Moloney and Ireland U20s set for semi-final clash against England

By Kieran Galvin

Buccaneers player Rory Moloney has helped the Ireland U-20 rugby team to reach the semi-finals of the Junior World Championship in New Zealand.

Moloney played the full game against Fiji which Ireland won 38-0 and that bonus point victory was enough to clinch a place in the last four. That result, combined with Wales' 13-3 win over France, confirmed Ireland as Pool B winners, thereby securing a semi-final berth.

Moloney played against Italy in the U-20 Six Nations Championship at Dubarry Park, Athlone earlier this year.

The Abbeyleix native has been carrying an injury for much of the year and was therefore unavailable to the Athone-based Buccaneers club. But he has battled back to make Mike Ruddock's Ireland U-20 squad and played at open side flanker against Fiji.

Moloney has captained Ireland at U19 level and he played for Cistercian College, Roscrea in the 2011 Leinster Schools Senior Cup final, when his team was defeated by Clongowes Wood College.

Ireland will face England in the semi-finals this Sunday (kick-off 6.05am Irish time), with hosts New Zealand taking on South Africa in the other last four clash. Both matches will be shown ‘live’ on TG4.

So, as if sports fans haven’t enough action to keep them entertained at present - with the World Cup in Brazil and the various matches in the GAA Championships - they now have a reason to set their alarm clocks early on Sunday morning!

 

2014 IRB Junior World Championship Semi-Finals
Sunday June 15 - TG4

5:55am: Live coverage begins on TG4 from the QBE Stadium, North Harbour

6:05am: Ireland v England

8:25am: South Africa v New Zealand (kick-off: 8:35am)

11:50am: Repeat showing of Ireland v England (full match deferred)

7:15pm: Highlights on TG4 of both Semi-Finals

*Commentary by Aonghus Ó hEochaidh and John Broderick.