Bayern wrote:

connachta wrote: The 2 Irish u20 tries in open play were scored tonight by Connachtmen Gaffney and McKeon

Conor McKeon a connachtman from that leafy part of connacht called ranelagh

Ahem, I'm a Connachtman from that leafy part of Connacht called ranelagh...and there's a lot of us....at least three.

Dubliner yes, but Connacht academy next year apparently

connachta wrote: The 2 Irish u20 tries in open play were scored tonight by Connachtmen Gaffney and McKeon

Conor McKeon a connachtman from that leafy part of connacht called ranelagh

The 2 Irish u20 tries in open play were scored tonight by Connachtmen Gaffney and McKeon

Why are McAuley and Reilly being released at the end of their 2nd year? The players choice or did management deem them not good enough and wanted to create spaces for the likes of Robb and McKeon. I reckon Robb is a great addition.

Was wondering if they were related. Good to know.

Conor McKeon is not a rumour, he is coming here, probably play with Corinthians next year. He is joining his first cousin in Galway a certain E McKeon !

Ireland U20'S Named:

PwC IRELAND U20 v France – JWC2014 Pool B

15. Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)

14. Ciaran Gaffney (Galwegians/Connacht) *

13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)

12. Dan Goggin (Young Munster/Munster)

11. Ian Fitzpatrick (Lansdowne/Leinster)

10. Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster)

9. Nick McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)



1. Peter Dooley (Lansdowne/Leinster)

2. Max Abbott (Cork Constitution/Munster)

3. Craig Trenier (Terenure/Leinster) *

4. Stephen Gardiner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

5. Ross Molony (UCD/Leinster)

6. Peadar Timmins (UCD/Leinster)

7. Frankie Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

8. Jack O’ Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster) capt



Replacements

16. Dylan Donnellan (UCD/Leinster) *

17. Denis Coulson (Lansdowne/Leinster)

18. Rory Burke (Cork Constitution/Munster)

19. Darragh Moloney (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

20. Diarmaid Dee (Young Munster/Munster) *

21. Ryan Foley (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

22. Conor McKeon (Lansdowne/Leinster)(rumoured)

23. Billy Dardis (UCD/Leinster) *

Would be really happy to get hold of Robb he's a big unit and a different type of player then what we have at the moment. Delahunt and McKeon could be potentially good catches as well. Delahunt looks impressive.

All three of them were in Leinster's sub academy this year and were not offered full academy contracts following that.. if they wanted any chance of making it professional they had to look elsewhere and Connacht needs talent and can give them that opportunity.. similar to many former and current connacht players..

Be interested to see how many connacht developed players are added to the academy.

Heard that rumour too, also Shane Delahunt as well, if Robb, mcKeon and Delahunt did come to Galway that would be three very good players who potentially could have been in the Leinster academy. The lads are coming west if the opportunity is here. Better to be in our full Academy than going into the sub Academy in Dublin. Rory Maloney was a good example of this.

Rumour that Peter Robb could be joining our academy next season.

I understand that Sean O'Brien is out of the Irish U20's for the JWC. Really gutted for him if true, he was named as captain after Dan Leavy also pulled out with injury. Hope that he is ok for next season which should be a big one for him. I don't think that he has a serious injury so no long term issue.

Academy Profiles


Year 3

Jack Carty
Conor Finn
Shane Layden (repeating?)
Tadgh Leader (released)


Year 2

Finlay Bealham
Ultan Dillane
Darragh Leader
Steve McAuley (released)
Eoghan Masterson
Peter Reilly (released)
Marcus Walsh


Year 1

Caolin Blade
James Connolly
Conor Kindregan
Saba Meunargia
Rory Moloney
Sean O'Brien
David Panter
Rory Parata
Jacob Walshe

Thought about Conan O'Donnell but was wondering if he was slightly to young for this years pick. That said with such a big clear out of the academy we can probably afford to bring in a few more than usual.

I've added in a few more I think have a shout. Namely Pat O'Toole and Conor Kyne.

So:
Ciaran Gaffney (Out-Half)
Jerome Harimate (Centre)
Jack Dineen (Hooker)
Mark Kelly (Flanker)
Cian Romaine (Second Row)
Conan O'Donnell (prop)
Pat O'Toole (Hooker)
Conor McKeon (Out-half)
Conor Kyne (prop)

columoc wrote: Maybe Mark Kelly, flanker from Portumna, captained Roscrea this year and played against France last week in U19.

good shout, he and Cian Romaine will probably get long looks.

Conan O'Donnell is pretty highly rated too.