Declan Kidney: ‘Our job is to stay professional’

IRISH rugby coach Declan Kidney believes his Grand Slam-chasing players should enjoy the build up to Saturday’s mammoth clash with Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Rejuvenated Ireland will bid to win a first Grand Slam since 1948 when they lock horns with Warren Gatland’s Welsh side (kick-off 5.30pm).


Ireland are guaranteed to win the RBS Six Nations Championship if they avoid defeat by less than 13 points against the Welsh. But a first Grand Slam title in 41 years is the main aim this Saturday after Ireland extended their winning run in this season’s championship to four games with a 22-15 success over Scotland at Murrayfield.
Coach Kidney believes his players should embrace the attention they receive in advance of this weekend’s clash: “I won’t be shielding the players from the pressure. This is a week to be enjoyed. If you don’t enjoy times like this you won’t enjoy anything.
“Our job is to stay professional. We’ll prepare the same way for this one as we did with every other match, but admittedly this is new territory for everybody. Wales will be tough. I’ll be accused of mind games, but they are defending Grand Slam champions and are playing at home.
“They’re playing for the championship, for the Triple Crown and have rested most of their players this week.”
Ireland and Munster supporters will await news on Denis Leamy’s shoulder injury which forced the number eight off during the course of Saturday evening’s game with great interest.
Meanwhile the Irish women’s team, captained by Limerick woman Joy Neville, scored a 23-0, three-try, victory over Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations Championship - the win automatically qualifies Ireland for next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup
Ireland face Wales at Taffs Wells in Cardiff next Saturday (kick-off 1pm) in their final match of the campaign.
The Irish clubs side suffered an 18-31 defeat to their Scottish counterparts in an international match at Myreside, Watsonians FC on Friday night.
UL Bohemian clubman Ed Torrie lined out at full-back for the game while Young Munster’s Derek Corcoran played on the wing.
Limerick man Barry O’Mahony, now playing with Dolphin, scored one of the Irish side’s two tries.
Ireland’s hopes of achieving an RBS Under-20 Six Nations Grand Slam were blown out of the water in Perth when they suffered a 35-20 defeat to Scotland. Garryowen’s Ronan O’Mahony lined out on the wing for Ireland while his clubmates Andrew Burke and Conor Murray were included on the substitutes’ bench.

Colm Kinsella

Limerick trio feature in schoolboy international

WHILE Limerick FC swept to an impressive four-one win over Mervue United at Jackman Park on Friday night one of the club’s rising stars, Jason Hughes, captained the Republic of Ireland schoolboys (under-18) to a one-all draw against Scotland in the Carnegie Centenary Shield.
Hughes (Limerick CBS) was joined in the Irish side by Ian Storan (Crescent College) while Limerick CBS’ Eoin Hanrahan also played his part as a second half substitute at Tynecastle.
Jason Hughes survived a late fitness test to take his place at the centre of midfield for the Republic, but the Irish schoolboys were disappointed not to come away with all three points against the Scots.
The Republic of Ireland spurned several scoring chances and failed to add to the 3-1 victory they registered over Wales.
Ireland took the lead after 35 minutes when Carl Forsyth coolly slotted home the opening goal, but Scotland equalized through Jamie Burstow two minutes later.
Jason Hughes almost reclaimed the lead for the Republic of Ireland in the 43rd minute, but he was denied by a superb save.
Eoin Hanrahan also came close to grabbing all three points for the Republic in the 81st minute, but his shot flew narrowly wide of a post.
The point leaves the Republic of Ireland level with Scotland on four points with two games played.
Northern Ireland and England are tied on three points apiece, but both enjoy a game in hand on their rivals.
The Republic now face Northern Ireland away next Friday (March 20) in the Riada Stadium, Ballymoney in what is now a must-win game (kick-off 7pm) since England are now best-placed to wrestle the Carnegie Centenary Shield away from Ireland, the defending champions.
England face Northern Ireland on March 27 and Scotland on April 17.
The final game of the campaign sees the Republic of Ireland host England in the RSC (Waterford) on April 14 - that game will be televised live on Sky Sports (7.35pm).

Republic of Ireland: Aaron McCarey (St. Macartan’s College), Garvan Broughall (Athlone Community College), Tomas Boyle (Salesian College), Ian Storan (Crescent College Comprehensive), Neil Harney (St. Aloysius College), Jason Hughes (Limerick CBS), Paul Corry (Belvedere College), James Keohane (Kilkenny CBS), Gary Burke (Larkin Community College), Carl Forsyth (Cabinteely Community School), Shane Howard (Colaiste Eoin, Carlow). Subs: Eoghan Osborne (Colaiste Ris, Dundalk) for Ian Storan, Jason Dwane (St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne) for Neil Harney, Eoin Hanrahan (Limerick CBS) for James Keohane, Robert Benson (Marist College, Athlone) for Carl Forsyth.

Brian McDonnell