Weekend Preview And Fixtures

While it is a relatively quiet weekend on the domestic games front, those games that are taking place are of a very high significance. The ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup Final takes place on Friday night and is the highlight of the weekend’s action.

The competition’s two most successful clubs; Garryowen and Cork Constitution lock horns in this season’s decider of the ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup Final.

Both sides were involved in thrilling semi-final victories. Garryowen produced a late comeback to overcome local rivals Shannon while Cork Con’ were pushed all the way by UCC. No doubt we should be in for a very intense and entertaining clash between these sides.

Despite their poor Ulster Bank League form to date, Garryowen won’t hold any fears of Con’. Indeed they produced one of their best displays in the league at Temple Hill where they pushed their hosts all the way. Con’ meanwhile got off to an excellent start but recently suffered three defeats in a row before bouncing back at St Mary’s College.

James Gavin has been the main hero in the Dooradoyle club’s campaign so far, with his ten late points securing victory over Shannon. He has shown his quality with both boot and ball in hand and a big game by him will certainly help Garryowen’s cause. Alex Wootton and Alan Gaughan are a couple of light blue players who can help turn the game in their club’s favour.

Con’ have a lot of riches in the kicking department, with Gerry Hurley, Jonathon Holland and Darragh Lyons all top class kickers from both placed balls and open play. They are all equally adept at running the ball and Garryowen will need to keep a close eye on these players. The likes of Cathal O’Flaherty and James Ryan will aim to help the Temple Hill outfit win the forward battle.

There is an added bonus for the winner, with a place in the All Ireland Cup semi-final also at stake with Con’ being defending champions of both that trophy and the Munster Senior Cup.

On Saturday; Kanturk host St Mary’s in a top of the table clash in Division One of the Munster Junior League. Whoever wins this game will overtake Newcastle West and lead the table going into the Christmas break.

After a couple of highly successful years, Kanturk appear to have built strength in depth and have managed to recover from the loss of key players. After an opening day defeat, they have recovered and if anything appear to improve week on week. They will want to maintain their impressive home record. Some experienced players like Bryan O’Neill and Dan McCabe will look to lead from the front for the Cork side.

St Mary’s have had a highly successful season so far and remain unbeaten. While almost all of their early season games were against teams in the lower half of the table, they more than proved their Title winning potential with a convincing victory over high flying Clonmel last weekend. The addition of Ben Martin to the club has added extra spark to an already impressive back-line while Ben Sargent has been another leading player.

As is often the case, whoever can win the forward battle is going to have a big advantage. Both back-lines contain plenty of threatening runners who can produce a moment of magic that may make a difference in what should be an evenly contested game.

Cork Constitution will be involved in another Cup Final over the weekend, as they take on Mallow in the Dennehy Cup Final at Woodleigh Park on Sunday. The Temple Hill club have been the dominant force in this competition’s history but will expect a tough examination from the North Cork side.

FIXTURES:
WEDNESDAY 18th DECEMBER
Schools Senior Friendly: Crescent College Comp. v Clongowes Wood, Dooradoyle, 2.30;
Crescent College Comp. B v Clongowes Wood B, Dooradoyle, 2.30;
Rockwell v Kilkenny College, Rockwell, 2.30;
Rockwell B v Kilkenny College B, Rockwell, 2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly: Crescent College Comp. v Clongowes Wood, Dooradoyle, 2.30;
Crescent College Comp. B v Clongowes Wood B, Dooradoyle, 1.00;
St. Munchin's v Kilkenny College, Corbally, 2.30;

FRIDAY 20th DECEMBER
ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup Final: Garryowen v Cork Constitution, Thomond Park, 7.30;

Schools Senior Cup Qualifier: Bandon Grammar v High School, Fermoy, 2.30;

South Under 14 League: Bandon v Dunmanway, Bandon, 7.00;

Under 14 Friendly: Waterford City v Waterpark, Waterford, 7.00;

SATURDAY 21st DECEMBER
RaboDirect Pro12: Munster v Scarlets, Musgrave Park, 7.15;

Ulster Bank League Division 1B: Buccaneers v Terenure College, Dubarry Park, 2.30;

Munster Junior League Division 1: Kanturk v St. Mary's, Kanturk, 2.30;

Munster Seconds League South: Sunday's Well v Cork Constitution, Temple Hill, 3.30;

Gleeson League Section A: Old Crescent v Presentation, Rosbrien, 2.30;
Shannon v Bruff, Coonagh, 2.30;

Section B: Richmond v Ennis, Garryowen Green, 2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly: P.B.C. v Castletroy, Wilton, 11.30;
P.B.C. B v Castletroy B, Wilton, 11.30;

South Under 18 League Section B: Clonakilty v Kinsale, The Vale, 11.30;
Skibbereen v Highfield, Skibbereen, 11.30;

South Under 14 League: Sunday's Well v Cobh Pirates, Mahon, 10.15;

West Under 14 League: Tralee v Iveragh, Tralee, 11.00;

SUNDAY 22nd DECEMBER
Dennehy Cup Final: Cork Constitution v Mallow, Woodleigh Park, 12.00;

Junior 2 League South Section A: Dolphin v Old Christians, Musgrave Park, 12.00;

Section C: Dungarvan v Waterford City, Dungarvan, 2.30;
Waterpark v Cashel, Ballinakill, 2.30;

Junior 3 League South: Ballincollig v Cork Constitution, Tanner Park, 12.00;

East Under 18 League Final: Waterpark v Clanwilliam, Clonmel, 11.30;

East Under 18 League 3/4 Play Off: Nenagh Ormond v Galbally, Thurles, 11.00;

East Under 16 Development League: Thurles v Cashel, Thurles, 11.00;

North Under 15 League: Bruff v Shannon, Kilballyowen Park, 12.00;
Ennis v U.L. Bohemian, Ennis, 11.30;
Garryowen v Young Munster, Dooradoyle, 11.30;
Kilrush v Lough Derg Saints, Kilrush, 11.30;

North Under 13 League: Garryowen v Shannon, Dooradoyle, 11.30;
Old Crescent v U.L. Bohemian, Rosbrien, 11.30;
Presentation-Richmond v Ennis, Rathuard, 11.30;
Young Munster v Bruff, Derryknockane, 11.30:

North Under 13 Conference: Newcastle West v Ennis, Newcastle West, 12.00;
Old Crescent v Lough Derg Saints, Rosbrien, 12.00;
Shannon v Thomond, Coonagh, 11.30;

Womens Development League Group B: Youghal v Bandon, Youghal, 1.00;

THURSDAY 26th DECEMBER
Crowley Cup: Cork Constitution v U.C.C., Temple Hill, 2.30;

Mick Kelly Cup: Young Munster v Old Crescent, Clifford Park, 2.30;

Junior Friendly: Cashel v Clonmel, Cashel, 2.30;
St. Mary's v Limerick Leprechauns, Grove Island, 2.30;

FRIDAY 27th DECEMBER
RaboDirect Pro12: Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 7.15;

SATURDAY 28th DECEMBER
Gleeson League Section A: Thomond v Old Crescent, Fitzgerald Park, 2.30;
St. Mary's v Galbally, Corbally, 2.30;

Section B: Kilfeacle v Ennis, Kilfeacle, 2.30;
Richmond v Fethard, Garryowen Green, 2.30;

Junior Friendly: Bandon v Skibbereen, Bandon, 6.30;
Newcastle West v St. Senan's, Newcastle West, 2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly: P.B.C. v Terenure, Wilton, 12.00;
P.B.C. B v Terenure B, Wilton, 12.00;

SUNDAY 29th DECEMBER
Munster Seconds League North: Bruff v Young Munster, Kilballyowen Park, 2.30;
Garryowen v Nenagh Ormond, Dooradoyle, 2.30;
Richmond v U.L. Bohemian, Richmond Park, 2.30;
Thomond v Old Crescent, Fitzgerald Park, 2.30;

Junior Friendly: Sunday's Well v Muskerry, Musgrave Park, 2.30;

North Under 18 League Semi Finals: Bruff v TBC, Kilballyowen Park, 12.00;
Old Crescent v Young Munster, Rosbrien, 12.00;

MONDAY 30th DECEMBER
Schools Senior Friendly: St. Munchin's v Blackrock College, Corbally, 12.30;

Schools Junior Friendly: St. Munchin's v Blackrock College, Corbally, 12.30;