Latest news with #ConorKennelly
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Seven Munster players named in Ireland squad for U20 World Championship
Ireland head coach Neil Doak has named a 30-player squad for the U20 World Championship in Italy. There are seven Munster players included in the group including second rows Michael Foy and Conor Kennelly, back-rows Luke Murphy and Oisín Minogue, centres Gene O'Leary Kareem and Eoghan Smyth, and out-half Tom Wood. The squad announcement was further good news for Kennelly, Minogue, Smyth, and Wood, all of whom were also confirmed on Wednesday as being new recruits to the Munster academy. Connacht's Éanna McCarthy will captain the squad. Ireland had a disappointing Six Nations campaign earlier this year, finishing bottom of the table. 'It's been a challenging season," said Doak, "but this group has shown resilience and real character. We know the competition at the World Championships will be fierce, but these experiences have made us stronger. We're looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves on the world stage.' Ireland's tournament gets underway on June 29 against Georgia. They face Italy on July 4, and then New Zealand on July 9. A 35-player women's U20 squad has also been named for the Six Nations Summer Series in Wales. 11 players who were part of last year's squad for the inaugural series return for 2025. "This competition represents a significant step in our player development pathway," said Ireland head coach Niamh Briggs. "It provides a valuable opportunity for young athletes to challenge themselves against top-level opposition, experience the demands of an international environment, and continue their progression toward senior rugby.' Ireland men's squad for U20 World Championship Forwards: Billy Bohan (Connacht), Billy Corrigan (Leinster), Michael Foy (Munster), Conor Kennelly (Munster), Tom McAllister (Ulster), Éanna McCarthy (Connacht), Luke McLaughlin (Leinster), Oisín Minogue (Munster), Paddy Moore (Leinster), Alex Mullan (Leinster), Luke Murphy (Munster), Bobby Power (Connacht), Mahon Ronan (Leinster), Alex Usanov (Leinster), Henry Walker (Ulster), David Walsh (Leinster), Mikey Yarr (Leinster) Backs: Connor Fahy (Leinster), Paidi Farrell (Leinster), Dan Green (Ulster), Clark Logan (Ulster), Ciaran Mangan (Leinster), Derry Moloney (Leinster), Charlie Molony (Leinster), Chris O'Connor (Leinster), Gene O'Leary Kareem (Munster), Eoghan Smyth (Munster), Sam Wisniewski (Leinster), Tom Wood (Munster), Will Wootton (IQ Rugby) Ireland women's squad for U20 Six Nations Summer Series Forwards: Jemima Adams Verling (Connacht), Alma Atagamen (Leinster), Sophie Barrett (Ulster), Grainne Burke (Munster), Ella Burns (Connacht), Beth Buttimer (Munster), Maebh Clenaghan (Ulster), Carla Cooney (Leinster), Aoife Corcoran (Leinster), Saoirse Crowe (Munster), Poppy Garvey (Connacht), Beibhinn Gleeson (Connacht), Sally Kelly (Munster), Merisa Kiripati (Connacht), Lily Morris (Munster), Jane Neill (Leinster), Aoibhe O'Flynn (Munster), Rosie Searle (Leinster) Backs: Emma Brogan (Leinster), Hannah Clarke (Connacht), Lyndsay Clarke (Munster), Katie Corrigan (Leinster), Clara Dunne (Leinster), Caitriona Finn (Munster), Emily Foley (Connacht), Jade Gaffney (Leinster), Niamh Gallagher (IQ Rugby), May Goulding (IQ Rugby), Lucia Linn (Munster), Caoimhe McCormack (Leinster), Grainne Moran (Connacht), Robyn O'Connor (Leinster), Tara O'Neill (Ulster), Ellie O Sullivan Sexton (Leinster), Hannah Scanlon (Leinster)
Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Keith Wood's son Tom among five new Munster academy recruits
Munster have announced that there will be five new additions to their academy squad for the 2025/26 season. The new recruits are Emmet Calvey, Conor Kennelly, Oisín Minogue, Eoghan Smyth and Tom Wood. Academy products Fionn Gibbons, Shay McCarthy, Evan O'Connell, Ruadhán Quinn and Kieran Ryan have been promoted to the senior squad for the upcoming season. Former Cork underage hurler Ben O'Connor will spend one more year in the academy before moving up to the senior squad ahead of the 2026/27 season. Prop Darragh McSweeney has had his time in the academy extended to a third season due to his development being hampered by injury. Out-half Wood is the son of Munster great and former Ireland captain Keith Wood. His brother, Gordon, is also an academy squad member. The 19-year-old, who went to St Munchin's, made three appearances for the Ireland U20s this year. Minogue is the son of former Ireland international Rosie Foley and the nephew of Munster legend and former head coach Anthony Foley. The 19-year-old flanker, another St Munchin's man, also played for the Ireland U20s in this year's Six Nations. 20-year-old prop Calvey is a Clare native who played schools rugby with Ardscoil Rís. The Ireland U20 international lined out for the Munster development team in 2023, and the Munster A side during the 2024/25 season. Highfield second row Kennelly went to CBC. The 19-year-old made three appearances for the Ireland U20s in the 2025 Six Nations. Cork Con centre Smyth, who went to Midleton College, played in all five of Ireland's U20 Six Nations games this year. 2025/26 Munster Rugby Academy Squad Year 3: George Hadden, Dylan Hicks, Darragh McSweeney, Ben O'Connor, Max Clein, Ronan Foxe. Year 2: Jake O'Riordan, Gene O'Leary Kareem, Michael Foy, Danny Sheahan, Seán Edogbo, Luke Murphy, Gordon Wood. Year 1: Emmet Calvey, Conor Kennelly, Oisín Minogue, Eoghan Smyth, Tom Wood.
