Selecting A Five-A-Side Team From Each Of Ireland's Four Provinces

While footballing talent on the island of Ireland traditionally came from a handful of hotspots, there has been a greater spread across the 32 counties in recent times.

A look at the best current from each county gives you a sense of that, but how does that shake out when applied on a provincial basis?

We have put together the best five-a-side team from each of the four provinces in Ireland and imagined how a tournament between them might play out.

Here's what we came up with.

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Selecting a five-a-side team from each of Ireland's four provinces

Connacht

1. Luke McNicholas (GK)
2. Alex Murphy
3. Ryan Manning
4. Johnny Kenny
5. Aaron Connolly

Connacht is by far the least experienced team of the four, although it is still a very talented side.

Mayo's Luke McNicholas has not received much playing time at Wrexham, but he remains an intriguing goalkeeping prospect. Alex Murphy is very highly rated by Newcastle and has already made his Newcastle debut, while Ryan Manning has been one of the most consistent performers in the Championship for a number of seasons.

In Aaron Connolly, Connacht have a player that is a proven goalscorer. Johnny Kenny beat out the likes of Baba Adeeko and Liam Kerrigan for the final spot in the side, with the on loan Shamrock Rovers man the most experienced of the three.

This side does look a little lightweight, especially at the back.

Leinster

1. Gavin Bazunu (GK)
2. Nathan Collins
3. Dara O'Shea
4. Jason Knight
5. Evan Ferguson

Leinster were always going to be the big hitters in this tournament, possessing by far the deepest playing pool of the four provinces. That plays out in the team above, which contains five players that are all current starters for the Republic of Ireland.

Bazunu is the best goalkeeper in the country, while Collins and O'Shea have both excelled in the Premier League this season. Jason Knight provides plenty of legs in midfield, with Evan Ferguson banging in the goals up front. That is a tough combination to beat.

For those keeping track, this team has three Dubs, one from Kildare, and one from Meath.

The fact that the likes of Mark Travers, Andrew Omobamidele, Liam Scales, and Troy Parrott were not included points towards the strength in depth in Leinster.

They would certainly be the favourites.

Munster

1. Caoimhín Kelleher (GK)
2. John Egan
3. Jayson Molumby
4. Chiedozie Ogbene
5. Adam Idah

Munster possess plenty of strength in depth of their own, with Cork being the main producer of player in Ireland outside of Dublin. Four of this team hail from the Rebel County, with Waterford's Jayson Molumby completing the quintet.

Kelleher is a fantastic goalkeeper, while John Egan has been a massively consistent performer at the back over the last five years.

Molumby is an ideal midfielder to have in a five-a-side team, with Ogbene and Idah providing a fantastic balance of pace and power up front. Alan Browne can also consider himself very unfortunate to miss out.

They are the dark horses in this competition.

Ulster

1. Conor Hazard (GK)
2. Conor Bradley
3. Seamus Coleman
4. James McClean
5. Mark Sykes

While Ulster are lacking a bit of firepower in this side, they iare still a talented outfit.

Seamus Coleman and James McClean are two hugely experienced players, while Conor Bradley is the most in-form player in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland squads at the moment. He may play right back at Liverpool, but he would be the main attacking threat in this team.

Mark Sykes has vastly improved over the last couple of seasons and has had a brilliant campaign at Bristol City this season, with Conor Hazard also impressing at Plymouth Argyle. The likes of Jonny Evans and Josh Magennis could also come under consideration.

This would be a very robust and energetic team, one that would be hard to beat.

Conclusion

Leinster would be heavy favourites for this tournament, although they would not have things all their own way. Munster, in particular, would be difficult opponents and possess a very well-balanced side. Ulster would be no slouches either, although a lack of goals would be a big concern with that team.

Connacht look the weakest of the three as things stand. In saying that, they are a young team that is only likely to improve over the next few seasons.

With all of that in mind, here are our final rankings:

1. Leinster
2. Munster
3. Ulster
4. Connacht

Congratulations to Leinster.

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