Ulster U20’s get their Interpro campaign off to a start this Friday night in Cork. KO. 7:00pm. I’d thought long and hard about going down and covering this game as I believe that this bunch of youngsters are going to be pretty special in the years to come but unfortunately my schedule for Saturday and Sunday just didn’t allow it.
I’m pleased to see that Ulster U20 coaches Jonny Bell and Derek Suffern included three of our “Four to Follow” in the starting line up with David McGuigan, Ian Henderson and Paddy Jackson all retaining their places. Unfortunately Craig Gilroy will be out for a few more weeks and interestingly the coaches have moved Chris Colvin to the wing with Stewart McIlwaine starting alongside Luke Marshall in the centre.
It’s a tight enough looking pack with a pacy back row who should do plenty of damage. The backs look very exciting, and with the classy Jackson at out half linking with Marshall in the centre they should cause more than a few problems for the Munster team.
However I don’t expect the match to be as one sided as the Aviva encounter as Munster held back on some of their star players for that game. Add to that the fact that it’s taking place in Cork and it’s never going to be easy but I still expect that this group will come away with a win and won’t it be great to start building up a batch of players with a track record of winning in Cork!
Ulster U20: (15-9) Charlie Simpson (Ballymena); Chris Colvin (QUB), Stewart McIlwaine (QUB); Luke Marshall (Ballymena – Captain), Michael McAuley (QUB), Paddy Jackson (MCB), Conor Spence (BRA). (1-8 ) Andy Warwick (Ballymena), Jonny Murphy (Banbridge), Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch), David Whann (Ballymena), Ian Henderson (BRA), Stephen Irvine (Ballynahinch), Dominic Gallagher (Trinity), David McGuigan (Friends School). (16-22) Darryl Maxwell (Malone), Conor Carey (MCB), Adam Best (Currie RFC), Paddy Marks (Instonians), Calum Thelfor (Dungannon), Blane McIlroy (MCB), Adam Bratton (Ballynahinch)
Next weekend the Ulster U20’s entertain Leinster U20s at Ravenhill on Friday 10th September, kick off 5pm. This, by all accounts, should be the decider for this season’s Interpro series and I strongly recommend getting yourself along to Ravers to watch these present and future Ulster players perform.
Tickets will be available to purchase on the gate.
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