Eleven Galway Players in Connacht Squad as Boys’ Interprovincial tournament Kicks-off on Friday

The FAI Schools Boys Interprovincial Tournament begins today (Friday, 28th November 2025) in Abbotstown.  Connacht face Munster at 5.30pm.

Eleven Galway players are involved, and Alex Lee manages the Connacht team, who are defending the title they won in 2024.

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This weekend will see sixty-eight of the top players in Irish schools’ line out for the FAI Schools Under 18 Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament which will take place in FAI HQ, Abbotstown. 

The Interprovincial series will be the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools International squad which will compete in the SAFIB Centenary Shield competition against Wales, Northern Ireland, and reigning Champions Scotland.

Alan Murphy (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) was appointed Head Coach this season following the completion of Derek O’Brien’s (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore) tenure. The UEFA Pro Licence veteran will be joined by Conor Uhl (Skibbereen Community School) and Oisin McMenamin (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar) in the management staff this season, alongside John Power (GK Coach). The dynamic of the group will be forever altered with the untimely passing of stalwart Ollie Horgan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny) whose vast coaching experience and tremendous work rate will be sadly missed amongst his colleagues.  He was an intrigue part of the International coaching staff since 2009 having left his mark with the Ulster Schools setup before that.

The Republic of Ireland will compete in just three SAFIB Centenary Shield fixtures in 2026 as England have withdrawn from the competition in the short term. The Irish will travel away to Wales in their opening fixture on March 12 while a fortnight later, they will host Northern Ireland on March 26. Murphy’s side will end their campaign against Scotland on April 9 with Athlone Town AFC hosting both home games.

This weekend will be the start of the recruitment process, and it will see one change to the provincial management set-up with Billy Woods (Munster) departing this term after some exceptional years at the helm. The Munster squad captured the Interprovincial title in 2022 and 2023 under Woods’ stewardship. Kevin Condon (Coláiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir) takes the reins this year. He is no stranger to the Interprovincial series as he was part of the coaching staff for those back-to-back title wins.

Munster will have three players return from last season with Noah O’BRIEN (De La Salle College, Waterford), Dylan O’CONNELL (Patrician Academy, Mallow), and Charlie CAMPBELL (St. Munchin’s College, Corbally) featuring again.  Unfortunately Evan PEELO (Coláiste an Phiarsaign, Glanmire) won’t be returning to the fray as he’s out injured and will miss this series.

Donegal duo Rowan McGROARTY (Loreto Community School, Milford) and Declan PATTON (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar) will star for the Ulster select for a second consecutive year under Oisín McMenamin’s tutelage.  Corey SHERIDAN (Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon) played for Ulster in 2024 but was unavailable for selection due to his involvement with the Republic of Ireland’s Under 17s World Cup squad. Likewise Josh CULLEN (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town) missed out on Interprovincial honours with his successful trip to Doha. It’s one of the youngster squads to participate with seven 2009s called up.

Templeogue mentor Conor Canavan has a new look Leinster team at his disposal for the 2025 campaign. Their dominance in this tournament has lessened in recent years with their last title secured in 2019. There is a good array of players lining out with Kildare, Wexford, Wicklow, Westmeath, Louth, Dublin, and Offaly schools all represented.     

Defending Champions Connacht may hold the favourites tag going into this weekend. Although Head Coach, Alex Lee (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) fields a young team, they’re bolstered by the return of quartet James MORAHAN, Eoin GACQUIN (both St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Jack SWEENEY (Merlin College, Galway), and Lúc GRIALLAIS (Coláiste an Eachréídh, Athenry). In fact, Morahan and Sweeney went on to play a starring role for the Republic of Ireland Schools in the SAFIB Centenary Shield last season. The experience these four bring to the squad will be immense with three games in three days. No doubt the team will want to make it back-to back victories on Sunday afternoon.

We look forward to a competitive outing on Friday evening as Ulster take on Leinster at 4pm while defending Champions Connacht entertain 2023 Champions Munster at 5.30pm.

In keeping with the long-standing tradition of maintaining the interest in the competition until the final matches on Sunday, the draw for Saturday’s and Sunday’s matches will be made following the games on Friday evening.

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INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS

CONNACHT | Aaron O’GORMAN (Claregalway College), Jamie O’MALLEY, Conor WHITTKER (Rice College, Westport), Jack SWEENEY, Tomiwa LOFINMAKIN (Merlin College, Galway), Eoin GACQUIN, Cillian SMYTH, Joe COLLERAN, James MORAHAN (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Lús GRIALLAIS (Coláiste an Eachréidh, Athenry), Luca Oran MURPHY (Balla Secondary School), Colm DOYLE (Presentation College, Athenry), Daire O’CONNOR (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina),  Ross RUANE DALTON (Ballyhaunis Community School), Josh FARNHAM (Dunmore Commuinty School, Tuam), Sam BEGLEY (Coláiste Iognáid, Gaillimh),  Oisín CHOO (Sligo Grammar School)

Management | Alex LEE (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Martin CONNEELY (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua), Ger CURRAN (Merlin College, Galway)

LEINSTER | Luke CULLEN (Salesian College, Celbridge), Alex NOVAL (Wexford CBS), Ryan OWENS (St. Kilian’s Community School, Bray), Daniel COSTELLO, Jimmy WALSHE (Marist College, Athlone), Seán MURPHY (Naas CBS), Shay CASEY (St. Mary’s College, Dundalk), Odhran O’CONNELL (Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Donaghmede), Peter BYRNE (Kildare Town Community School), Jack MARTIN (Ardee Community School) , Flynn RYAN (St. Gerard’s College, Bray), Dylan McMENAMY (Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole), Bailey SHELLEY (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Conor O’NEILL (Blackrock College), Luke BURKE (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Fionn MURPHY (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry), Luca KELLY (St. David’s Holy Family Secondary School, Greystones)

Management | Conor CANAVAN (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Karl HEGARTY (St. Kevin’s Community College, Dunlavin), Fintan SHERIDAN (St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin), John POWER (GK Coach)

MUNSTER |  Igor BACELA (Waterpark College, Waterford), Gavin MITCHELL, Bobby KEOHAN, Mason MURPHY (St. Paul’s Community College, Waterford), Rory FITZGERALD (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Noah O’BRIEN (De La Salle College, Waterford), Scott HYDE, Luke HURLEY (Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG, Cork) Rory McKEON (St. Anne’s Community College, Killaloe),  Dylan O’CONNELL (Patrician Academy, Mallow), Charlie CAMPBELL (St. Munchin’s College, Corbally), Cillian MURPHY (John the Baptist Community School Hospital, Limerick), Jack GARRETT, Ike MANJOR (The Abbey School, Tipperary Town), Robert KEANE  (CBS The Green, Tralee), Donnacha DUNGIVAN, Shane HALLIHAN (St. Colman’s College, Fermoy)

Management | Kevin CONDON (Coláiste Dun Íascaigh, Cahir),  John KAVANAGH (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Rob OSBOURNE (Glanmire Community College), Cai BENTON (Physio)

ULSTER | Ryan McCONNELL, Peter SWEENEY, Declan PATTON, Eamonn McBRIDE (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Alex CULLEN, Caolan McBRIDE, Rowan McGROARTY (Loreto Community School, Milford), Shaun PLATT, Josh HARPER (Coláiste Dun an Rí, Kingscourt), Gavin FRIEL (Carndonagh Community School), Oisin EBBS (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town), Finlay McCAUL (St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School, Cootehill), Excel IMADE (St. Patrick’s College, Cavan), Terence DOHERTY, Stephen McNULTY (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Leighton GREEN (Rosses Community School, Dungloe),  Fionn NOLAN (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny)

Management | Oisín McMENAMIN (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Gary McHUGH (Royal School, Cavan), Alan BOAL (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe), Ryan LONERGAN (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana)==

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UNDER 18 BOYS’ INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT | FAI HQ, Abbotstown

Friday, November 28

4.00pm Ulster vs Leinster

5.30pm  Connacht vs Munster

Saturday, November 29

3.00pm  Match 3

4.30pm  Match 4

Sunday, November 30

10.30am  Match 5

12 noon   Match 6

All matches will take place on the 4G Pitch

Roll of Honour | Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament Winners