Weekend Junior Preview

It is another busy weekend on the Junior front with Junior League leader’s Clonmel in Cup action providing the remaining challengers with the opportunity to close the gap.

Clonmel travel to the Royal County to take on holders Ashbourne in the semi-finals of the All Ireland Junior Cup on Saturday. The winners will meet Enniscorthy or Wicklow, who lock horns in County Wexford, in the decider.

Defending Munster Junior League champions Bandon welcome Galbally to Old Chapel in Division 1 on Saturday. The West Cork side should prove too strong for Galbally, who claimed full points to record their first win of the campaign against Waterpark last time out and this has pulled the County Limerick side out of the drop zone.

On Sunday, Richmond will be expected to claim all points on offer from their home tie against Kanturk and Newcastle West will also be expected to maintain their challenge for a top four finish as they take on St Senan’s at Jimmy Slattery Park.

Fifth-placed Kilfeacle travel to Suirside, where they will be looking to get a result against Waterpark in bid to keep their challenge for a top four finish intact.

Skibbereen travel to Tipperary Town to take on struggling Clanwilliam and Abbeyfeale welcome Crosshaven to West Limerick.

There are three Cork derbies in Division 2.

The game of the day sees third-placed Clonakilty locking horns with second-placed Kinsale at The Vale. With runaway leaders Mallow not playing this weekend, the West Cork side will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in bid to record a maximum point win and overtake their opponents who are in second place.

Struggling Ballincollig are at home to Old Christians. The Mid Cork side looking to get a result in their battle against relegation after claiming a losing bonus point last time out against Kinsale. The Rathcooney side are coming off the back of a narrow 20-15 home win over Cobh Pirates.

Muskerry, who are fifth, will be looking to bounce back from their narrow 13-11 defeat by Thurles in the Premier County as they entertain Cobh Pirates, who are hovering above the drop zone.

Surprise packets Fermoy will be expected to claim all points on offer against Fethard at the Showgrounds and North Cork neighbours Charleville should prove too strong for Thurles, who recorded their first win of the camping last time out against Muskerry.

Elsewhere, Castleisland welcome Waterford City to the Kingdom with both sides coming off the back of defeats by Charleville and Fermoy respectively.

Killarney lock horns with near neighbours Killorglin in a local derby in East Kerry, with the home side, who are second, looking to make the most of home advantage count in a bid to move within a point of leaders Tralee.

Third-placed Dungarvan who recorded a maximum point away win over Ennis, make the long trip to the West Kerry Gaeltacht to take on Chorca Dhuibhne, with the West Waterford side looking to record a second successive away win.

In other ties, Douglas-Carrigaline are at home to Bantry Bay and Ennis should prove too strong for Clare neighbours Scariff.