Charity Cup Gets Season Underway

The local season begins this weekend with Charity Cup quarter finals in both Cork and Limerick.

The action gets underway on Thursday evening at Tom Clifford Park when holders Young Munster begin their defence of the Limerick Charity Cup with a home tie against Bruff.

The Cookies, who won the trophy last year with an exciting extra time 12-9 victory over Shannon in the final thanks to four penalties by Willie Staunton, will start as favourites to advance against a Bruff side who have lost a few players from last season’s successful ODM Munster Senior Cup and All Ireland Cup winning side.

The action continues on Friday night with Shannon travelling to Nenagh Ormond and the visitors will be confident of advancing.

The other quarter final ties in the Limerick Charity Cup go ahead on Saturday. It is an All Ireland League Division Two clash at Rosbrien where Old Crescent entertain Thomond in a game that kicks off at 12.30 and the final tie sees U.L. Bohemian entertain Garryowen at Annacotty in a game that starts at 6.00.

The Cork Charity Cup gets underway on Friday night at Woodleigh Park with the two Cork All Ireland Division 2B sides Highfield and Sunday’s Well squaring up to each other. Both sides are under new management this season. Frank Cooper and Fergus Burke have taken over the coaching in Highfield and Mark Butler is at the helm at Musgrave Park. With both sides due to meet in six weeks time in the All Ireland League neither side will be giving much away.

The other three remaining ties go ahead on Saturday. Newcomers to senior rugby Cashel play their first home game against holders Cork Constitution in a game that will kick off at 1.00pm. The Temple Hill side will be severely depleted as several of their players will be involved in the Munster A v Connacht A clash the previous day.

U.C.C. host Dolphin at Curaheen Road and the visitors will be confident of advancing. This tie kicks off at 12.00.

The remaining tie sees Clonakilty hosting Midleton and the home side are notorious slow starters and it would be no surprise if Midleton advanced.

On the Junior scene there are four games in the opening round of the Mansergh Cup. Newly promoted Galbally face Clanwilliam at the South Limerick venue.

Kilfeacle host Newport, Nenagh Ormond entertain Carrick-on-Suir and both home sides should advance. The other tie is an all First Division clash where new Clonmel coach Ben Martin takes his side to Thurles and will be hoping to start with a victory.

In Kerry the McElligott Cup gets under way with Killorglin entertaining Castleisland. Tralee travel to Ballydavid where they will face Corca Dhuibhne.

The fixtures for the coming week are –

THURSDAY 25th AUGUST
Limerick Charity Cup: Young Munster v Bruff, Tom Clifford Park, 6.45;

FRIDAY 26th AUGUST
Representative: Munster v London Irish, Thomond Park, 7.00;
Munster A v Connacht A, Thomond Park, 4.15;

Cork Charity Cup: Highfield v Sunday's Well, Woodleigh Park, 6.30;

Limerick Charity Cup: Nenagh Ormond v Shannon, Nenagh, 7.30;

SATURDAY 27th AUGUST
Cork Charity Cup: Cashel v Cork Constitution, Cashel, 1.00;
Clonakilty v Midleton, The Vale, 2.30;
U.C.C. v Dolphin, Curaheen Road, 12.00;

Limerick Charity Cup: Old Crescent v Thomond, Rosbrien, 12.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Garryowen, Annacotty, 6.00;

Junior Friendly: Crosshaven v Old Christians, Crosshaven, 5.00;
Youghal v Dungarvan, Youghal, 5.00;

Junior 2 Friendly: Castleisland v Listowel, Castleisland, 7.00;

SUNDAY 28th AUGUST
Mansergh Cup: Galbally v Clanwilliam, Galbally, 2.30;
Kilfeacle v Newport, Kilfeacle, 2.30;
Nenagh Ormond v Carrick-on-Suir, Nenagh, 2.30;
Thurles v Clonmel, Thurles, 2.30;

McElligott Cup: Corca Dhuibhne v Tralee, Balydavid, 2.30;
Killorglin v Castleisland, Killorglin, 2.30;

Kingston Cup: Skibbereen v Bandon, Skibbereen, 2.30;

Junior Friendly: Kinsale v Cobh Pirates, Kinsale, 2.30;
St. Mary's Capt XV v President's XV, St. Enda's, 2.30;

Junior 2 Friendly: Kinsale v Cobh Pirates, Kinsale, 2.00;

TUESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER
Transfield Cup: Bruff v St. Senan's, Bruff, 7.30;