Junior Rugby Preview Week Ending 6th February

It is league action that dominates the club program this weekend as these competitions enter the final stages.

Munster First Division Junior League leaders Cashel are closing in on their third title with three games left to play.

On Sunday they have a home tie against Clanwilliam and will be eager to continue their good run with another victory. The visitors have gone off the boil in recent weeks and will be fired up to become the first side to defeat Cashel, but form would suggest a home win and that would leave Cashel with games away to Richmond (6th March) and Kilfeacle home (27th March) to clinch the title and a place in the Ulster Bank League next season.

Defending champions Richmond seven points behind but with a game in hand (Waterpark 20th Feb home) face a tricky encounter this weekend when they travel to Skibbereen. The home side after a poor start have found their form in recent weeks and will make things difficult for their visitors, so it should be very close in the finish.

The other big game is at the foot of the table where St Senan’s have a home tie against Ballincollig. The visitors are five points behind the Clare side and must win this game if they are to have any chance of staying in the top flight. Senan’s will be expected to win especially as Ballincollig have suffered some heavy defeats in recent weeks.

Thurles play hosts to Cobh Pirates and a win for either side will end their relegation worries for this season.

The other ties will have a big bearing as to who will finish in the top five places which would guarantee a place in next season’s All Ireland Junior Cup. Crosshaven should get back to winning ways at home against an injury hit Clonmel side.

Kilfeacle in fourth place are away to Waterpark and a win for the visitors would put them into a strong position for qualification for the national competition.

Old Christians are at home to Tralee and both these sides are still in the hunt to finish in the top five. An interesting aspect of this game will be the tussle between former Highfield players Conor Quaid who plays for the Rathcooney side and his brother Liam who now plays for the Kerry outfit.

In Division Two the race is on for the two promotion spots with six sides in with a chance of playing in the top flight next season. Leaders Kanturk travel to Killarney and know they must win this tie against a side that have been depleted by injuries in recent weeks.

Galbally unbeaten and in second place two points behind the leaders but with two games in hand are at home to struggling Charleville and will be expected to pick up maximum points form this encounter.

Newcastle West four points behind the leaders entertain Ennis this weekend and if they can reproduce their current form they should pick up their sixth victory of the season.

Youghal who have struggled at the start of the season are now the form team with some excellent results in recent weeks and they will hope to continue this run with an away win over Newport who are not clear of relegation yet.

Castleisland have lost a few valuable points in recent weeks and will want to keep their hopes alive with a home win over Muskerry.

Mallow also in with an outside chance will have their work cut out when they travel to Limerick to face St. Mary’s.

The other tie is a local derby when bottom side Bandon travel to Kinsale and the visitors will have their work cut out to get something from this encounter.

Third Division leaders Presentation can take a major step towards promotion with a home win against second placed Scariff. A defeat for the Clare side would certainly open up the promotion race with five other sides coming back into contention.

Two of these sides meet at Moneygourney when Douglas play host to Fermoy. The North Cork side lost their unbeaten record last week at home to Presentation and will be anxious to get back to winning ways.

Waterford City should maintain their challenge with a home win over Bantry Bay and Abbeyfeale will also fancy their chances at home to Kilrush.

The other side still in the hunt are Corca Dhuibhne who are free this weekend and they will be eagerly watching results elsewhere.

The other ties down for decision should see Carrick-on-Suir get the better of Killorglin at the Tipperary venue and Dungarvan should make their trip to Whitechurch a winning one when they face Shandon.

FIXTURES:
SATURDAY 5th FEBRUARY
Six Nations:Italy v Ireland,Rome,2.30;

All Ireland League:
Division 1A:Dolphin v Garryowen,Musgrave Park,2.30;
Old Belvedere v Blackrock College,Anglesea Road,4.15;
Shannon v St. Mary's College,Coonagh,2.30;
Young Munster v Cork Constitution,Clifford Park,2.30;

Division 1B:Bruff v U.C.C.,Kilballyowen Park,2.30;
Buccaneers v Clontarf,Dubarry Park,2.30;
Dungannon v Galwegians,Stevenson Park,2.30;
Lansdowne v U.L. Bohemian,Aviva Stadium,2.30;

Division 2:Ballymena v Queens University,Eaton Park,2.30;
Ballynahinch v Dublin University,Ballymacarn Park,2.30;
Bective Rangers v U.C.D.,Donnybrook,4.30;
Clonakilty v Malone,The Vale,2.30;
Corinthians v Midleton,Corinthian Park,2.30;
Old Crescent v Old Wesley,Rosbrien,1.00;
Terenure College v Belfast Harlequins,Lakelands,2.30;
Thomond v D.L.S.P.,Fitzgerald Park,2.00;

Division 3:Banbridge v Rainey Old Boys,Rifle Park,2.30;
NUIM Barnhall v Suttonians,Parsonstown,12.30;
City of Derry v Wanderers,Judges Road,2.30;
Connemara v Sunday's Well,Monastery Road,1.00;
Greystones v Ards,Dr. Hickey Park,2.30;
Naas v Highfield,Fournaughts,2.30;
Navan v Nenagh Ormond,Balreask,2.30;
Seapoint v Instonians,Kilbogget Park,2.30;

Gleeson League Final:Cashel v Shannon,Nenagh,7.00;

Webb Cup:Clanwilliam v Fethard,Clanwilliam Park,7.00;

Under 21 South Western Conference:
Division 1 Group A:Garryowen v U.L. Bohemian,Dooradoyle,2.30;
Highfield v Shannon,Woodleigh Park,2.30;
Young Munster v Cork Constitution,Derryknockane,1.30;
U.C.C. v Buccaneers,Curaheen Road,2.30;

Group B:Corinthians v Galwegians,Corinthian Park,2.30;
Dolphin v Waterpark,Musgrave Park,3.00;
Old Crescent v Bruff,Rosbrien,11.15;

Division 2:Nenagh Ormond v Kilfeacle,Nenagh,2.30;
Thomond v Buccaneers B,St. Nessan's,2.30;

Junior 2 Friendly:U.L. Bohemian v Garryowen,Annacotty,12.30;

Schools Senior Friendly:Glenstal Abbey v Midleton College,Glenstal,11.00;

Avonmore Milk Under 19 League Group A:Thurles v Shannon,Thurles,1.00;
Group B:Sunday's Well v Nenagh Ormond,Musgrave Park,1.30;

Group C:Crosshaven v U.L. Bohemian,Crosshaven,12.00;

Avonmore Milk Under 17 League Group B:Muskerry v Kilfeacle,Ballyanly,12.00;
Tralee v Bruff,Tralee,12.00;

Group C:Listowel v Old Crescent,Listowel,3.00;

South Munster Under 19 League Group A:Old Christians v Kinsale,Rathcooney,11.30;
Fermoy v Cobh Pirates,Fermoy,12.00;

Group 2A:Mallow v Midleton,Mallow,12.30;

Group 2B:Dunmanway v Ballincollig,Dunmanway,12.30;

South Munster Under 18 League:Youghal v Cork Constitution,Youghal,12.00;

South Munster Under 17 League Group A:Crosshaven v Kinsale,Crosshaven,10.45;
Fermoy v Midleton,Fermoy,11.00;

Group B:Ballincollig v Bantry Bay,Tanner Park,1.00;

Group C:Mallow v Charleville,Mallow,11.00;
Old Christians v Cobh Pirates,Rathcooney,12.00;
Highfield v Clonakilty,Woodleigh Park,11.00;

South Munster Under 15 League Section 1:Kanturk v Sunday's Well,Kanturk,12.00;
Mallow v Midleton,Mallow,11.30;
Muskerry v Charleville,Ballyanly,12.30;
Youghal v Fermoy,Youghal,11.00;

Section 2:Dunmanway v Clonakilty,Dunmanway,12.30;
Highfield v Kinsale,Woodleigh Park,12.15;
Skibbereen v Crosshaven,Skibbereen,1.00;

West Under 15 League:Killorglin v Corca Dhuibhne,Killorglin,12.30;

West Under 13 League:Killorglin v Corca Dhuibhne,Killorglin,11.00;

Under 15 Friendly:Abbeyfeale v U.L. Bohemian,Abbeyfeale,11.45;

Under 13 Friendly:Dolphin v Sunday's Well,Musgrave Park,10.00;
Highfield v Midleton,Woodleigh Park,10.45;

SUNDAY 6th FEBRUARY
Munster Junior League Division 1:Cashel v Clanwilliam,Cashel,2.30;
Crosshaven v Clonmel,Crosshaven,2.30;
Old Christians v Tralee,Rathcooney,2.30;
Skibbereen v Richmond,Skibbereen,2.30;
St. Senan's v Ballincollig,Jim Slattery Park,2.30;
Thurles v Cobh Pirates,Thurles,2.30;
Waterpark v Kilfeacle,Ballinakill,2.30;

Division 2:Castleisland v Muskerry,Castleisland,2.30;
Galbally v Charleville,Galbally,2.30;
Killarney v Kanturk,Killarney,2.30;
Kinsale v Bandon,Kinsale,2.30;
Newcastle West v Ennis,Newcastle West,2.30;
Newport v Youghal,Newport,2.30;
St. Mary's v Mallow,St. Enda's,2.30;

Division 3:Abbeyfeale v Kilrush,Abbeyfeale,2.30;
Carrick-on-Suir v Killorglin,Carrick-on-Suir,2.30;
Douglas v Fermoy,Moneygourney,2.30;
Presentation v Scariff,Rathuard,2.30;
Shandon v Dungarvan,Whitechurch,2.30;
Waterford City v Bantry Bay,Waterford,2.30;

Munster Seconds League:
North:Bruff v Nenagh Ormond,Bruff,2.30;
Garryowen v Old Crescent,Dooradoyle,2.30;
UL Bohemian v Shannon,Annacotty,2.30;
Young Munster v Thomond,Clifford Park,1.00;

South:Dolphin v U.C.C.,Musgrave Park,2.30;
Midleton v Sunday's Well,Towns Park,2.30;

Junior 2 League Group A:Carrigaline v U.C.C.,Moneygourney,12.00;
Clonakilty v Tralee,The Vale,1.00;

Group B:Cork Constitution v Ballincollig,Temple Hill,12.00;
Dolphin v Dungarvan,Musgrave Park,12.00;

Mick Barry Cup Group A:Cobh Pirates v Mallow,Cobh,12.00;
Youghal v Crosshaven,Youghal,12.00;

Group B:Kenmare v Bandon,Kenmare,2.30;
Skibbereen v Old Christians,Skibbereen,1.00;

George O'Connell Cup Group A:Kinsale v Highfield,Kinsale,12.00;
Waterford City v Muskerry,Waterford,12.45;

Group B:Iveragh v Dunmanway,Cahirciveen,2.30;
Killarney v Castleisland,Killarney,2.30;

Junior 3 League South Group A:Ballincollig v Mitchelstown,Tanner Park,2.30;
U.C.C. v Fermoy,Curaheen Road,12.00;

Group B:Cork Transport v Bandon,Corn Field,2.30;
Dolphin v Bantry Bay,Musgrave Park,2.30;

Avonmore Milk Schools Senior Cup:P.B.C. v Glenstal Abbey,C.I.T.,3.00;

Avonmore Milk Under 19 League Group A:Thomond v Tralee,Fitzgerald Park,12.15;

Group B:Kilfeacle v Bruff,Kilfeacle,12.30;

Group C:Garryowen v Waterpark,Dooradoyle,12.30;

Group D:Scariff v Highfield,Scariff,1.30;
Young Munster v Clonmel,Derryknockane,12.00;

Avonmore Milk Under 17 League Group A:Bandon v Waterpark,Bandon,12.30;
Shannon v Killarney,Coonagh,

Group C:Dungarvan v Sunday's Well,Dungarvan,1.30;

Group D:Nenagh Ormond v Kanturk,Nenagh,12.00;
Thomond v Abbeyfeale,Fitzgerald Park,

East Under 17 Development League:Clanwilliam v Cashel,Clanwilliam Park,11.00;
Clonmel v Carrick-on-Suir,Clonmel,11.00;
Galbally v Fethard,Galbally,11.00;

East Under 15 League:Clanwilliam v Thurles,Clanwilliam Park,11.00;
Clonmel v Dungarvan,Clonmel,11.00;
Waterford City v Fethard,Waterford,11.00;
Waterpark B v Carrick-on-Suir,Ballinakill,11.00;

East Under 13 League:Fethard v Thurles,Fethard,11.00;
Kilfeacle v Clanwilliam,Kilfeacle,11.00;

East Under 13 Development League:Galbally v Clonmel,Galbally,11.00;
Nenagh Ormond v Waterford City,Nenagh,12.00;

North Under 15 League:Estuary v Scariff,Shanagolden,11.30;
Young Munsterv Old Crescent,Derryknockane,11.00;

Womens Munster Cup:Nenagh Ormond v Galbally,Nenagh,1.00;
Abbeyfeale v Highfield,Abbeyfeale,12.30;
Youghal v Ballincollig,Youghal,1.00;
Young Munster v Thurles,Derryknockane,1.00;

TUESDAY 8th FEBRUARY
Avonmore Milk Schools Junior Cup:Castletroy College v Crescent Comp.,Dooradoyle,3.30;

Schools Under 17 Blitz,C.I.T.,4.30;

WEDNESDAY 9th FEBRUARY
Avonmore Milk Schools Junior Cup:Ard Scoil Ris v P.B.C.,Rosbrien,3.00;
C.B.C. v St. Munchin's,TBC,3.00;

Mungret Shield Final:Midleton College v Abbey CBS,Clonmel,3.00;

O'Gorman Cup Final:Nenagh CBS v Charleville CBS,Annacotty,2.00;

THURSDAY 10th FEBRUARY
Avonmore Milk Schools Junior Cup:Glenstal Abbey v Rockwell,Clanwilliam Park,3.00;