFC)
Fergal Walsh (Shannon RFC)
Ed Kelly (UL Bohemians)
Neville Melbourne (Young Munster)
Simon Crawford (Clontarf)
Danny Kenny (UCD)
Paul Prichard (Ballynahinch)
Frank Cogan (Clontarf)
Glenn Moore (Malone)
Sam Cronin (Clontarf)
Gerry Hurley (Cork Constitution) Captain
Barry Keeshan (Dolphin)
Craig Ronaldson (Lansdowne)
Cian Ahern (Lansdowne)
Darragh Fanning (St Mary’s College)
Tim McCoy (Clontarf)
Killian Lett (Clontarf)
James Thompson (Ballynahinch)
Stuart Morrow (Ballynahinch)
Richie Mullane (Shannon)