Current AIB League and Cup Champions Garryowen Host Cup Draw

The draw for the first and second rounds of the AIB Cup were made earlier today, Tuesday 18th September, in Dooradoyle, Limerick, the
home grounds of reigning AIB League and Cup champions, Garryowen F.C.

Bruff will play rivals Highfield in what is the tie of the 1st round, whilst title holders, Garryowen, will travel to Dublin to meet
Lansdowne in their opening game in the 2nd round. Present in Dooradoyle earlier today to show their support for their club were Garryowen players Paul Neville, Ed Mackey and Federico Quaglia along with some former Garryowen greats.

Since its inception in 2005, the AIB Cup has captured the imaginations of all clubs competing in the competition and now, all 48 clubs that
compete in the AIB League Division 1, 2 and 3 will go into the draw for the first round. The first round will see teams from Division 2
and 3 drawn against each other. These games will be played on Saturday 6th October. The winners of each of these games will be joined by the Division 1 Clubs for the 2nd round matches, which will take place on Saturday 13th October.

The draw for the 1st round of the AIB Cup is as follows. All fixtures will be played on Saturday 6th October:

Match A Malone v Ards
Match B Galway Corinthians v Barnhall
Match C Co Carlow v Midleton
Match D City of Derry v Clonakilty
Match E Waterpark v Bucaneers
Match F Rainey Old Boys v DLSP
Match G Banbridge v Bective Rangers
Match H UCC v Old Wesley
Match I Suttonians v Queen’s Belfast
Match J Dublin University v Sunday’s Well
Match K Thomond v Belfast Harlequins
Match L Ballyhinch v Nenagh Ormond
Match M Instonians v Young Munster
Match N Bruff v Highfield
Match O Old Crescent v Naas
Match P Wanderers v Connemara

The draw for the 2nd round of the AIB Cup is as follows. All fixtures will be played on Saturday 13th October:

Match 1 Winner Match N v Winner Match O
Match 2 Winner Match H v Dolphin
Match 3 Winner Match K v Shannon
Match 4 St Mary’s v Winner Match B
Match 5 Winner Match A v Winner Match C
Match 6 Winner Match I v Cork Constitution
Match 7 Terenure College v Clontarf
Match 8 Winner Match F v Winner Match G
Match 9 Ballymena v Winner Match E
Match 10 Old Belvedere v Winner Match P
Match 11 Lansdowne v Garryowen
Match 12 Blackrock College v Winner Match M
Match 13 Dungannon v UL Bohs
Match 14 Galwegians v Winner Match L
Match 15 Winner Match J v Winner Match D
Match 16 UCD v Greystones

The dates for the following rounds are as follows:
3rd Round: Saturday 5th January 2008
Quarter Finals: Saturday 2nd February 2008
Semi Finals: Saturday 8th March 2008
AIB Cup Final: Saturday 12th April 2008

Commenting on the results of the AIB Cup draw Der Healy, President of the IRFU, said: "I eagerly look forward to the upcoming AIB Cup and AIB Junior Cup All-Ireland competitions and the wonderful fare I know they will again engender this season. These additions to our rugby calendar have proved to be very popular across all the provinces; more so now that we have extended the Senior Cup to include all 48 clubs.
The welfare of the game at club level is uppermost in my list of priorities for Irish rugby and as President; I want to express my
thanks on behalf of the IRFU to AIB’s sponsorship as part of their Supporting Clubs – Supporting Communities campaign."

Speaking on behalf of AIB, Tommy Lenahan, AIB, Limerick said: "The AIB Cup competition is a core feature within club rugby nowadays and it’s great to see so many top clubs meeting each other in a knockout competition. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the game between Lansdowne and Garryowen. I would also like to thank Garryowen for hosting the draw today.

It’s been a busy few months for the club as they have just returned from France after representing Ireland in the Languedoc-Rousillon
amateur international rugby tournament".