Munster Rugby v Ospreys Match Programme
Guinness PRO14 Round 6 | We hear from Head Coach Johann van Graan as he looks ahead to today's game. Read all about Fethard's rising star Dorothy Wall as she talks about her journey to the International stage. We check in with young Academy lock Paddy Kelly, take a look back at Ireland's win on Friday night, and catch up on rugby around the province.
Guinness PRO14 Round 6 | We hear from Head Coach Johann van Graan as he looks ahead to today's game. Read all about Fethard's rising star Dorothy Wall as she talks about her journey to the International stage. We check in with young Academy lock Paddy Kelly, take a look back at Ireland's win on Friday night, and catch up on rugby around the province.
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PADDY<br />
KELLY<br />
A product of St. Munchin’s College, lock Paddy<br />
Kelly is in his second year as a member of the<br />
Greencore <strong>Munster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Academy.<br />
He plays his All Ireland League rugby with<br />
Garryowen and has made nine Celtic Cup<br />
appearances for <strong>Munster</strong> A.<br />
He has lined out for Ireland up to U19 level<br />
and made his first appearance of the new<br />
season for <strong>Munster</strong> A in the 22-19 victory over<br />
Connacht A at the Sportsground in September.<br />
On his rugby pathway…<br />
“I started rugby relatively late – I started<br />
when I was 12 in St. Munchin’s in Corbally<br />
in secondary school. I played 6 years there –<br />
played Junior Cup for two years and Senior<br />
Cup for two years. Sometime after the Junior<br />
Cup I would have played <strong>Munster</strong> U17s. I<br />
played Ireland U18s after the Senior Cup and<br />
after that <strong>Munster</strong> U19s, so I never actually<br />
played <strong>Munster</strong> U18s. At school I was lucky<br />
enough to be offered a place in the <strong>Munster</strong><br />
sub-Academy. There were a good few players<br />
in it that year and we all pushed each other<br />
quite hard. It was hard work, but I was enjoying<br />
it all the time, so I never really thought too far<br />
ahead and enjoyed living in the moment.”<br />
On his ambitions to be a professional player…<br />
“I always had ambitions to play professional<br />
sport. It was a dream of mine, but I was never<br />
good enough at soccer. When I started playing<br />
rugby, I still wasn’t good enough I didn’t think<br />
so I just played away. When I got to 5th and 6th<br />
year and started making provincial squads and<br />
national squads, I started thinking I could have<br />
a chance. So I worked away, and I take each<br />
day as it comes, hoping it will all add up in the<br />
long run and I can be a professional player<br />
hopefully.”<br />
On club rugby…<br />
“I play with Garryowen at the moment. I<br />
really like it out there. It’s a really good club.<br />
I’ve played a couple of games with them this<br />
season. They were enjoyable games and good<br />
quality rugby. It’s important when you do get<br />
your chance to play you can show them what<br />
you can do, and you deserve to be there.”<br />
On his hopes for the season ahead…<br />
“Basically I want to just keep training, keep<br />
improving and hopefully put my hand up for<br />
selection at some stage if that’s possible.”<br />
MUNSTER v OSPREYS | 15.11.20 | THOMOND PARK<br />
17
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