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Leo Cullen names strong Leinster team for URC opener against Stormers

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LEO CULLEN HAS named his team for Leinster’s URC opener away at the Stormers tomorrow [KO 6pm Irish time, TG4/Premier Sports/URC TV].

The defending champions are without their British and Irish Lions for the opening rounds of the new URC season, but Cullen is still able to name a side packed with international players.

Jimmy O’Brien starts at fullback, with Jordan Larmour and Tommy O’Brien on the wings.

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Robbie Henshaw and Ciarán Frawley line out in the centre positions, with Sam Prendergast at out-half and Luke McGrath captaining the side from scrum-half.

Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Rabah Slimani start in the front row, with Diarmuid Mangan and Brian Deeny named in the second row.

Ryan Baird starts at number six, with Scott Penny at openside and James Culhane at number eight.

On the Leinster bench, Academy prop Andrew Sparrow is in line to make his Leinster debut, with Paddy McCarthy and John McKee completing the front row cover.

Max Deegan and Will Connors are also included among the replacements, while Harry Byrne, who has returned from a loan spell with Bristol Bears, Fintan Gunne and Hugh Cooney are the three replacement backs.

Leinster:

  • 15. Jimmy O’Brien
  • 14. Tommy O’Brien
  • 13. Robbie Henshaw
  • 12. Ciarán Frawley
  • 11. Jordan Larmour
  • 10. Sam Prendergast
  • 9. Luke McGrath (capt)
  • 1. Jack Boyle
  • 2. Gus McCarthy
  • 3. Rabah Slimani
  • 4. Diarmuid Mangan
  • 5. Brian Deeny
  • 6. Ryan Baird
  • 7. Scott Penny
  • 8. James Culhane

Replacements:

  • 16. John McKee
  • 17. Paddy McCarthy
  • 18. Andrew Sparrow
  • 19. Max Deegan
  • 20. Will Connors
  • 21. Fintan Gunne
  • 22. Harry Byrne
  • 23. Hugh Cooney

Stormers:

  • 15. Wandisile Simelane
  • 14. Seabelo Senatla
  • 13. Ruhan Nel (capt)
  • 12. Dan du Plessis
  • 11. Leolin Zas
  • 10. Jurie Matthee
  • 9. Stefan Ungerer
  • 1. Vernon Matongo.
  • 2. André-Hugo Venter
  • 3. Neethling Fouché
  • 4. Adré Smith 
  • 5. JD Schickerling
  • 6. Paul de Villiers
  • 7. Ben-Jason Dixon 
  • 8. Evan Roos 

Replacements: 

  • 16. JJ Kotze
  • 17. Olly Reid
  • 18. Zachary Porthen
  • 19. Ruben van Heerden
  • 20. Ruan Ackermann
  • 21. Marcel Theunissen
  • 22. Dewaldt Duvenage
  • 23. Clinton Swart

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Sports

Irish teenage stopper Keane the cup hero for Blades

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Republic of Ireland teenage goalkeeper Katie Keane served notice of her huge promise as she starred in Sheffield United’s penalty shootout win against Durham in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Keane, 19, joined Women’s Super League outfit Leicester City from Shamrock Rovers in the summer.

On Wednesday afternoon she completed a seven-day emergency loan move to Championship side Sheffield United, who were short in the goalkeeping department after losing both Sian Rogers and Charlotte Parker-Smith to injury.

Keane went straight into the team for the cup clash and made an instant impact.

Joy Ralph – who left Shamrock Rovers for the Blades around the same time Keane joined Leicester – put the visitors ahead at Maiden Castle Sports Park with a good finish in the 18th minute.

Durham equalised just before half-time, but they couldn’t be separated after that, with the game going to a shootout.

Keane made saves to deny Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki to swing it for the Blade. Afterwards she reflected on a whirlwind 24 hours.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Keane told Sheffield United club media.

“It’s some debut. To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?

“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”

Keane, who first broke through at Athlone Town, will be hoping her performance caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward ahead of next month’s Nations League play-off against Belgium.

She was included in Eileen Gleeson’s senior squad for last year’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia, but has not been called up since.


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Sports

Irish teenage stopper Keane the cup hero for Blades

Published

on

Read the full article on post.

Republic of Ireland teenage goalkeeper Katie Keane served notice of her huge promise as she starred in Sheffield United’s penalty shootout win against Durham in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Keane, 19, joined Women’s Super League outfit Leicester City from Shamrock Rovers in the summer.

On Wednesday afternoon she completed a seven-day emergency loan move to Championship side Sheffield United, who were short in the goalkeeping department after losing both Sian Rogers and Charlotte Parker-Smith to injury.

Keane went straight into the team for the cup clash and made an instant impact.

Joy Ralph – who left Shamrock Rovers for the Blades around the same time Keane joined Leicester – put the visitors ahead at Maiden Castle Sports Park with a good finish in the 18th minute.

Durham equalised just before half-time, but they couldn’t be separated after that, with the game going to a shootout.

Keane made saves to deny Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki to swing it for the Blade. Afterwards she reflected on a whirlwind 24 hours.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Keane told Sheffield United club media.

“It’s some debut. To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?

“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”

Keane, who first broke through at Athlone Town, will be hoping her performance caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward ahead of next month’s Nations League play-off against Belgium.

She was included in Eileen Gleeson’s senior squad for last year’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia, but has not been called up since.


[embedded content]

Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Continue Reading

Sports

Irish teenage stopper Keane the cup hero for Blades

Published

on

Read the full article on post.

Republic of Ireland teenage goalkeeper Katie Keane served notice of her huge promise as she starred in Sheffield United’s penalty shootout win against Durham in the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Keane, 19, joined Women’s Super League outfit Leicester City from Shamrock Rovers in the summer.

On Wednesday afternoon she completed a seven-day emergency loan move to Championship side Sheffield United, who were short in the goalkeeping department after losing both Sian Rogers and Charlotte Parker-Smith to injury.

Keane went straight into the team for the cup clash and made an instant impact.

Joy Ralph – who left Shamrock Rovers for the Blades around the same time Keane joined Leicester – put the visitors ahead at Maiden Castle Sports Park with a good finish in the 18th minute.

Durham equalised just before half-time, but they couldn’t be separated after that, with the game going to a shootout.

Keane made saves to deny Beth Hepple and Becky Salicki to swing it for the Blade. Afterwards she reflected on a whirlwind 24 hours.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Keane told Sheffield United club media.

“It’s some debut. To think that I haven’t actually been a Sheffield player until about four hours ago, that’s just the fun of it you know?

“The penos, thank God I saved them. The game was really, really good and I’m really proud of all the girls and the youngsters who came on and put in a really good shift.”

Keane, who first broke through at Athlone Town, will be hoping her performance caught the attention of Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward ahead of next month’s Nations League play-off against Belgium.

She was included in Eileen Gleeson’s senior squad for last year’s Euro 2025 play-off semi-final against Georgia, but has not been called up since.


[embedded content]

Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Continue Reading

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