The dairy rugby team of the year

A mix of strength, youth, old dogs for the hard road and size make for a formidable forward pack.

In the front row, Martin Keane is picked at loose head. The Glanbia chair’s abrasive play around the pitch and the fact he has played for a long number of years brings great stability and guile to the front row. He wasn’t always in the first 15, but has now cemented his place.

Conor Mulvihill is picked at hooker and is the gel that brings the industry together. The Limerick man might have GAA and farming in his background, but he’ll need all his athletic prowess to to get the ball in straight and keep Dairy Industry Ireland on the front foot.

Tight head prop is Aaron Forde. Again, a mix of raw strength and experience brings great balance to the front row. His experience with Ornua and Aurivo make him a shoe-in to stabilise and lock out the front row at scrum time.

In the second row, Jim Woulfe and John O’Gorman form a Dairygold duo with pace, height and the right work ethic for the engine room. The all-Munster second row always work together and one knows exactly what the other is doing at all times.

At blind side flanker is Lakeland CEO Michael Hanley. In the Peter O’Mahoney mould, Hanley’s poaching skills, ability to get turnovers and domination of the breakdown make him easy to select at number six. 2018 was a great year for this Roscommon fighter who is not happy unless he is leading from the front.

At open side wing forward, Kerry native Mundy Hayes gets the nod. A utility forward that would be as comfortable in the second row is similar in style to Currow native Mick Galway. His experience and direct style of play make him an obvious choice, despite the fact plenty of locals are trying to take him down around the ankles.

Number eight belongs to west Cork and relative newcomer to the team Carbery CEO Jason Hawkins. Having played overseas, the tanned Hawkins has a great track record and we need this number eight scoring, as he is a milk price pace-setter who leads from the front.

We all know the forwards grunt out the hard yards, while the backs take the glory. The 2018 back line of the year was very difficult to pick with hot competition for places.

Andrew McKonkey gets the nod at scrumhalf. The slight-of-build but very-measured LacPatrick chair had a very difficult mid-season followed by a very busy autumn series. His passing from the base of the scrum and box kicking make him the stand-out scrumhalf, even when under extreme pressure.

At outhalf is John Jordan, the relatively new CEO of Ornua. Leinster-based John takes up the flyhalf role and is the lynch pin to the industry. If he has an off day, the team just doesn’t do as well.

At number 11 on the right wing is Tipp farmer Edward Carr. The relatively new Arrabawn chair gets the nod ahead of Tipperary Co-op CEO John Daly who limped off the pitch in late summer with a long-term injury. Carr’s hard-working style and fast movement make him ideal for the right wing.

Big Jim Bergin takes up the inside centre position. His straight running, hard tackling and teak-tough attitude have delivered results to date. Expect more hard running and try-taking from the Glanbia supremo, especially now that he is playing in the US.

At second centre, Aurivo chair Pat Duffy follows in the footsteps of Garry Ringrose with a deft side-step and quick hands. The Leitrim native has it all to do to stay with big Jim inside him, especially if he continues with his nicotine drive.

The Lakeland chair Alo Duffy gets the nod on the right wing. The quietly spoken Monaghan native is more often seen before he’s heard, but underestimate him at your peril. His Earls-like catch from the McConkey cross-field kick could yet make him one of the biggest superstars in the top half of the country.

At full back is Conor Ryan, the Arrabawn CEO. Solid under the high ball, it’s only when he is not in the team do you miss him. He’s been around for a while, but you’ll know all about it when he hits the line at speed to score under the posts.

Not considered for selection for one reason or another; retired, injured, gone back farming, etc: