The Irish Under-19 side fared well against the Irish Schoolboys but in the end were unable to contain their opponents at Sydney Parade yesterday. The Under-19s, pooled with England, Australia and Romania in next year's World Cup to be held in Gijon, France, came together for the first time yesterday morning and played a trial match prior to the match in the afternoon. The opening quarter belonged to Irish Schools, with Gillan Carruthers scoring after five minutes. Eoghan Hickey then added a penalty midway through the half.
The Under-19s replied two minutes later when a long pass to Niall O'Brien saw the left wing go over in the corner. And although Hickey added his second penalty soon after, the Under-19s went into the break ahead when hooker Colm Tucker pushed his way over.
Out-half Andy Frame converted to leave the score 12-11 at the interval and was called upon shortly after the restart following a further O'Brien score.
But Irish Schools, inspired by flanker Denis Leamy, finished the stronger. Mark Canning's converted try took them to within a point. And then with 16 minutes remaining, substitute Dermot O'Riordan came into the line to score under the posts with Hickey knocking over his fifth successful kick of the afternoon.
Irish Schools: R McCormack (Blackrock College) G Carruthers (Coleraine AI), M McPhail (St Joseph's Galway), G Duffy (Cistercian College Roscrea), M Canning (CBC Cork), E Hickey (De La Salle Churchtown), F Murphy (CBC Cork), J Lyne (Castlenock College), R Best (Portadown College), E McGovern (Crescent College Comprehensive), S Keogh (St Munchin's College), M Carroll (Blackrock College), D Leamy (Rockwell College), J O'Connor (Crescent College Comprehensive), D O'Neill (PBC Cork). Replacements: D O'Riordan (Rockwell College) for Carruthers, K Lucey (CBC Cork) for McPhail, F O'Loughlin (Ard Scoil Ris) for Murphy, J Danagher (Blackrock College) for McGovern.
Irish Under-19s: S Young (Campbell), A Maxwell (RBAI), D Canley (Tramore), G Mitchell (Campbell), N O'Brien (Greystones), A Frame (UCD), B O'Riordan (Old Belvedere), D Witherow (City of Derry), C Tucker (St Munchins), A Conboy (St Joseph's Galway), T Barker (Malone), M Garvey (Old Belvedere), N McMillen (Nottingham-Trent), I Kelly (Dublin University), A Hamilton (Belfast Harlequins). Replacements: B Burke (Barnhall) for Young, B Young (Ballymena) for Witherow, F Lynch (St Mary's College) for Frame, C McPhillips (St Mary's College) for O Riordan.
Referee: S McDowell (Ulster).
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