Cork Con Away In Bateman Cup Semi

The draw for the semi-finals of the Bateman Cup has taken place with Munster Senior Cup winners and Bateman Cup holders Cork Con facing a trip to Athlone to take on Connacht champions Buccaneers.

The four provincial cup winners will battle it out for the prestigious All-Ireland title and holders Con remain on course to add a treble of Bateman Cups to their trophy cabinet.

Last month's thrilling Munster Senior Cup final win over Garryowen earned an historic third provincial title in-a-row for Division 1A Con and they take on Division 1B side Buccaneers. The other semi-final pits Ballynahinch against reigning Ulster Bank League champions Clontarf at Ballymacarn Park.

The two semi-final matches will be played on Saturday, March 21 with the later kick-off time of 4.30pm due to Ireland's RBS 6 Nations game against Scotland at 2.30pm that day.Rob Jermyn touching down the winning Cork Con try in the Munster Senior Cup final last month.

Cork Con will be chasing an All-Ireland Cup three-in-a-row following on from their 2013 and 2014 successes. They beat UCD 19-6 in last year's televised Bateman Cup final at Temple Hill.

Indeed, Munster clubs, including Bruff (2011) and Garryowen (2012), have dominated the Bateman Cup since the IRFU reintroduced the four-team format four years ago. Cork Con were also All-Ireland Cup winners in 2006 and 2010.

Connacht Senior Cup champions Buccaneers last played in the Bateman Cup in 2012 when they lost 14-3 to Garryowen in a Dubarry Park semi-final, while Leinster representatives Clontarf's most recent All-Ireland Cup outing was back in November 2009 when they were beaten by Old Belvedere in round 3.

Ballynahinch, meanwhile, will be hoping to recapture the glory days of 2009. They famously lifted the All-Ireland Cup trophy six years ago thanks to a memorable 17-6 final victory over Cork Constitution.

Four Cork Con players were named in the Ireland Clubs squad for tomorrow's clash with France at the Aviva Stadium (ko 8pm).


ULSTER BANK BATEMAN CUP SEMI-FINALS: Saturday, March 21

BALLYNAHINCH v CLONTARF, Ballymacarn Park, 4.30pm

BUCCANEERS v CORK CONSTITUTION, Dubarry Park, 4.30pm

Competition Rules:

(i) If teams are tied at full-time, extra-time of 10 minutes each way will be played
(ii) If still tied, the team that has scored the most tries will be the winners
(iii) If still tied, the away team will be declared the winners

All-Ireland Cup Champions' Roll Of Honour

2013/14 – Cork Constitution (Bateman Cup)
2012/13 – Cork Constitution (Bateman Cup)
2011/12 – Garryowen (Bateman Cup)
2010/11 – Bruff (Bateman Cup)
2009/10 – Cork Constitution
2008/09 – Ballynahinch
2007/08 – Shannon
2006/07 – Garryowen
2005/06 – Cork Constitution