Seven Laois rugby players in the running for inter-provincial medals today

MUNSTER stand between six Laois rugby players and inter-provincial honours today. By 5pm this afternoon both the Leinster Under-18 Boys Club team and the Under-18 Girls team will know whether they are this season's inter-provincial champions or not.

When Leinster U-18 Boys Clubs Head Coach Ken Moore named his team for today’s Interpro clash with Munster at Energia Park (3pm) there were three Laois players included.

While there are three changes to the Leinster starting XV from their last outing, hooker Denis Phelan and lock Ciaran Dunne (Both Portlaoise RFC) and No. 8 Killian James (Portarlington) both retained their places. Portlaoise’s Excell Ekemhenrekhian moves to the bench but will almost certainly see game time.

Moore’s team come into today’s game knowing a win would see them crowned champions but with a four-point lead at the top of the table, even defeat could see them lift the title.

After seeing off Ulster 33-5 in their opener, Leinster were made to work hard to keep their unbeaten record against a resurgent Connacht side last weekend.

Munster on the other hand have one win (Ulster) and one loss (Connacht) on their record coming into the final game.

Leinster U-18 Boys Clubs:

15. Leon Regan (Boyne RFC); 14. Michael Redmond (Tullow RFC), 13. Harry Ward (Naas RFC), 12. Byron O’Hara (Terenure College RFC), 11. Rocco Quigley (Enniscorthy RFC); 10. Channing Dafel (Mullingar RFC), 9. Conor Martin (Navan RFC); 1. Joe Costello (Naas RFC), 2. Dennis Phelan (Portlaoise RFC), 3. Olly Quinn (Wicklow RFC), 4. Ciaran Dunne (Portlaoise RFC), 5. Jimmy Shorten (Navan RFC); 6. Aidan Tamming (Naas RFC), 7. Jed Conroy (Suttonians RFC), 8. Killian James (Portarlington RFC).

Replacements: 16. Oisín Rooney (Wexford Wanderers RFC), 17. Eoghan Saunders (Terenure College RFC), 18. Excell Ekemhenrekhian (Portlaoise RFC), 19. Joe Codd (Wexford Wanderers RFC), 20. Brandon Nolan (Tullow RFC), 21. Iarla Sheahan (Birr RFC), 22. Scott O’Shea (Kilkenny RFC), 23. Sirio Scalabrino Noone (Suttonians RFC).

Charlie Doel made five changes to the team named the Under-18 Girls team to face Munster in PwC Interprovincial Championship final at Mullingar RFC today (KO: 3pm).

Leinster are on something of a revenge mission having lost out to Munster in their opening game but are confident of redressing the balance today.

Portlaoise RFC’s Saffron Adams (centre) and Lily Brophy (flanker) retain their positions. Having started in last week’s win over Ulster, Portarlington’s 20. Mila Mihajlovic is unfortunate to find herself on the bench today but will no doubt see game time.

Portlaoise’s Mary O’Hara, who scored a hat trick of tries against Connacht misses out on today’s final due to an injury she picked up in that game.

Munster emerged as 27-17 winners down in Cork on day one of the series but since then Leinster have bounced back with a 62-19 demolition of Connacht before booking a spot in the final with victory over Ulster last week.

After Munster were beaten 20-14 by Connacht last week, the two teams finished the pool stages level on points with Leinster. In the end, the eastern province took top spot with a points difference of +45, as Munster (+30) narrowly edged out Connacht (+25) to take the second spot.

Leinster U-18 Girls:

15. Caoimhe O’Mahony (Mullingar RFC); 14. Lily Harney (Naas RFC), 13. Saffron Adams (Portlaoise RFC), 12. Sophie McDonagh (Tullamore RFC), 11. Robyn O’Reilly (Tullamore RFC); 10. Sophia White (Arklow RFC), 9. Maebh Ni Cholla (Tullamore RFC); 1. Siofra McGlynn (MU Barnhall RFC), 2. Aimee Deering (Cill Dara RFC), 3. Simi Shanu (De La Salle Palmerston FC); 4. Molly Hurst (Edenderry RFC), 5. Emma O’Rourke (Navan RFC); 6. Lily Brophy (Portlaoise RFC), 7. Milita Valteryte (Dundalk RFC), 8. Emily Miller (Cill Dara RFC).

Replacements: 16. Zoe Byrne (Arklow RFC), 17. Lauren Shevlin (Dundalk RFC), 18. Lucy Noons (Cill Dara RFC), 19. Ruby Osumah (Tullamore RFC), 20. Mila Mihajlovic (Portarlington RFC), 21. Maggie Kerins (Navan RFC), 22. Catherine Murphy (Athy RFC), 23. Pearl Tyner (Arklow RFC).