A look ahead to the new season for Greystones
Division 2A opener in Armagh
THE Ulster Bank All Ireland League kicks off this weekend with Greystones looking forward to taking on the challenges of stepping up to Division 2A following their promotion run last season. Head coach Kevin Lewis remains in place along with his successful coaching team to guide the squad who will be led by a new captain with the appointment of Wicklow native Dan Mannion to the role.
Mannion, a former Irish U19s and youths international is relishing the step up in standard and intensity playing at a higher level will bring and is confident his young team can continue their upward trajectory in the coming season. Preparation for the new All Ireland League season involved three Leinster league group fixtures and if performances to date are anything to go by Greystones have picked up precisely where they left off running in a total of 155 points in the three matches played to head their group with winger Jack Keating in particularly eye catching form.
Coach Kevin Lewis has been able to bolster his squad with the addition of a handful of new players with others returning from overseas. Some additional bulk has been added to the pack with the arrival of hooker Ben Tou from New Zealand, second row Oisin Lennon who joins from Bective and Michael Doyle who makes the step up from junior rugby having joined from neighbours Wicklow.
Prop Ronan Kearney has returned following a year away in England whilst in the back line Darragh Callan will return from a year in Canada to provide some welcome selection headaches for the head coach.
First up this Saturday is a trip to fellow promoted side Armagh to renew rivalries from last season.
There is never more than a score in it when these sides meet and Saturday’s encounter promises to be equally close. Lewis is nothing if not a realist and expects Armagh with a new coaching team in place and to have their squad primed for the new season and will be ready for a stern test.