Ulster Rugby Official: Ravens team to face Connacht A is named

Head coach Gary Longwell has named an experimental Ravens team for the Inter-provincial fixture against Connacht A at Deramore Park on Wednesday (kick off 5pm).

Longwell has decided against selecting any club players from Dungannon and Ballynahinch as they face a top of the table clash in the First Trust Ulster Senior League on Saturday. Conor Gaston, who is affiliated to Dungannon, is named but he is a member of the Phoenix Academy. Michael Allen, who won his first senior Ulster cap recently, will captain the side from outside centre.

Belfast Harlequins prop Richard Lutton will join Ballymena duo John Burns and Conor Carey in the front row. Michael Shiels (Rainey) and David Houston (City of Derry) will play their first games at this level after impressing for their clubs in the Ulster Bank League. The back row of Conor Joyce, Dominic Gallagher and Neil Faloon is a dynamic one and they will face a difficult task against the abrasive Connacht loose trio.

Former Ireland U20s players James McKinney will be joined at half back by Queen’s team mate Paddy Farrell. Luke Marshall and Michael Allen will form an exciting centre partnership which should cause problems to the visiting defence. Chris Quinn, who has been in good try scoring form for Queen’s this season, is joined in the back three by Phoenix Academy players Conor Gaston and Ricky Andrew.

Banbridge prop Michael Cromie will join Ballymena players Andrew Warwick, Stephen Mulholland and Paul Pritchard in providing forward cover from the bench. City of Derry scrumhalf Andrew Semple, and Johnny Burgess and Taylor Acheson from Malone, are the backline replacements.

Commenting on selection, Longwell said: “We have named a fairly young side for this game but we thought it was the right time to give opportunities to some of the players who have shown good form in the All Ireland League. The clubs in Ulster are doing well in their respective leagues and it is important to reward players when they are playing well. It gives us an opportunity to have a closer look at some of the players who have been on our radar. There are some interesting combinations all over the field so it will be intriguing to see how they get on.”

Longwell is expecting his troops to be tested by the visiting team: “Connacht are travelling with a quality squad, they will have a number of professional and development players involved so they will be very difficult opposition. But we will focus on our own game and hopefully we can put in a good performance.”

Ravens XV & replacements to play Connacht A, Deramore Park, Wednesday 7th March (kick off 5pm):
1 Richard Lutton (Belfast Harlequins)
2 John Burns (Ballymena)
3 Conor Carey (Ballymena)
4 Michael Shiels (Rainey)
5 David Houston (City of Derry)
6 Conor Joyce Malone)
7 Dominic Gallagher (Dublin University)
8 Neil Faloon (Armagh)
9 Paddy Farrell (Queen’s University)
10 James McKinney (Queen’s University)
11 Chris Quinn (Queen’s University)
12 Luke Marshall (Ballymena)
13 Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins) (capt)
14 Conor Gaston (Dungannon)
15 Ricky Andrew (Ballymena)

16 Andrew Warwick (Ballymena)
17 Michael Cromie (Banbridge)
18 Stephen Mulholland (Ballymena)
19 Paul Pritchard (Ballymena)
20 Andrew Semple (City of Derry)
21 Johnny Burgess (Malone)
22 Taylor Acheson (Malone)

Connacht XV & replacements
1 Denis Buckley
2 Kevin O’Byrne
3 Stewart Maguire
4 Brian Moylett
5 Mick Kearney
6 Dave Heffernan
7 Eoghan Grace (capt)
8 Eoin McKeon
9 Dave Moore
10 Jack Carty
11 Mark McCrea
12 Tadhg Leader
13 Brian Murphy
14 Matt Dever
15 Callum Boland

16 Stevie Collins
17 Finlay Bealham
18 Peter Borlase
19 Conor Kindregan
20 Isaac O’Grady
21 Marcus Walsh
22 Darragh Leader
23 Conor Fitzgibbon