mobanmarketLEINSTER’S UPCOMING CLASH with Munster in the Pro12 later today got us thinking: what if the two sides had equivalent teams in football?
Once, Leinster and in particular Dublin was considered the main soccer stronghold in the country. However, over the years, the game has undoubtedly expanded considerably in Munster (and indeed Connacht and Ulster too), as highlighted by the fact that it would currently be possible to field a decent team from players born in the province.
So check out the sides below, while keeping in mind the added imaginary caveat that the teams can’t sign foreign players (unlike in rugby), and let us know who you would choose in a Leinster and Munster best XI.
Leinster
Darren Randolph (Wicklow)
Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Joey O’Brien (Dublin)
Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Paul McShane (Wicklow)
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Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Richard Dunne (Dublin)
Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Glenn Whelan (Dublin)
Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Jeff Hendrick (Dublin)
Source: Tim Goode
Robbie Brady (Dublin)
Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Andy Reid (Dublin)
Source: EMPICS Sport
Wes Hoolahan (Dublin)
Source: EMPICS Sport
Robbie Keane (Dublin)
Source: Jae C. Hong
Kevin Doyle (Wexford)
Source: EMPICS Sport
Subs: Stephen Henderson (Dublin), Stephen Ward (Dublin), Matt Doherty (Dublin), Stephen Quinn (Dublin), Damien Duff (Dublin), Stephen Hunt (Laois), Anthony Stokes (Dublin).
Munster
Brian Murphy (Waterford)
Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Brian Lenihan (Cork)
Source: EMPICS Sport
Damien Delaney (Cork)
Source: EMPICS Sport
John O’Shea (Waterford)
Source: Scott Heppell
Eoghan O’Connell (Cork)
Source: Mike Egerton
David Meyler (Cork)
Source: Richard Sellers
Stephen Ireland (Cork)
Source: AP/Press Association Images
Liam Miller (Cork)
Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Daryl Murphy (Waterford)
Source: Barrington Coombs
Shane Long (Tipperary)
Source: Chris Ison
Noel Hunt (Waterford)
Source: John Walton
Subs: Colin Doyle (Cork), Kevin Long (Cork), John Egan (Cork), Alan Browne (Cork), Kenny McEvoy (Waterford), Colin Healy (Cork), Mark O’Sullivan (Cork).
Formations
Leinster XI
Randolph
McShane Dunne O’Brien
Brady Hoolahan Hendrick Whelan Reid
Keane Doyle
Munster XI
Murphy
Lenihan Delaney O’Shea O’Connell
Miller Meyler Ireland
Long Hunt Murphy
Who would make your respective Leinster and Munster soccer teams?
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