The Connacht Eagles, sponsored by NUI Galway, will play provincial neighbours Ulster Ravens at the Sportsground tomorrow, Thursday January 5th (kick off 16:00).
With Eagles Head Coach Nigel Carolan away on the Under-20’s international duty, Academy coaches Jimmy Duffy and new recruit Mossy Lawler will take charge of an experienced ‘A’ side in Galway tomorrow.
Twelve senior players are named in the starting line-up and openside flanker Jake Heenan captains the side after his return from injury late last month in the Eagles 50 – 7 win over Germany.
Having been sidelined the past eight weeks due to an ankle injury, 23-year-old Mick Kearney is a notable inclusion in the pack and joins Academy graduate Ultan Dillane in the second row.
Galway man Tiernan O’Halloran is retained at full back from the last game and wings Niyi Adeolokun and Fionn Carr make up a pacey back three.
This is the third interprovincial game of the season for the Connacht Eagles, after beating the Ravens in Belfast back in October and more recently celebrating a 17 – 10 win at home to Leinster ‘A’ last month.
Connacht Eagles team to play Ulster Ravens, Thursday January 5th, the Sportsground, 4pm
15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Conor Finn
12 Rory Parata
11 Fionn Carr
10 Shane O’Leary
9 Caolin Blade
1 Ronan Loughney
2 David Heffernan
3 Rodney Ah You
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Mick Kearney
6 Mata Fifita
7 Jake Heenan (captain)
8 Danny Qualter
Replacements
16 Shane Delahunt
17 JP Cooney
18 Finlay Bealham
19 Michael Swift
20 Eoghan Masterson
21 Andrew Browne
22 John Cooney
23 Shane Layden
24 Conor McKeon
25 James Connolly