Pan Munster Youths Preview

Both of the semi-finals in the Under 18 Pan Munster are down for decision next weekend while the remaining semi-final in the Under 16 competition is also scheduled to be played.

Courtesy of: Cathal Donovan

In the Under 18 competition both games are scheduled to be played in Limerick venues. In the first semi-final Young Munster will host Tralee.

Bruff on a score-line of 12-10 on January 12th. They lost their opening game in the Pan Munster League to Clanwilliam 14-10 but have went from strength to strength since that defeat with narrow wins over Kinsale and Tralee in the group stage before a very good 24-14 win over a strong Cork Constitution in Temple Hill in the quarter finals the weekend before last. Their opponents Waterpark qualified for the Munster competition as the top side in East Munster for the seventh time in nine seasons. A tough game against Newcastle West-Estuary in the opening game of the Pan Munster League saw the Waterford club narrowly win before two big wins over Killarney and Sundays Well clinched a home quarter final against Clonakilty which was a rematch of last season’s Munster Under 17 final. The Waterford club reversed the result of that final last year to seal their place in the last four.

In the second semi-final Bruff will host Waterpark. Bruff have lost just once this season, a North Munster League game to Garryowen in October, and will be determined not to go out of the competition at the same stage as they did last season as Under 17s. Narrow victories over Highfield and Clonakilty before a big win over Galbally in the group stages sealed the county Limerick clubs place in the knock out stages where they were 26-5 winners over Newcastle West in the quarter finals last Sunday. This is Tralee’s first time as this stage of the competition since the restructuring of the Pan Munster competition for the 2009-2010 season. Wins against Clanwilliam and Kinsale in the opening two rounds sealed a quarter final place before a loss to Young Munster in the last group game. In the quarter finals the Kerry side overcame Old Crescent 26-3 to take a semi-final spot.

In the Under 16 competition one semi-final has already been played and Dungarvan defeated Bruff to reach their first ever Munster Final. Runners Up in the East Munster League to Kilfeacle, the county Waterford Side bounced back from that defeat prior to Christmas last year and are undefeated in 2014. Victories over Old Crescent, Muskerry and Tralee won a home quarter final where Castleisland were defeated 24-15 and on Sunday a 13-12 win over Bruff clinched Dungarvan a first appearance in a Munster Underage Final.

In the final Dungarvan will face either Waterpark or Bantry Bay. Bantry and Waterpark have already played this season in the Pan Munster competition and Bantry Bay emerged victorious on that occasion, 10-5. Waterpark were semi-finalists in the East Munster league losing to the eventual winners Kilfeacle and in the Pan Munster have been very impressive in their victories over Shannon and Sundays Well in the group stages as well as Clonakilty in the quarter finals. Bantry’s first year in a Pan Munster competition has been very impressive and they may be slight favourites to reach the final.

Paths to the Semi Finals

Pan Munster Under 18

Tralee
Group 1
18/1/14 Tralee 24 Kinsale 13
25/1/14 Tralee 63 Clanwilliam 6
16/2/14 Tralee 0 Young Munster 10
Quarter Final
22/2/14 Tralee 26 Old Crescent 3

Young Munster
Group 1
18/1/14 Clanwilliam 14 Young Munster 10
25/1/14 Kinsale 17 Young Munster 20
16/2/14 Tralee 0 Young Munster 10
Quarter Final
23/2/14 Cork Constitution 14 Young Munster 24

Waterpark
Group 4
18/1/14 Waterpark 17 Newcastle West 10
25/1/14 Waterpark 79 Killarney 0
22/2/14 Waterpark 52 Sundays Well 14
Quarter Final
1/3/14 Waterpark 13 Clonakilty 12

Bruff
Group 2
18/1/14 Bruff 31 Highfield 22
16/2/14 Bruff 8 Clonakilty 6
19/2/14 Galbally 0 Bruff 45
Quarter Final
2/3/14 Bruff 26 Newcastle West 5

Paths to the Final/Semi Finals

Pan Munster Under 16
Bantry Bay
Group A
18/1/14 Bantry Bay 11 Sundays Well 3
26/1/14 Waterpark 5 Bantry Bay 10
9/2/14 Bantry Bay 24 Shannon 7
Quarter Final
1/3/14 Bantry Bay 15 Killorglin 5

Waterpark
Group A
18/1/14 Shannon 0 Waterpark 13
26/1/14 Waterpark 5 Bantry Bay 10
16/2/14 Sundays Well 12 Waterpark 20
Quarter Final
22/2/14 Clonakilty 5 Waterpark 13

Dungarvan
Group C
18/1/14 Dungarvan beat Old Crescent
25/1/14 Tralee 7 Dungarvan 39
16/2/14 Dungarvan 21 Muskerry 12
Quarter Final
22/2/14 Dungarvan 24 Castleisland 15
Semi Final
2/3/14 Bruff 12 Dungarvan 13