Clubs vie for the Dalriada Cup
Dalriada was an ancient (5th century AD) kingdom that flowed over from Antrim in Northern Ireland to Argyle in Scotland.
The object is to give club (amateur) players something to aim at – something like what international competition used to be way back in 1877 when the two countries first met on the rugby field, a way of playing that lasted till 1995 and the intrusion of open professionalism.
The two teams meet again on Friday, 23 February 2018 at Dubarry Park in Athlone. (Kick-off 19.30).
The Ireland team is chosen from 12 different clubs, captained by scrumhalf Neil Cronin with the profitable boot and the experience of four such matches.
The Scottish captain, fullback Fraser Thomson, has been playing for Scottish Clubs for 12 times. His team are chosen from nine different clubs.
In the 11 matches played so far, Ireland have won six, Scotland five. It promises to be a close encounter.
Teams
Ireland Clubs: 15 Jake Swaine (Tenenure College), 14 Harry Brennan (Lansdowne), 13 Niall Kenneally (Cork Constitution), 12 Matt D'Arcy (Clontarf), 11 Daniel McEvoy (Lansdowne), 10 Jamie Gavin (Garryowen), 9 Neil Cronin (Garryowen) (captain), 8 Michael Noone (Clontarf), 7 Joe McSwiney (Cork Constitution), 6 Jack Dwan (Lansdowne), 5 Michael Melia (Tenenure College),4 Alex Thompson (Terenure College), 3 Colm Skehan (Young Munster), 2 Paddy Finlay (Dublin University), 1 Cronan Gleeson (Old Wesley)
Replacements: 16 Ed Rossiter (Old Belvedere), 17 Tom O'Reilly (St Mary's College), 18 Michael Cromie (Banbridge), 19 Ciaran Ruddock (St Mary's College), 20 Paulie Tolofua (Naas), 21 Angus Lloyd (Dublin University), 22 Mark O'Neill (Tenenure College), 23 Eamonn Mills (Lansdowne)
Scotland Club XV: 15 Fraser Thomson (Melrose) (captain), 14 Jordan Edmunds (Boroughmuir), 13 Ross Curle (Stirling County), 12 Robbie Nelson (Currie Chieftains), 11 Craig Gossman (Ayr), 10 Craig Jackson (Melrose), 9 Charlie Shiel (Currie Chieftains), 8 Pete McCallum (Ayr), 7 Jack Turley (Heriot’s), 6 Blair MacPherson (Ayr), 5 Robert McAlpine (Ayr), 4 Iain Moody (Melrose), 3 Steven Longwell (Ayr), 2 Russell Anderson (Melrose), 1 Shawn Muir (Hawick)
Replacements: 16 Michael Liness (Heriot’s), 17 Nick Beavon (Melrose), 18 Struan Cessford (Heriot’s), 19 Ruairidh Leishman (Stirling County), 20 Rory Drummond (Watsonians), 21 Murdo McAndrew (Melrose), 22 Scott Lyle (Ayr), 23 George Taylor (Melrose)
Referee: Matthew Turvey (England)
Assistant referees: Karol Collins (Ireland), Daithi Flood (Ireland)
