Cork Church of Ireland goalkeeper Billy Lynch will lead a Munster senior interprovincial side for the first time as they bid to end a six-year drought by claiming the Leinster Regiment Cup at Serpentine Avenue this weekend.
Lynch is at the apex of a panel coached by Alan Dobson and Neil Welch that relies heavily on input from Cork Church of Ireland, who have eight players in the squad plus three more who are now plying their trade in Leinster.
Munster's Phil Smith moves in to challenge Graham Shaw of Leinster at last year's tournament. Picture: Adrian Boehm
Seasoned Ireland internationals John Jermyn and David Hobbs are joined by Philip Smith, David Harvey, Clinton Sweetnam, Alec Moffett and Lynch, while Andrew Daunt earns senior selection for the first time.
Bandon’s Ali Smith vice-captains the side and is joined by club-mate Aaron Beamish, while UCC also have a two-strong representation with Andy Gray returning for his second year at this level alongside debutant Fionn O’Leary. Peter Catchpole misses out due to injury, while Roger Gray is exam-tied.
John Hobbs and Darren Farrell of Cork Harlequins are also returnees, while the squad is boosted by the inclusion of four players from the Leinster league – Cork natives Ben Dobson (UCD), Jonny Bruton (YMCA) and Karl Lynch (Pembroke), as well as Railway Union netminder Stephen O’Keeffe.
Recently-crowned Leinster champions Glenanne make up the mainstays of the Leinsrer side; seven of their number make up the panel as David Keogh and Shane O’Donoghue are set for their first senior tournament.
Graham Shaw and Joe Brennan take on the captain and vice-captaincy duties while Stephen Doran comes in for Dave Fitzgerald in one of the goalkeeping berths with recently capped Gary Shaw retaining his place and Richie Shaw also included, the latter having skippered the U-21 side a couple of seasons ago.
While Munster and Leinster have opted not to select their foreign-based players, Ulster have included a trio of Irish internationals among their 10-strong international contingent. Geoff McCabe and Mikey Watt return from Spain’s Santander, with Chris Cargo – fresh from making a big impression at the EHL with Reading – also back while Cork native Jason Lynch lines out for a third year with his adopted province.
MUNSTER: Billy Lynch (GK, Capt, Cork C of I), John Hobbs (Cork Harlequins), Phil Smith (Cork C of I), Ben Dobson (UCD), Karl Lynch (Pembroke Wanderers), Andy Gray (UCC), David Harvey (Cork C of I), Andrew Daunt (Cork C of I), Dave Hobbs (Cork C of I), Clinton Sweetnam (Cork C of I), John Jermyn (Cork C of I), Alec Moffett (Cork C of I), Alistair Smith (vice-capt, Bandon), Aaron Beamish (Bandon), Fionn O’Leary (UCC), Jonny Bruton (YMCA), Darren Farrell (Cork Harlequins), Stephen O’Keeffe (Railway Union)
Coach: Alan Dobson
Manager: Ivan Coombes
Asst Coach: Neil Welch
LEINSTER: Iain Walker (GK, YMCA), Steven Doran (GK, Glenanne), Graham Shaw (capt, Glenanne), Joe Brennan (vice capt, Glenanne), Richie Shaw (Glenanne), David Robinson (YMCA), Andrew Sutton (Corinthian), Kenny Carroll (Railway Union), Gary Shaw (Glenanne), Mick Maguire (Three Rock Rovers), Andrew Walker (YMCA), Mick O’Connor (Pembroke), Davy Carson (Corinthian), Mark English (Railway Union), Peter Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers), Shane O’Donoghue (Glenanne), David Keogh (Glenanne), Ali Haughton (Three Rock Rovers)
Coach: Ger Butler
Assistant Coach: Stephen Barry
Manager: Tom Hipwell
Physio: Ali Keogh
ULSTER: Ian Hughes (GK, Cookstown), Richard Johnston (GK, Mossley), John Jackson (vice-capt, Mossley), Jonathon Bell (Lisnagarvey), Ewan Butler (Cookstown), Peter Caruth (Annadale), Jason Lynch (Lisnagarvey), Philip Brown (Banbridge), Geoffrey McCabe (Santander, Spain), Steven Redpath (Instonians), Christopher Cargo (Reading), Timothy Cockram (capt, Lisnagarvey), Paul Gleghorne (Instonians), Drew Carlisle (Banbridge), Bruce McCandless (Banbridge), Michael Watt (Santander, Spain), Dane Ward (Banbridge), Greg Thompson (Lisnagarvey)
Coach: Drew Campbell
Manager: Peter Jackson
Physio: Mark McDonald
Match schedule: Friday – Munster vs Leinster, 8pm; Saturday – Munster vs Ulster, 5pm; Sunday – Leinster vs Ulster, 4pm
Post Author:
alangood
7 Replies to “Lynch to lead Munster”
Surprising that only 2 players from Harlequins made the squad.
To hockeyfan. As far as i know only 3 of their players made themselfs available for the team.
how is stephen o’keeffe eligible to play for munster?
@anon
Don’t know for sure but would assume it’s a parental heritage thing; a lot of the players on the Connacht women’s junior side this season are doing the same thing, and I believe Munster junior men have used it before too.
The team was basically to be selected from players from an U23 age group, the clubs did get asked to nominate players from within that age group. The Irish squad players automatically being included which included David Hobbs. Due to the lack of experience players from outside this profile did get selected as it was felt that they would help the young players develop. The coaches of all the clubs had input into the makeup of the squad as far as I am aware.
It bewilders me how the third player from harlequins was not selected, a midfielder/forward which from the reports and results it looks like they could have done with! I am all for promoting youth and showing off the talent within the province but the selection of some players surely has to be questioned when other more experienced players who fit the age profile made themselves available.
To anon (and all others who use nicknames), why will you people not put your names to your posts, especially when you are taking digs at people.
“It bewilders me how the third player from harlequins was not selected” – Why from Quins, I assume the coaches saw the players for what they are and not there club affiliations.
It is these young players who will be the future of the game in Munster so why not give them a chance to play and experience that level of hockey, it can only benefit them.
Yes the scorelines weren’t flattering but for such an inexperienced group they performed extremely well against what were way more experienced teams (especially Ulster). It was good to see there is still quality being produced in Munster which will hopefully bode will for the future.
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Surprising that only 2 players from Harlequins made the squad.
To hockeyfan. As far as i know only 3 of their players made themselfs available for the team.
how is stephen o’keeffe eligible to play for munster?
@anon
Don’t know for sure but would assume it’s a parental heritage thing; a lot of the players on the Connacht women’s junior side this season are doing the same thing, and I believe Munster junior men have used it before too.
The team was basically to be selected from players from an U23 age group, the clubs did get asked to nominate players from within that age group. The Irish squad players automatically being included which included David Hobbs. Due to the lack of experience players from outside this profile did get selected as it was felt that they would help the young players develop. The coaches of all the clubs had input into the makeup of the squad as far as I am aware.
It bewilders me how the third player from harlequins was not selected, a midfielder/forward which from the reports and results it looks like they could have done with! I am all for promoting youth and showing off the talent within the province but the selection of some players surely has to be questioned when other more experienced players who fit the age profile made themselves available.
To anon (and all others who use nicknames), why will you people not put your names to your posts, especially when you are taking digs at people.
“It bewilders me how the third player from harlequins was not selected” – Why from Quins, I assume the coaches saw the players for what they are and not there club affiliations.
It is these young players who will be the future of the game in Munster so why not give them a chance to play and experience that level of hockey, it can only benefit them.
Yes the scorelines weren’t flattering but for such an inexperienced group they performed extremely well against what were way more experienced teams (especially Ulster). It was good to see there is still quality being produced in Munster which will hopefully bode will for the future.