Weekend Preview

30th April 2009 By Munster Rugby

With the season drawing to a close there are still some competitions to be completed and the recent wet weather has not helped with some games being postponed in recent days.

The Munster Juniors who opened their campaign with a narrow 10-9 defeat by Leinster last week at Nenagh, head north to Lisburn this weekend where they will face Ulster.
The Northerners also lost by a single point last week going down to Connacht 19-18 and both sides will be looking for a victory to get their campaign back on track.
Munster ended up having twelve new caps on the field by the end of last week’s game, where two penalties and a drop goal by Eamon Ronan looked like securing Munster a victory until Aaron Deverell struck with a try for Leinster with the last play of the game.
Scrum half John O’Sullivan is out of this weekend’s game after picking up an injury last week but into the squad comes Cashel’s Diarmuid O’Connor. If Munster show the same commitment as last week they could get the day off to the perfect start.

The selectors will be keeping a close eye on the Cork County Cup Final between holder’s Cobh Pirates and Skibbereen that none of their squad will pick up an injury. This will be Skibbereen’s third game in nine days and this could come against them in the closing stages especially if there is little separating the sides.

The Galbally Newport Garryowen Cup final scheduled for Kilfeacle is likely to be deferred due to the state of the pitch. Both sides will be eager to land this trophy and after their great triumph in winning the Third Division title, Galbally could overcome their First Division opponents.

Castleisland and Carrick-on-Suir will try for a second time on Monday to play their Martin O’Sullivan Cup semi final after last week’s game was postponed due to a flooded pitch. Carrick’ having travelled last week will hope that the game will go ahead, but home advantage could give the Kerry side the edge and Waterford City await the winners in the final.

Musgrave Park houses a double header on Monday. U.C.C. and Garryowen meet in the Munster Junior Two League Cup Final. College completed the double in South Munster with a 12-3 victory over Cork Constitution in the Cup Final, thanks to four penalties from out half Conor Sweeney.
Last year these sides also met in the decider with the student emerging victorious on a 13-11 score line.
The College will start as favourites but expect a big challenge from Garryowen and what a fitting end of the season for the Limerick side if they were to win this trophy after all the trauma they had to go through this year.

Ballincollig are involved in two finals over the coming days. They first face Bantry Bay in the Kelly Cup and than on Monday meet Tralee in the Dave Dineen Cup and both games should be close contests.

Tralee also have a final before Monday’s encounter as they trave to Ballydavid to face Corca Dhuibhne in the Galwey Foley Cup Final.

Cashel and Shannon will meet in the final of the Webb Cup on Monday at a venue to be confirmed with a 5.00 kick off. Shannon booked their place in the decider after they won their replay against Garryowen 13-3. Cashel having already won the Gleeson League will start as favourites as they aim for a first League and Cup double at this level.

THURSDAY 30th APRIL
Cork County Cup:Cobh Pirates v Skibbereen,Musgrave Park,7.00;

Garryowen Cup Final:Galbally v Newport,Kilfeacle,7.30;

Kelly Cup Final:Ballincollig v Bantry Bay,Bandon,7.00;

Galwey Foley Cup Final:Corca Dhuibhne v Tralee,Ballydavid,7.00;

North Under 18 Cup Semi Final:Ennis v Newcastle West,Ennis,7.00;

South Under 16 Plate Final:Dunmanway v Fermoy,Bandon,7.00;

FRIDAY 1st MAY
North Under 15 Cup Final:Garryowen v Young Munster / Thomond,Dooradoyle,7.00;

SATURDAY 2nd MAY
Heineken Cup Semi Final:Munster v Leinster,Croke Park,5.30;

Junior Inter Provincial:Ulster v Munster,Lisburn,2.30;

Kinsale Sevens,Kinsale,10.00;

SUNDAY 3rd MAY
Kinsale Sevens,Kinsale,10.00;

MONDAY 4th MAY
AIB All Ireland League Division 2 Semi Final:Ballynahinch v Lansdowne,Ballymacarn Park,2.30;

Martin O’Sullivan Cup Semi Final:Castleisland v Carrick-on-Suir,Castleisland,3.00;

Munster Junior 2 League Cup Final:U.C.C. v Garryowen,Musgrave Park,2.30;

Webb Cup Final:Cashel v Shannon,TBA,5.00;