FINLAY BEALHAM WILL make his 200th appearance for Connacht in tomorrow’s URC meeting with Zebre at Dexcom Stadium (kick-off, 7.35pm).
Bealham becomes the seventh player to reach the milestone for the club, joining his teammates Denis Buckley, Tiernan O’Halloran and Jack Carty, along with former players John Muldoon, Michael Swift and Kieran Marmion.
Academy graduate Matthew Devine will make his first start for Connacht at scrum-half as his Ballinasloe and Garbally College teammate Shane Jennings lines out at full-back.
Hooker Dave Heffernan captains the side while Jordan Duggan slots in at loosehead. Niall Murray and Joe Joyce pair up in the second-row, while Shamus Hurley-Langton moves to blindside flanker, Conor Oliver has been named at openside and Sean O’Brien starts at number eight.
JJ Hanrahan continues at out-half, while Tom Farrell comes in to partner Bundee Aki in the centre. John Porch returns to start in the back three, while Andrew Smith is on the opposite wing.
Connacht v Zebre – 7.35pm, Saturday 20 April 2024, Dexcom Stadium
- 15. Shane Jennings (10)
- 14. John Porch (84)
- 13. Tom Farrell (109)
- 12. Bundee Aki (134)
- 11. Andrew Smith (12)
- 10. JJ Hanrahan (17)
- 9. Matthew Devine (2)
- 1. Jordan Duggan (46)
- 2. Dave Heffernan (195) (C)
- 3. Finlay Bealham (199)
- 4. Joe Joyce (16)
- 5. Niall Murray (72)
- 6. Shamus Hurley-Langton (36)
- 7. Conor Oliver (80)
- 8. Seán O’Brien (7)
Replacements
- 16. Tadgh McElroy (12)
- 17. Peter Dooley (32)
- 18. Sam Illo (20)
- 19. Oisín Dowling (55)
- 20. Jarrad Butler (125)
- 21. Caolin Blade (187)
- 22. Cathal Forde (26)
- 23. Paul Boyle (90)
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Had to lol at Sky referring to Andy Murray as a Brit when he won the set. He’ll be back to being the Scot if federer wins.
Why bother watching British tv then, match us also on TG4 – I’m sure you’re fluent
If Andy Murray wins, his mother Judy will swoop down onto court and regurgitate a dead mouse for him.
haha brilliant
Can’t stand Andy Murray, comes across as a right snob
Sickened!
Some match so far and i don’t even like tennis.
What’s the score now ?
One set all, i can see Federer wearing Murray down, has that extra bit of class but Murray has a lot of heart.
Yawn !
It’s a great match. Some fantastic tennis, exciting to watch.