Rugby
Barron to lead out experienced Munster
Daire Walsh
Garryowen hooker Diarmuid Barron will lead Munster ‘A’ into battle for their interprovincial challenge against Leinster ‘A’ at Energia Park this evening (kick-off 7.30pm).
The former Ireland U20s star has made three appearances off the bench for the senior side in this season’s Guinness PRO14 and will be joined in the front-row by Josh Wycherley and Keynan Knox.
While 13 members of the Munster Academy are included in the match day squad – including recent first-team debutant Ben Healy – the likes of Alex Wootton, Neil Cronin and Darren O’Shea add considerable experience to Peter Malone’s second string outfit. Wootton will feature in the back-three alongside Alan Tynan and Liam Coombes, while Alex McHenry and Jack Delaney are the preferred choices in the centre.
When the two sides met in this season’s Celtic Cup, Leinster comfortably prevailed on a scoreline of 47-21 in Cork. The blues – coached by Clare native Noel McNamara – subsequently retained their title at that grade courtesy of a final victory over Ulster in October. This is the first of two games for Munster ‘A’ this month with their traditional work-out against the Ireland U20s set to follow at Musgrave Park on December 29.
MUNSTER ‘A’: A Tynan; L Coombes, A McHenry, J Delaney, A Wootton; B Healy, N Cronin; J Wycherley, D Barron, K Knox; D O’Shea, S O’Connor; G Coombes, C Oliver, J O’Sullivan.
Replacements: E Clarke, J French, C Barrett, T Ahern, C Hurley, J Hodnett, C Casey, H O’Riordan.