Champions Leinster aiming to build on Academy success

IT MAY have taken Michael Cheika four seasons to build a squad capable of attaining Heineken European Cup glory, but the structures and foundations appear to be in place within the province to build on that success.

The Leinster Academy might not receive the same credit for producing from within as its Munster equivalent, but of the 22 listed in the match programme on Saturday, three were recent graduates of that system.

Match-winner Johnny Sexton, loose-head prop Cian Healy and impact replacement Seán O’Brien are all products of a system set to unload more Leinster senior stars in the coming seasons.

Cheika may be criticised for bringing in overseas players above promoting indigenous talent at the first hint of positional crisis, but the head coach must be commended for providing the likes of fringe first-teamers Paul O’Donohoe (scrum half), Devin Toner (second row) and Fergus McFadden (centre) with valuable game-time at Magners League and Heineken Cup level this season.

Giant lock forward Toner, who has already made 33 senior appearances since signing professional forms in 2007, is earmarked as Malcolm O’Kelly’s heir apparent when the long-serving Ireland lock forward decides to call it a day.

With Chris Whitaker leaving this summer, Clontarf’s O’Donohoe – familiar to those who watched him star in the captivating 2009 AIB League final – is a recent graduate of the Academy, but has already impressed in Leinster colours and could well be fast-tracked onto the first team next season.

In Leinster’s final Magners League game of the season, Cheika understandably opted to rest his front-liners, and instead paraded a host of up-and-coming talent against the Dragons.

Amongst them was David Kearney (19), younger brother of Rob, destined to become a permanent fixture on the Leinster team alongside his more famous sibling in the not too distant future.

The Clongowes man can operate effectively from wing or full back, and has played at Ireland U20 level for the past two seasons. He’ll also partake in the IRB World Junior (U20) Championship tournament in Japan next month along with fellow academy players Ian McKinley, Eamonn Sheridan and Thomas Sexton.

The latter three are also highly regarded by Leinster’s senior management as is centre-come-outhalf Kyle Tonetti, who made his senior debut against the Dragons. A member of the successful 2007 Ireland U20 Grand Slam team that also featured current British and Irish Lion Keith Earls, Tonetti has been making his mark with Leinster A. The 22-year-old is a regular on the Blackrock RFC AIB League team and played at this year’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.