Weekend Preview

It is another busy weekend in the Ulster Bank League with two semi finals and a relegation play off in Division 1 as well as the final series of games in Division 2 and Division 3.

Holders Cork Constitution play Young Munster in the second semi final of the league at Temple Hill on Sunday. The other semi final is on Saturday at Anglesea Road when Old Belvedere face Clontarf in a Dublin derby.

Despite a few hiccups along the way Cork Constitution managed to finish in top place in Division 1A with some impressive results in recent weeks against Dublin opposition.
Young Munster came with a late rally to finish third and a great second half saw them defeat neighbours Garryowen in their final game to clinch a semi final place.
Constitution will start as favourites and are always a difficult side to beat at this stage of the competition and should book their place in the final which is scheduled for Donnybrook on Sunday 1st May.

Garryowen and Buccaneers meet at Dooradoyle to decide the final place in Division 1A for next season. Garryowen disappointed at losing their final game at Clifford Park will have it all to do to win this game and preserve their status in the top flight of club rugby in Ireland.

The big games in Division 2 involve two Limerick sides as one of them will have to play a relegation play off in two weeks time. Old Crescent currently occupy the bottom spot two points behind Thomond. Old Crescent are away to DLSP and know they must win this tie to secure their Division 2A status. DLSP defeated Thomond last week 28-10 and Crescent know they are in for a difficult afternoon.

Thomond are at home to Corinthians and a win will secure their place in this division next season. Corinthian have still an outside chance of a play off place but must win with a bonus point and also hope that Bective Rangers fail to pick up a point from their trip to Clonakilty. This should be an entertaining encounter and it could go down to the wire before the game is decided.

Clonakilty host Bective Rangers and after a few impressive performances in recent weeks that saw the West Cork side move away from the foot of the table they will be eager to finish with a win in front of their own crowd. The Dublin side will be going all out for a win as they still could claim one of the automatic promotion places and even a losing bonus point would almost certainly guarantee them a play off game against Bruff.

Midleton complete their program with a trip to Belfast to face Queens University. Both sides are out of the promotion race and this could be a high scoring game as neither side has anything to play for.

In Division Three Sunday’s Well host Nenagh Ormond and all this game will decide which side finishes in the higher position. The Well lost some crucial games that cost them promotion while a poor start was the reason the Tipperary side failed to be among the contenders for promotion.

Highfield finish their campaign with a trip to Connemara. The Connacht side have lost all their games this season and will be all out to finish with a win especially as the Cork outfit have gone through a lean period in recent weeks.

Cashel and Crosshaven meet on Sunday in the final of the Junior Clubs Challenge Cup at Charleville. Cashel are unbeaten to date in the province and are hoping to end the season with all three major junior trophies before going senior next season.

Crosshaven after their great success last week in becoming the first Munster side to win the All Ireland Junior Cup were brought back to earth in mid week when Skibbereen defeated them 31-0 in the Cork County Cup.
Cashel have defeated Crosshaven twice this season in the League and the Munster Junior Cup. However the odds must be on for Cashel to continue their winning sequence.

Presentation and Waterford City meet in the final of the Muster Junior Bowl Final at Kilfeacle on Sunday. Presentation have had a great season winning the Third Division of the Munster Junior League and also the Martin O’Sullivan Cup in which they defeated Waterford City 30-15 in the final. They also won their league encounter 29-10 and this must make the Limerick side favourites to win their third trophy of the season.

U.C.C. play U.L. Bohemian holders in the semi final of the Munster Seconds League at Curaheen Road on Saturday. The Cork students had a narrow 27-24 home win over Young Munster last week and U.L. Bohemian easily disposed of the challenge of Dolphin at Annacotty.

Holders Richmond play Newcastle West in the final of the Transfield Cup at Annacotty on Sunday and the Division 1 side will be favourites to retain their title.

The second semi final of the Cork County Cup has Kanturk at home to Old Christians on Sunday with the winners to face the holders Skibbereen in the final. The newly promoted Second Division side will be going all out to put one over on the city side in what should be a cracking tie.

The two O’Neill Cup semi finals will also be decided over the weekend. First up is the Muskerry Mallow clash at Ballyanly on Saturday with Mallow anxious to make amends for their poor season with a place in the final.
The other semi final goes ahead at Fermoy on Monday evening, kick off 7.30 with Fermoy taking on Midleton.

The Mansergh Cup sees Second Division champions Galbally playing Kilfeacle and the County Limerick side could edge this tie.

The McElligott Cup Final between Corca Dhuibhne and Killarney fixed for Ballydavid has been cancelled.

The semi finals of the Munster Junior Two Cup will also be decided this weekend. Cashel after their extra time 9-6 win over Garryowen in the Webb Cup final in mid week are at home to Dolphin and should continue their winning run.

The other semi final is between Ballincollig and Shannon at Tanner Park and the visitors could edge this tie.

The North Munster Under 21 Cup Final is scheduled for Rosbrien on Monday night when U.L. Bohemian take on Shannon.

FIXTURES:
FRIDAY 15th APRIL
Junior 3 Friendly: U.C.C. v UCC Alumini XV, Mardyke, 7.30;

North Under 14 Cup Final: Young Munster/Newcastle West v Garryowen/Richmond, LIT, 7.00;

Under 19 Friendly: Munster U19 v Waterpark U19, Clonmel, 6.45;

Under 18 Friendly: Castleisland v Ballincollig, Castleisland, 7.30;

SATURDAY 16th APRIL
Magners League: Scarlets v Munster, Parc y Scarlets, 6.15;

Ulster Bank League Division 1 Semi Final: Old Belvedere v Clontarf, Anglesea Road, 2.35;

Division 1A Play Off: Garryowen v Buccaneers, Dooradoyle, 2.30;

Division 2: Ballymena v Terenure College, Eaton Park, 2.30;
Ballynahinch v Old Wesley, Ballymacarn Park, 2.30;
Clonakilty v Bective Rangers, The Vale, 2.30;
D.L.S.P. v Old Crescent, Kirwin Park, 2.30;
Dublin University v U.C.D., College Park, 2.30;
Malone v Belfast Harlequins, Gibson Park, 2.30;
Queens University v Midleton, Dub Lane, 2.30;
Thomond v Corinthians, Fitzgerald Park, 2.30;

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

Munster Seconds League Semi Final: U.C.C. v U.L. Bohemian, Curaheen Road, 2.30;

O'Neill Cup Semi Final: Muskerry v Mallow, Ballyanly, 1.30;

Manseragh Cup: Galbally v Kilfeacle, Galbally, 6.30;

Junior 3 Bowl Final: Bantry Bay v Douglas, Bandon, 6.30;

Junior 2 Friendly: Carrigaline v Highfield, Woodleigh Park, 5.00;

Schools Trial, Rockwell, 11.00;

East Munster Under 19 Plate Final: Clanwilliam v Nenagh Ormond, Thurles, 6.00;

South Under 19 Cup Semi Final: Crosshaven v Fermoy, Crosshaven, 2.30;

South Under 17 B Plate Final: Bantry Bay v Dolphin, Dunmanway, 12.00;

South Under 15 Development Cup Semi Final: Crosshaven v Youghal, Crosshaven, 2.30;

West Munster Under 17 League Final: Tralee v Abbeyfeale, Tralee, 1.00;

West Munster Under 15 Cup Final: Abbeyfeale v Corca Dhuibhne, Tralee, 12.30;

Midleton Under 15 Tournament, Towns Park, 11.00;

Pat Lawler Under 13 Blitz, Annacotty, 11.00;

Under 17 Friendly: U.L. Bohemian v Instonians, Annacotty, 6.30;

Under 15 Friendly: Dungarvan v Ledbury, Dungarvan, 3.00;

SUNDAY 17th APRIL
Ulster Bank League Division 1 Semi Final: Cork Constitution v Young Munster, Temple Hill, 2.35;

Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup Final: Cashel v Crosshaven, Charleville, 2.30;

Munster Junior Bowl Final: Presentation v Waterford City, Kilfeacle, 2.30;

Cork County Cup Semi Final: Kanturk v Old Christians, Kanturk, 2.30;

Transfield Cup Final: Richmond v Newcastle West, Annacotty, 3.00;

McElligott Cup Final: Corca Dhuibhne v Killarney, Ballydavid, 2.30; CANCELLED

Munster Junior 2 Cup: Ballincollig v Shannon, Tanner Park, 2.30;
Cashel v Dolphin, Cashel, 6.00;

Junior 2 Cup Semi Final: Cork Constitution v Cobh Pirates, Mahon, 12.00;

Paul Twomey Cup: Skibbereen v Muskerry, Skibbereen, 2.30;

McCarthy Cup Semi Final: Fermoy v Cork Transport, Fermoy, 2.30;

Galwey-Foley Cup Semi Final: Castleisland v Tralee, Castleisland, 2.30;

Ballyrandle Cup: Dungarvan v Mitchelstown, Dungarvan, 2.30;

Casey Cup: Fethard v Youghal, Fethard, 2.30;

East Under 19 Cup Final: Clonmel v Waterpark, Clanwilliam Park, 12.00;

East Under 17 Cup: Kilfeacle v Waterpark, Kilfeacle, 11.30;

East Under 17 Plate Semi Final: Cashel v Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, 11.00;

East Under 15 Plate Final: Nenagh Ormond v Kilfeacle, Thurles, 12.30;

East Under 13 Cup: Kilfeacle v Dungarvan, Kilfeacle, 11.00;
Nenagh Ormond v Fethard, Nenagh, 11.00;
Thurles v Waterford City, Thurles, 11.00;

East Under 13 Plate: Clanwilliam v Galbally, Clanwilliam Park, 10.30;

North Under 19 Cup Semi Final: Shannon-St. Mary's v Thomond, Coonagh, 12.00;

North Under 19 League: Bruff v Garryowen, Bruff, 11.30;

North Under 17 League Semi Finals: Shannon v Thomond, Coonagh, 11.30;
Bruff v Old Crescent, Bruff, 11.30;

North Under 15 Cup Final: Bruff v Old Crescent, L.I.T., 11.30;

South Under 19 Development Cup Final: Cobh Pirates v Midleton, Wilton, 4.00;

South Under 17 Cup Final: Highfield v Sunday's Well, Wilton, 2.00;

South Under 15 Cup Final: Kanturk v Mallow, Wilton, 12.00;

Midleton Under 15 Tournament, Towns Park, 11.00;

Under 14 Garda Cup Blitz, Jim Slattery Park, 11.00;

Under 15 Friendly: Waterford City v Ledbury, Waterford, 11.30;

Womens AIL Division 1: Blackrock v Highfield, Stradbrook,1.00;
Cooke v Galwegians, Belfast, 1.00;
Old Belvedere v U.L. Bohemian, Anglesea Road, 1.00;
St. Mary's College v Clonmel, Templeville Road, 1.00;

MONDAY 18th APRIL
O'Neill Cup Semi Final: Fermoy v Midleton, Fermoy, 7.30;

North Under 21 Cup Final: U.L. Bohemian v Shannon, Rosbrien, 6.30;

North Under 19 Cup Semi Final: Young Munster v Newcastle West, Derryknockane, 7.00;

WEDNESDAY 20th APRIL
Junior 2 League South Final: Dolphin v Ballincollig, Musgrave Park, 6.30;

Ballyrandle Cup: Waterpark v Waterford City, Ballinakill, 6.30;

Casey Cup: Fethard v Dungarvan, Fethard, 7.00;