The second match of the Cara Cup will feature the Connacht Eagles vs the Ulster Ravens on Wednesday, March 20 at Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth, MA. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm (11 pm Irish time) and the match is being broadcast on NESNplus. Get tickets and use CaraCup10 for a discount.
In the first match, the Connacht Eagles defeated the New England Free Jacks 38-7.
Connacht will return to Ireland, while Ulster will face the Free Jacks on Sunday, March 24 at 6:30 pm EDT at the Union Point Sports Complex.
Match Comments & Squads
Connacht Eagles have named their squad for the Cara Cup inter-provincial darby with Ulster A. The team has eight changes (four each forwards/backs) from the 38-7 win over the New England Free Jacks. The squad is captained by Joe Maksymiw who pairs again with Peter Claffey at lock. There is a change in the front row with Jordan Duggan starting alongside Jonny Murphy and Conor Kenny. In the back row, Sean Masterson retains his position at flanker with James Connolly at openside flanker and Robin Copeland at No. 8.
James Mitchell and Conor Dean are the new halfbacks, with Sean O’Brien and Corey Reid starting together in midfield. A back three of wingers Conor Hayes and Hugh Lane and full-back Colm de Buitlear completes the side.
Ulster coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson have selected a youthful side for the challenge.
Marcus Rea will captain the side from openside flanker, and he is one of seven Abbey Insurance Academy players named in the starting XV. He is joined by Caleb Montgomery and Joe Dunleavy in the back row, with JJ McKee and Jack Regan the locks. Props Peter Cooper and Ross Kane are the props and Zack McCall at hooker.
Senior player Johnny McPhillips will play fly-half and link with sub-Academy scrum-half Michael Stronge. Ben Power and Stewart Moore are paired as centers, with Jack Owens, Graham Curtis and Irish 7s fullback Iwan Hughes in the back three.
Prop Callum Reid and back row David McCann, who helped Ireland U20s to their Six Nations Grand Slam title are included among the replacements. Claytan Milligan, Corrie Barrett, Bradley Luney and Charlie Clarke are the additional forward options, with Lewis Finlay, Bruce Houston and Ben McCaughey providing the backline cover.
The Ulster Ravens include nine Academy players: Zack McCall, Jack Regan, Joe Dunleavy, David McCann and Marcus Rea in the forwards, and Graham Curtis, Bruce Houston, Stewart Moore and Iwan Hughes in the backs.
Senior Ulster squad players Ross Kane, Caleb Montgomery, Johnny McPhilips and Jack Owens are also selected by coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson.
Connacht Eagles: 1. Jordan Duggan 2. Jonny Murphy 3. Conor Kenny 4. Peter Claffey 5. Joe Maksymiw (c) 6. Sean Masterson 7. James Connolly 8. Robin Copeland 9. James Mitchell 10. Conor Dean 11. Conor Hayes 12. Sean O’Brien 13. Corey Reid 14. Hugh Lane 15. Colm de Buitlear 16. Declan Adamson 17. Conan O’Donnell 18. Neal Moylett 19. Cian Huxford 20. Stephen Kerins 21. Luke Carty 22. Oran McNulty
ULSTER A SQUAD: 1 Peter Cooper 2 Zack McCall 3 Ross Kane 4 JJ McKee 5 Jack Regan 6 Caleb Montgomery 7 Marcus Rea (C) 8 Joe Dunleavy 9 Michael Stronge 10 Johnny McPhillips 11 Jack Owens 12 Ben Power 13 Stewart Moore 14 Graham Curtis 15 Iwan Hughes 16 Claytan Milligan 17 Callum Reid 18 Corrie Barrett 19 Bradley Luney 20 David McCann 21 Charlie Clarke 22 Lewis Finlay 23 Bruce Houston 24 Ben McCaughey
CARA CUP FIXTURES
(All times EST)
Free Jacks 7 Connacht Eagles 38 – Recap, Preview
Saturday 16th March
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Connacht Eagles v Ulster A
Wednesday 20th March, 7.00pm
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Free Jacks v Ulster A
Sunday 24th March, 6.30pm
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Free Jacks v Munster A
Saturday 6th April, 4.00pm
Irish Cultural Centre, Canton MA
Munster A v Leinster A
Wednesday 10th April, 7.00pm
Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth MA
Free Jacks v Leinster A
Sunday 14th April, 5.00pm
Harvard Mignone Field, Boston MA
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