Munster Youths U-16 Preview

This season’s Munster Youths U-16 competition begins at the weekend with the 18 best young club sides in the province looking to capture the Munster Youths U-16 title.

Courtesy of:- Cathal Donovan, East Munster Youths PRO

Waterpark will be aiming to retain the U-16 trophy and have already won the East Munster title this season..

Of the 18 clubs gunning for provincial glory, six clubs will represent South Munster, four clubs will take up the challenge for East Munster, West Munster has three representatives while five clubs represent North Munster in this year’s competition.

Group 1 sees last season's defeated semi finalists Bruff back aiming to go one better this year. However they face a tricky task in one of two five team groups this season but they are unbeaten so far this season which bodes well for the coming weeks.

Waterford City make their debut in provincial wide competition and will be eager to build on their pre-Christmas form which saw them reach an East Munster League final where they were defeated 14-0 by city rivals Waterpark.

Muskerry are competing at this level for the second season in a row and a third time in all and will be looking to build on the one win they had in last season’s group stage. Dolphin are competing at this level for the second consecutive season and at both age groups for the first time ever and will look forward to renewing acquaintances with Bruff, whom they lost 19-10 in the group stage last season at this age grade.

The final team in this group is Killorglin who are competing in this competition at under 16 level for the second year running and will be hopeful of a better run in this year’s competitions than previous years.

Two clubs make their Munster Youth competition debuts in group 2 with Ballincollig and Skibbereen competing at this level for the first time. They are joined by Garryowen who are making their third appearance at this level and Killarney who are making their first appearance in the competition in three seasons. Garryowen had early defeats to fellow Munster Youth qualifiers Bruff and Young Munster in the North Munster League but bounced back and have been undefeated since. Killarney qualified on the back on a good run of victories in the West Munster League.

Group 3 is the second of the five team groups and sees defending champions Waterpark, whose Munster title last March was their third in five years, up against Fethard, competing at this grade in the Munster Youths for just the second time after making their debut last season. They are joined by Mallow, making their first appearance at this level, Ennis, back at this level after missing out last season, and Newcastle West.

The fourth and final group at U-16 level sees a very strong Young Munster team face Tralee, Clonakilty and Thurles. Young Munster qualified just behind Garryowen in the North Munster league and will be favourites to emerge from this group. Thurles sealed their place for this stage of the competition with a 17-14 win over Dungarvan in the quarter finals of the East Munster League before Christmas before bowing out of that competition with a 28-13 defeat to Waterpark.

Clonakilty are undefeated in competitive action this season so far and qualified for this stage with 14-5 win over Muskerry in the South Munster League quarter final before Christmas and three weeks ago defeated Dolphin 32-10 to take their place in the league final which will be played at a later date.

Munster Youths U-16 Groups
Group 1: Dolphin, Muskerry, Waterford City, Killorglin, Bruff
Group 2: Ballincollig, Skibbereen, Killarney, Garryowen
Group 3: Mallow, Newcastle West, Ennis, Fethard, Waterpark
Group 4: Tralee, Young Munster, Clonakilty, Thurles


Upcoming Fixtures

SATURDAY 31st JANUARY
Munster Youths U-16 Group 1: Dolphin v Muskerry, Musgrave Park, 11am;

Group 2: Ballincollig v Skibbereen, Tanner Park, 1pm;
Killarney v Garryowen, Killarney, 12pm;

Group 3: Mallow v Newcastle West, Mallow, 3.30pm;

Group 4: Tralee v Young Munster, Tralee, 12.30pm

SUNDAY 1st FEBRUARY
Munster Youths U-16 Group 1: Waterford City v Killorglin, Waterford, 2pm;

Group 3: Ennis v Fethard, Ennis, 12.30pm;

Group 4: Clonakilty v Thurles, The Vale, 12.30pm;