Weekend Preview

It is a quite weekend on the Senior front with only the semi finals of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Cup down for decision but on the Junior front there is plenty of action as the Munster Junior League enters its final stages.

Garryowen travel to Dubarry Park on Saturday to face Buccaneers in the semi final of the Ulster Bank Cup hoping to continue Munster’s great run in this competition with five victories out of six since the Cup was introduced back in 2006. Garryowen did lift the trophy in 2007 and they will be quietly confident of reaching the final against either Old Belvedere or Ballymena.

With just three series of games remaining in the First Division of the Munster Junior League, all fourteen sides are battling for points to either win the title or avoid relegation.

Leaders Richmond can take another step closer to their third title with a home win over Clanwilliam. The Tipperary side produced a great performance last week to collect maximum points in their 23-22 home win over Old Christians to ease their relegation worries. While they would be happy with anything from this game, Richmond must be expected to take the points.

The two sides in joint second Kanturk and Skibbereen meet, where neither side can afford to lose. Both sides have gone through a poor spell in recent weeks and home advantage could give Kanturk the edge.

Galbally who slipped to fourth after last week’s defeat by Richmond travel to relegation threatened Kilfeacle. The Tipperary side currently occupy second last place and know they must collect the points to avoid the drop. The Hill is not an easy place to get points from so Galbally will have to be at their best to keep their title hopes alive.

Thurles who are bottom of the table could be relegated for the first time in the club’s history should they fail to win away to Old Christians. Thurles must win their three remaining games to avoid second division rugby next season and despite Old Christians surprise defeat last week, the home side will be expected to pick up the points.

Clonmel are just three points above the relegation area following a poor string of results in recent weeks. They are at home to a young Waterpark side and could have their work cut out to end their recent slide.

Crosshaven still with an outside chance of finishing in the top four and a place in next season’s All Ireland Junior Cup travel to Tralee. The Kerry side eased their relegation worries with maximum points last week away to Thurles and could make things difficult for their visitors.

Both Cobh Pirates and St. Senan’s caused upsets last week as they moved away from the relegation zone with wins. They meet at Cobh where a win for either side would go a long way to securing their place in the top flight next season.

In Division Two leaders Mallow after their win over their closest challengers St. Mary’s face another promotion chasing side this weekend when they travel to Killarney. The Kerry side have been on the fringes of the promotion race all season and this is a game they must win to stay in the hunt.

St. Mary’s will want to get back to winning ways with a home win over relegation threatened Bandon, but their opponents caused a big shock last week with their first win of the campaign when they defeated Kinsale.

Two other sides still chasing promotion meet when Kinsale host Presentation. Kinsale lost a great opportunity last week of moving into second place and they will want to make amends against a dogged Presentation side.

Newcastle West also in the race for a promotion spot but with games in hands will be looking to pick up maximum points from their home tie against struggling Muskerry.

Ennis not yet clear of relegation are at home to Scariff in a first league derby for these two Clare clubs and this could go either way.

Bottom side Ballincollig travel to Newport who are two places and two points above them. This is a big game for both sides that could go either way.

Castleisland and Youghal who are in mid table have brought their game forward to Saturday as have Corca Dhuibhne against Dunmanway in Division Three and both Kerry sides will be looking for victories.

Third Division leaders Dungarvan who lost for the first time last week will want to get back to winning ways at home to promotion chasing Carrick-on-Suir.

Killorglin in second places should end a poor spell of results with an away win over Bantry Bay.

Fermoy entertain Waterford City and both these sides on the verge of promotion cannot afford to drop any more points.

In the other tie Douglas travel to Kilrush hoping to continue their recent good run.

FIXTURES:
FRIDAY 20th JANUARY
B&I Cup: Ulster v Munster, Raven Hill, 7.30;

Gleeson League Semi Final: Garryowen v Shannon, Dooradoyle, 8.00;

Mungret Cup: Newtown School v Bandon Grammar, Newtown, 2.30;

Mungret Shield: Midleton College v Abbeyfeale C.S., Towns Park, 1.00;

South Under 19 League Phase 2: Old Christians v Sunday's Well, Rathcooney, 7.30;

SATURDAY 21st JANUARY
Heineken Cup: Northampton Saints v Munster, Stadium MK, 6.00;

Bateman All Ireland Cup Semi Finals: Old Belvedere v Ballymena, Anglesea Road, 3.30;
Buccaneers v Garryowen, Dubarry Cup, 2.30;

Senior Friendly: Clonakilty v Highfield, The Vale, 2.30;
Old Crescent v Midleton, Rosbrien, 2.00;

Munster Junior League:
Division 2: Castleisland v Youghal, Castleisland, 4.00;

Division 3: Corca Dhuibhne v Dunmanway, Ballydavid, 2.30;

Under 21 South Western Conference Section A: Cork Constitution v Highfield, Temple Hill, 2.30;
Galwegians v N.U.I.G., Crowley Park, 2.30;
Garryowen v Buccaneers, Dooradoyle, 2.30;

Section B: Dolphin v Old Crescent, Musgrave Park, 2.30;
Shannon v U.C.C., Coonagh, 2.30;
Waterpark v Young Munster, Ballinakill, 2.30;

Junior 2 Friendly: Bruff v Young Munster, Kilballyowen Park, 12.00;

Under 21 Friendly: Bruff v Thomond, Kilballyowen Park, 2.00;

Schools Senior Friendly: C.B.C. v Castleknock College, Lansdowne, 12.00;
Crescent College v St. Michael's, Dooradoyle, 12.00;

Schools Junior Friendly: C.B.C. v Castleknock College, Lansdowne, 12.00;
P.B.C. v St. Mary's, Wilton, 12.00;

Avonmore SuperMilk Under 19 League Group 3: Cobh Pirates v Garryowen, Cobh, 1.00;
Crosshaven v Clonmel, Crosshaven, 2.00;

Group 4: Tralee v Highfield, Tralee, 1.00;

Avonmore SuperMilk Under 17 League Group 1: Abbeyfeale v Young Munster, Abbeyfeale, 12.00;
Highfield v Waterpark, Woodleigh Park, 1.30;

Group 2: Dungarvan v Clonakilty, Dungarvan, 12.30;
Killarney v Bruff, Killarney, 12.30;

Group 3: Clonmel v Kanturk, Clonmel, 2.00;

Group 4: Sunday's Well v Thurles, Musgrave Park, 12.00;

East Under 15 League Play Off: Fethard v Carrick-on-Suir, Fethard, 11.00;

South Under 19 League Phase 2: Ballincollig v Mallow, Tanner Park, 11.00;
Clonakilty v Muskerry, The Vale, 11.00;
Fermoy v Youghal, Fermoy, 12.00;
Kinsale v Cork Constitution, Kinsale, 12.30;
Midleton v Dolphin, Towns Park, tbc;

South Under 17 League Phase 2: Ballincollig v Muskerry, Tanner Park, 12.30;
Carrigaline v Bantry Bay, Moneygourney, tbc;
Charleville v Bandon, Charleville, 12.30;
Crosshaven v Mallow, Crosshaven, 11.00;
Dolphin v Youghal, Musgrave Park, tbc;
Kinsale v Dunmanway, Kinsale, 11.00;
Midleton v Cork Constitution, Towns Park, 11.00;
Old Christians v Cobh Pirates, Rathcooney, 11.30;

South Munster Under 15 League: Muskerry v Cobh Pirates, Ballyanly, 12.00;
Sunday's Well v Old Christians, Mahon, 11.00;

South Munster Under 14 League: Clonakilty v Skibbereen, The Vale, 10.00;
Highfield v Kanturk, Woodleigh Park, 11.00;

West Munster Under 17 Plate: Corca Dhuibhne v Castleisland, Ballydavid, 12.00;

West Munster Under 13 League Play Offs: Killarney v Listowel, Killarney, 11.00;
Tralee v Killorglin, Tralee, 11.00;

West Munster Under 13 Plate: Abbeyfeale v Iveragh, Abbeyfeale, 11.00;
Kenmare v Corca Dhuibhne, Kenmare, 11.00;

Under 15 Friendly: Tralee v Bantry Bay, Tralee, 12.00;

Under 14 Friendly: Tralee v Killarney, Tralee, 10.30;

SUNDAY 22nd JANUARY
Munster Junior League Division 1: Clonmel v Waterpark, Clonmel, 2.30;
Cobh Pirates v St. Senan's, Cobh, 2.30;
Kanturk v Skibbereen, Kanturk, 2.30;
Kilfeacle v Galbally, Kilfeacle, 2.30;
Old Christians v Thurles, Rathcooney, 2.30;
Richmond v Clanwilliam, Richmond Park, 2.30;
Tralee v Crosshaven, Tralee, 2.30;

Division 2: Ennis v Scariff, Ennis, 2.30;
Killarney v Mallow, Killarney, 2.30;
Kinsale v Presentation, Kinsale, 2.30;
Newcastle West v Muskerry, Newcastle West, 2.30;
Newport v Ballincollig, Newport, 2.30;
St. Mary's v Bandon, Corbally, 2.30;

Division 3: Bantry Bay v Killorglin, Bantry, 2.30;
Dungarvan v Carrick-on-Suir, Dungarvan, 2.30;
Fermoy v Waterford City, Fermoy, 2.30;
Kilrush v Douglas, Kilrush, 1.30;

Munster Seconds League North: Nenagh Ormond v Bruff, Nenagh, 2.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Young Munster, Annacotty, 2.30

South Junior 2 League Phase 2 Group A: Tralee v Cork Constitution, Tralee, 2.00;
U.C.C. v Skibbereen, Curaheen Road, 2.30;

Group B: Dolphin v Old Christians, Musgrave Park, 12.00;
Waterpark v Carrigaline, Ballinakill, 2.30;

Mick Barry Cup Group A: Clonakilty v Iveragh, The Vale, 2.30;

Group B: Highfield v Cobh Pirates, Woodleigh Park, 12.00;
Kanturk v Waterford City, Kanturk, 1.00;

George O'Connell Cup Group A: Castleisland v Listowel, Castleisland, 2.30;
Mallow v Ballincollig, Mallow, 12.00;

Group B: Kinsale v Dungarvan, Kinsale, 1.00;
Shandon v Youghal, Whitechurch, 2.30;

South Junior 3 League Phase 2 Group A: Cork Transport v Sunday's Well, Corn Field, 2.30;
Mitchelstown v U.C.C., Mitchelstown, 2.30;

Group B: Crosshaven v Bandon, Crosshaven, 2.30;
Fermoy v Douglas, Fermoy, 12.00;

Schools Barry Cup Final: C.B.C. v P.B.C., Lansdowne, 12.00;

Avonmore SuperMilk Under 19 League Group 1: St. Senan's v Bandon, Jim Slattery Park, 2.30;
Waterpark v Castleisland, Ballinakill, 1.00;

Group 2: Kanturk v Young Munster, Kanturk, 11.30;
Shannon-St. Mary's v Nenagh Ormond, Coonagh, 12.00;

Group 4: Cashel-Thurles v Bruff, Thurles, 11.30;

Avonmore SuperMilk Under 17 League: Group 2: Dungarvan v Clonakilty, Dungarvan, 12.30;

Group 3: Ennis v Listowel, Ennis, 12.00;

Group 4: Thomond v Tralee, Fitzgerald Park, 1.30;

East Munster Under 17 Development League North: Fethard v Nenagh Ormond, Fethard, 11.00;
Galbally v Clanwilliam, Galbally, 11.00
Kilfeacle v Cashel, Kilfeacle, 11.00;

East Under 15 League Play Off: Kilfeacle v Nenagh Ormond, Kilfeacle, 11.00;

East Munster Under 15 Development League South: Carrick-on-Suir v Waterford City, Carrick-on-Suir, 11.00;

North Munster Under 17 B League: Estuary v Old Crescent, Shanagolden, tbc;
Kilrush v Garryowen, Kilrush, 12.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Shannon, Annacotty, 11.30;

North Munster Under 15 Conference: Ennis v Estuary, Ennis, 12.00;
Kilrush v Presentation, Kilrush, 11.30;
St. Senan's v Old Crescent, Jim Slattery Park, 11.00;
Thomond v Scariff, Fitzgerald Park, 12.00;

North Under 14 Conference: Newcastle West v U.L. Bohemian, Newcastle West, 12.00;

North Under 13 League: Bruff v Old Crescent, Bruff, 12.00;
Richmond v Young Munster, Canal Bank, 11.30;
Thomond v Shannon Blacks, Fitzgerald Park, 11.00;
U.L. Bohemian Hawks v Garryowen Blues, Annacotty, 11.00;

North Under 13 Conference: Bruff v Newcastle West, Kilballywen Park, 12.00;
St. Senan's v Presentation, Jim Slattery Park, 12.00;

Under 19 Friendly: Clanwilliam v Ennis, Clanwilliam Park, 11.30;

Under 15 Friendly: Waterpark v Gorey, Ballinakill, 11.00;

Under 14 Friendly: Glenstal v Bruff, Glenstal, 11.45;

Women's Munster Cup Group A: U.L. Bohemian v Thurles, Annacotty, 1.00;
Young Munster v Galbally, Derryknockane, 12.00;

Group B: Ballincollig v Shannon, Tanner Park, 1.00;
Tralee v Highfield, Tralee, 2.00;

TUESDAY 24th JANUARY
Schools Giles Shield: SMGS Blarney v Douglas CS, Ballyanly, 2.30;

Schools Senior Friendly: Glenstal Abbey v St. Munchin's, Glenstal, 2.30;

WEDNESDAY 25th JANUARY
Johnny Moroney Cup Final: WIT v LIT, Waterford I.T., 3.00;

THURSDAY 26th JANUARY
Mungret Cup: High School v Newtown School/Bandon Grammar, Clonmel, 2.00;