Weekend Rugby Preview

Another busy weekend on the Club front with a full round of AIL games on Saturday and the Second Round of the Heineken Munster Junior Cup on Sunday.

Another busy weekend on the Club front with a full round of AIL games on Saturday and the Second Round of the Heineken Munster Junior Cup on Sunday.

Cork Constitution take their unbeaten record in the First Division of the AIL to Castle Avenue to face last season beaten finalists Clontarf and could see their record come to an end. Shannon travel to St. Mary’s hoping to add to the troubles of the Dublin club. Garryowen will want to bounce back from last week’s heavy defeat with a home victory over UCD, to avoid being drawn into the relegation battle.

Dolphin after a fine performance last week away to Dungannon face Belfast Harlequins at Musgrave Park and will do well to pick up some thing from this encounter, as the Ulster side are challenging for a top four finish.

U.L. Bohemian should maintain their charge towards a return to the top flight with a home win over Terenure. U.C.C. chasing a top four spot should collect the points at home to Waterpark. Thomond should banish any fears of relegation with a home victory over bottom side Sunday’s Well at Liam Fitzgerald Park.

Midleton and Old Crescent are up North and both could do with a win to end their recent losing streak. Old Crescent are away to Ballynahinch and Midleton travel to Malone. Young Munster face a tricky encounter at home to Trinity who were very impressive in their win over UCC recently.

Highfield could extend their lead at the top of the Third Division with a home win over Old Wesley, as their nearest challengers face difficult ties this weekend. Clonakilty should continue their good run with a victory away to bottom side Connemara.

The remaining thirty-two sides in the Heineken Munster Junior Cup are all in action this weekend with the winners going into Monday’s open draw for the Third Round.. Top game of the day should be the meeting of Kilfeacle and Shannon and home advantage may give the Tipperary side the edge in what should b a thrilling and close contest. Midleton after their surprise win over Cobh Pirates face another First Division side, when they entertain Old Christians and a repeat performance should see them through.

Bruff should maintain their unbeaten record with a home win against Clanwilliam. It is an all-senior clash at Musgrave Park, with Dolphin getting the verdict over UCC. A young Sunday’s Well side face a daunting task away to Skibbereen and are unlikely to halt the West Cork side’s progress. Nenagh Ormond last year’s beaten finalists should have little difficulty in seeing off the challenge of Old Crescent.

St. Senan’s will hope to extend their interest in the competition with a home win against Young Munster and likewise U.L. Bohemian should add to St. Mary’s woes with a victory at Annacotty. Youghal after some poor performances recently, could do with a good Cup run and they could get the better of Highfield on their own patch. Thurles entertain Cashel in a Tipperary derby with home advantage likely to swing it Thurles’s way, although both sides will be more focused on their league encounter in two weeks time.

Richmond should follow up last week’s league success with a home win over Galbally. Tralee should have little difficulty in over coming Kinsale, while Castleisland who travel to Crosshaven, could make things difficult for the Seasiders. Thomond take on Ennis and the Clare side could be in for a difficult afternoon at Liam Fitzgerald Park. Holder’s Cork Constitution after their easy win over Dunmanway, should have some thing to spare from their encounter with Waterford City and Waterpark will be expected to get the better of Killarney at Ballinakill.

The top game in the Junior Plate is the meeting of Abbeyfeale and Garryowen. Cobh Pirates begin their defence with a home tie against Clonmel and Bandon travel to Muskerry hoping to get a good run in this competition. Charleville face Kanturk in a North Cork derby and Douglas and Mallow should book their places in the second round.

Rugby Preview:

FRIDAY 23rd JANUARY

Schools Senior Cup: Bandon v Abbey CBS,Bandon,3.00

O’Brien Cup: Tarbert Comp v St. Mary’s,Tarbert,2.00;

SATURDAY 24th JANUARY

European Rugby Cup: Treviso v Munster,Treviso,1.30;

AIB League Division 1: Blackrock College v Dungannon,Stradbrook,2.30; Buccaneers v Ballymena,Dubarry Park,2.30; Clontarf v Cork Constitution,Castle Avenue,2.30; Co. Carlow v Lansdowne,Oak Park,2.30; Dolphin v Belfast Harlequins,Musgrave Park,2.30; Garryowen v U.C.D.,Dooradoyle,2.30; St. Mary’s College v Shannon,Templeville Road,2.30;

Division 2: Ballynahinch v Old Crescent,Ballymacarn Park,2.30; Bective Rangers v Old Belvedere,Donnybrook,2.30; D.L.S.P. v Barnhall,Kilternan, 2.30; Malone v Midleton,Gibson Park,2.30; Thomond v Sunday’s Well,Fitzgerald Park,2.30; U.C.C. v Waterpark,Mardyke,2.30; U.L. Bohemian v Terenure College,Thomond Park,2.30; Young Munster v Dublin University,Clifford Park,2.30;

Division 3: Ards v Queens University,Hamiltn Park,2.30; Ballina v Portadown,Heffernan Park,2.30; Banbridge v City of Derry,Rifle Park,2.30; Connemara v Clonakilty,Monestary Field,2.30; Greystones v Wanderers,Dr. Hickey Park,2.30; Highfield v Old Wesley,Woodleigh Park,2.30; Naas v Instonians,Fournaughts,2.30; Suttonians v Skerries,Station Road,2.30;

McInerney Cup: Bruff v Shannon,Bruff,2.30; Thomond v Garryowen,Fitzgerald Park,3.00; U.L. Bohemian v Old Crescent,Annacotty,2.30;

Under 20 Cup: Clonakilty v Waterpark,Shannon Vale,2.30; Cobh Pirates v Cork Constitution,Cobh,12.30; Sunday’s Well v U.C.C.,Musgrave Park,2.30;

Under 20 Friendly: Garryowen v Young Munster,Dooradoyle,12.30; Newcastle West v St. Senan’s,Newcastle West,2.30;

Schools Senior Friendly: Ard Scoil R s v Glenstal,Ard Scoil R s,12.00; P.B.C. v Glongowes,Wilton,2.00; P.B.C. “B” v Glongowes “B”,Wilton,2.00;

Schools Junior Friendly: Crescent Comp v Blackrock College,Dooradoyle,1.00;

Under 18 League: Highfield v Ballincollig,Woodleigh Park,11.00; Muskerry v Bandon,Muskerry,12.00; Sunday’s Well v Cobh Pirates,Curaheen Road,11.30;

Under 18 Development League: Dolphin v Kinsale,Musgrave Park,10.30;

Under 16 League: Clonakilty v Muskerry,Clonakilty,11.30; Fermoy v Kanturk,Fermoy,11.00; Highfield v Youghal,Woodleigh Park,12.30; Midleton v Mallow,Midleton,11.00; Mitchelstown v Dolphin,Mitchelstown,12.00; Sunday’s Well v Crosshaven,Cois Laoi,11.00;

SUNDAY 25th JANUARY

Munster Junior Cup: Bruff v Clanwilliam,Bruff,2.30; Crosshaven v Castleisland,Crosshaven,2.30; Dolphin v U.C.C.,Musgrave Park,2.30; Kilfeacle v Shannon,Kilfeacle,2.30; Midleton v Old Christians,Towns Park,2.30; Nenagh Ormond v Old Crescent,Nenagh,2.30; Richmond v Galbally,Richmond Park,2.30; Skibbereen v Sunday’s Well,Skibbereen,2.30; St. Senan’s v Young Munster,Shannon,2.30; Thomond v Ennis,Fitzgerald Park,2.30; Thurles v Cashel,Thurles,2.30; Tralee v Kinsale,Tralee,2.30; U.L. Bohemian v St. Mary’s,Annacotty,2.30; Waterford City v Cork Constitution,Waterford,2.30; Waterpark v Killarney,Ballinakill,2.30; Youghal v Highfield,Youghal,2.30;

Munster Junior Plate: Abbeyfeale v Garryowen,Abbeyfeale,2.30; Charleville v Kanturk,Charleville,2.30; Cobh Pirates v Clonmel,Cobh,2.30; Douglas v Fermoy,Moneygourney,2.30; Mallow v Carrick-on-Suir,Mallow,2.30; Muskerry v Bandon,Muskerry,2.30;

Junior 3 League South Division 1: Killorglin v U.C.C.,Killorglin,2.00; Muskerry v Carrigaline,Muskerry,12.00;

Evans League: Cashel v Scariff,Cashel,12.30; Clanwilliam v Waterpark,Tipperary,12.00;

West Munster League: Glenbeigh v Tralee,Glenbeigh,3.00;

Junior Friendly: Newport v Newcastle West,Newport,3.00;

Junior 2 Friendly: Cobh Pirates v Old Christians,Cobh,1.00; Nenagh Ormond v Presentation,Nenagh,12.00;

Junior 3 Friendly: Ballincollig v Cork Transport,Ballincollig,12.00;

MONDAY 26th JANUARY

O’Brien Cup: Patrician Academy v Carrigaline C.S.,Mallow,1.00;

TUESDAY 27th JANUARY

O’Brien Cup: Cashel C.S. v St. Mary’s,Cashel,2.30; Inter School v St. John Bosco,Abbeyfeale,2.00;

WEDNESDAY 28th JANUARY

IC Division 1: C.I.T. v Carlow I.T.,Woodleigh Park,2.30;