Rising stars help Connacht U-20s sweep the boards in inter-pro series
Date Published: {J}
Rob Murphy
CONNACHT’S incredible under 20 side completed a fully deserved clean sweep of victories in the inter-provincial championship on Friday with a 32-18 win over Munster at Dubarry Park as Ballina’s Brian Moylette became the first man from his province to lift the trophy in ten years.
The last Grand Slam winning side from 2001 had the likes of Gavin Duffy and John Muldoon in their ranks. This success will highlight to everyone that their is a new wave of talent coming through in Connacht and the correct mindset is now in place to allow them to develop.
Leitrim man Shane Layden scored a hat trick of tries in Athlone on Friday and made a fourth but all four scores didn’t just boil down to Connacht’s electric full back. Nigel Carolan’s side produced some hair-raising backline play throughout and were give a platform by a dominant pack.
It all fits in with a campaign where Connacht really did stand out as the country’s best side. Victories in Ulster and Leinster highlight as much. They came from 12 points down with 20 minutes left in Ravenhill and dug out a late win in Donnybrook when it looked like their complete domination of the contest would count for nothing. Carolan was pleased at the weekend.
"It's pay back for hard work that's been done, not only in last few months but the last few years. The skill level of the lads is very good and the challenge is to execute under pressure which they did. There was an expectation from me that they would deliver and I wasn't surprised."
The quality of the scores on Friday will be hugely pleasing to the Connacht management. Out half Jack Carty orchestrated his backline well, Kieran Marmion at scrum half was excellent while the dominant scrum was anchored by Westport’s Jamie Dever, who had been called up from the under 19s after the Ulster game and performed superbly.
Alongside him in that front row was Paul Griffin from Galwegians, a strong uncompromising and skilfull loosehead prop who has come through the ranks at club level and made his provincial bow with this team. He’s now a fixture with the Connacht A squad and at just 19 years of age, a name for the future and an example to all club players that making provincial squads from 14 isn’t essential.
Monivea’s Conor Kindregan and Buccaneer and Irish under 20 Danny Qualter are two powerful second rows both around the parkand in set piece play, Aaron Conneely was marked carefully in this championship, yet still had a huge impact.
For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.