Ireland U20 head coach Nigel Carolan has talked up the hunger and desire of the camp after naming his 30-man panel for the upcoming Six Nations.
Ireland flew out of the traps in the tournament last year with eye-catching wins over Italy and France, but they ran out of steam, losing to England, Wales and Scotland in what was ultimately a disappointing campaign.
Carolan's squad this time around features four players from last year - Andrew Porter and Adam McBurney of Leinster, Conan O'Donnell of Connacht and Jacob Stockdale from Ulster - and he is itching to get started against Wales at Donnybrook Stadium on Friday 5 February.
Lansdowne and Leinster second-row James Ryan will captain the team.
"While we have just the four players returning from last season, we have been really impressed with the attitude and enthusiasm that the new guys have brought with them into the squad," said Carolan.
"We've had a number of camps with this group of players, as well as two warm-up games against Leinster and Munster before Christmas, so now we are just looking forward to getting the championship started against Wales.”
Ireland will play all three of their home games against Wales, Italy and Scotland on Friday nights in Donnybrook this year.
Ireland U20 Six Nations squad - Forwards: James Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster), Kelvin Brown (Shannon/Munster), Peter Claffey (Galwegians/Leinster), Will Connors (UCD / Leinster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Shane Fenton (Young Munster/Munster), John Foley (Shannon/Shannon), Cillian Gallagher (Sligo RFC/Connacht), Greg Jones (UCD/Leinster), Conor Kenny (Buccaneers/Connacht), Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Sean O'Connor (Cashel/Munster), Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/Connacht), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), James Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dan Walsh (Cork Con/Munster)
Backs: Matthew Byrne (Terenure/Leinster), Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons/Exlies), Shane Daly (Cork Con/Munster), Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster), Terry Kennedy (St Mary's/Leinster), Stephen Kerins (Sligo/Connacht), Paul Kiernan (UCC/Leinster), Robert Lyttle (Queen's University/Ulster), Johnny McPhillips (Queen's University/Ulster), Conor O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Jimmy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster), John Poland (Cork Con/Munster), Jack Power (UCD/Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
