Weekend Preview and Fixtures 11th September

Charity Cup finalists in Cork and Limerick should be known this weekend as the opening round in the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup, Shield and Martin O’Sullivan Cup get under way.

Young Munster and Garryowen meet in the second semi final of the Limerick Charity Cup at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday, kick off 1.30. With these sides due to meet again in three weeks time in the opening round of the All Ireland League, they are unlikely to show their hand ahead of that big game. Garryowen had a narrow win over U.L. Bohemian in the last round while holders Young Munster just proved too strong for Nenagh Ormond. Shannon await the winners in next weeks final.

Both Cork semi finals are scheduled for this weekend. Dolphin play Cork Constitution this Friday evening at Musgrave Park. These sides met two weeks ago in last season’s decider with Con’ emerging deserving winners and the Temple Hill side will be quietly confident of victory despite losing several of their squad to the Munster A side this weekend.

U.C.C. play Midleton at the Towns Par in the other semi final and after an impressive win over Clonakilty last weekend the students must be fancied to advance to the final next week.

In the opening games in the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup holders Kilfeacle begin their defence with a home tie against Ballincollig. The Tipperary side boosted by their 15-6 win over neighbours Clanwilliam last week in the Mansergh Cup will start as hot favourites to advance.

Cashel play hosts to Clanwilliam and they will be eager to set out an early marker with a victory.

Old Christians back in the top flight this season face a difficult task when they travel to Tralee. The Kerry side were serious contenders for league honours last season and will be eager to do well in this competition which guarantees the semi finalists in this competition a place in the All Ireland Junior Cup.

Skibbereen are at home to Crosshaven and will be expected to advance in front of their vocal home support.

Waterpark should prove too strong for Thurles at Ballinakill and home advantage should also give Cobh Pirates the edge against St. Senan’s

The big game in the Munster Junior Clubs Shield is the repeat of last season’s final when Galbally and Kanturk meet at the County Limerick venue. Galbally won that encounter on the first try rule, after the sides finished level 16-16. Former Munster winger John O’Neill who has now taken over the Coaching duties at the North Cork club will be eager to reverse that result.

Two sides who will be expected to be in the shake up for promotion Kinsale and Ennis meet with home advantage expected to see Kinsale book their place in the quarter finals.

Newport entertain Newcastle West and the Tipperary side will be anxious to get back to winning ways after last seasons disappointing performance.

Newcomers Killarney could make things difficult for Muskerry at the Kerry venue. Bandon boosted by a win last week in the County Cup should see off the challenge of Mallow and Charleville may have to give second best at home to St. Mary’s.

Carrick-on-Suir put their Martin O’Sullivan Cup title on the line when they make the short journey to Waterford City.

Bantry Bay who played their first Junior game last week away to Old Christians, travel to Corca Dhuibhne and should give a better account of themselves.

Home advantage should see Abbeyfeale advance at Douglas’s expense, while both Fermoy and Presentation should make their trips to Dungarvan and Kilrush winning ones.

At Junior Two level the quarter finals of the McInerney and Dennehy Cups will be decided.

It gets under way tonight at Dooradoyle when Garryowen face Shannon in the McInerney Cup. Bruff who defeated Old Crescent 18-17 in mid week have a home tie against St. Senan’s. St. Mary’s play Richmond at Corbally and Thomond travel to Derryknockane to face Young Munster.

Dennehy Cup holders Cork Constitution should easily see off the challenge of Sunday’s Well at Temple Hill and set up a semi final meeting with Cobh Pirates who face Crosshaven at home.

The other side of the draw sees Ballincollig at home to Bandon with the home side expected to advance where they will meet either Kinsale or Clonakilty.

FIXTURES:

FRIDAY 10th SEPTEMBER
Magners League:Edinburgh Rugby v Munster,Murrayfield,7.05;

Under 20 Interprovincial:Munster v Connacht,Mardyke,7.00;

Cork Charity Cup Semi Final:Cork Constitution v Dolphin,Musgrave Park,7.15;

Senior Friendly:Thomond v Nenagh Ormond,Fitzgerald Park,6.30;

McInerney Cup:Garryowen v Shannon,Dooradoyle,7.15;

Junior 2 Friendly:Waterford City v Dungarvan,Waterford,7.30;

Under 21 Friendly:Bruff v U.L. Bohemian,Bruff,7.00;

Under 14 Friendly:Shannon v Thomond,Coonagh,6.45;

SATURDAY 11th SEPTEMBER
Under 19 Interprovincial:Munster v Leinster,Thomond Park,2.00;
Munster v Leinster,Thomond Park,4.00;

Under 18 Schools Interprovincial:Ulster v Munster,Gibson Park,12.00;

Cork Charity Cup Semi Finals:Highfield/Midleton v U.C.C.,TBC,2.30;

Limerick Charity Cup Semi Final:Young Munster v Garryowen,Clifford Park,1.30;

McInerney Cup Quarter Finals:Bruff/Old Crescent v St. Senan's,TBC;
St. Mary's v Richmond,Corbally,3.00;
Young Munster v Thomond,Derryknockane,3.00;

Senior Friendly:Highfield v Clonakilty,Woodleigh Park,2.30;
Old Crescent v Corinthians,Rosbrien;
Shannon v U.L. Bohemian,Coonagh,12.30;

Junior Friendly:Clonmel v Youghal,Clonmel,3.00;
Old Crescent v Corinthians.Rosbrien,

Schools Senior Friendly:Crescent Comp. v Cistercian College,Dooradoyle,2.30;
Crescent Comp B v Cistercian College B,Dooradoyle,2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly:P.B.C. v C.B.C.,Wilton,11.00;
P.B.C. B v C.B.C. B,Wilton,11.00;

Under 19 Friendly:Thomond v Development Squad,Fitzgerald Park,12.00;

Under 17 Friendly:Sunday's Well v Dungarvan,Musgrave Park,12.00;

SUNDAY 12th SEPTEMBER
Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup:Cashel v Clanwilliam,Cashel,2.30;
Cobh Pirates v St. Senan's,Cobh,2.30;
Kilfeacle v Ballincollig,Kilfeacle,2.30;
Skibbereen v Crosshaven,Skibbereen,2.30;
Tralee v Old Christians,Tralee,2.30;
Waterpark v Thurles,Ballinakill,2.30;

Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Shield:Bandon v Mallow,Bandon,2.30;
Charleville v St. Mary's,Charleville,2.30;
Galbally v Kanturk,Galbally,2.30;
Killarney v Muskerry,Killarney,2.30;
Kinsale v Ennis,Kinsale,2.30;
Newport v Newcastle West,Newport,2.30;

Martin O'Sullivan Cup:Abbeyfeale v Douglas,Abbeyfeale,2.30;
Corca Dhuibhne v Bantry Bay,Ballydavid,2.30;
Dungarvan v Fermoy,Dungarvan,2.30;
Kilrush v Presentation,Kilrush,2.30;
Waterford City v Carrick-on-Suir,Waterford,2.30;

Transfield Cup:Garryowen v Thomond,Dooradoyle,3.00;
Shannon v UL Bohemian,Coonagh,3.00;

Dennehy Cup:Cork Constitution v Sunday's Well,Temple Hill,
Cobh Pirates v Crosshaven,Cobh,12.00;
Ballincollig v Bandon,Tanner Park,12.00;
Kinsale v Clonakilty,Kinsale,12.00;

O'Sullivan Cup:Old Christians v Dunmanway,Rathcooney,12.00;
Dolphin v Carrigaline,Musgrave Park,12.00;
Muskerry v Highfield,Ballyanly,12.00;

Junior 3 Friendly:Fermoy v Mallow,Fermoy,12.00;

Schools Senior Friendly:C.B.C. v P.B.C.,Lansdowne,11.30;

Under 19 Friendly:Young Munster v Ballina-Killaloe,Derryknockane,11.30;

Under 17 Friendly:Bruff v Old Crescent,Bruff,11.30;
Garryowen v Ennis,Dooradoyle,11.30;
Newport v Scariff,Newport,11.30;
Thomond v St. Senan's,Fitzgerald Park,11.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Richmond,Annacotty,11.30;

Under 13 Friendly:Bruff v Thomond,Bruff,11.30;

Women's Friendly:Highfield v Youghal,Woodleigh Park,12.30;

TUESDAY 14th SEPTEMBER
Under 17 Friendly:Crescent Comp. v Ard Scoil Ris,Dooradoyle,3.30;

WEDNESDAY 15th SEPTEMBER
Under 18 Schools Interprovincial:Munster v Connacht,Rosbrien,2.00;

Schools Senior Friendly:Ard Scoil Ris v Newbridge,Ard Scoil Ris,2.30;
Cistercian College v C.B.C,Roscrea,2.30;
P.B.C. v Midleton College,Wilton,2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly:Crescent Comp. v Ard Scoil Ris,Dooradoyle,2.30;

Glenstal Abbey v Newbridge,Glenstal,3.00;
P.B.C. v Midleton College,Wilton,2.30;

Under 17 Friendly:Cistercian College v C.B.C,Roscrea,2.30;
Glenstal Abbey v Castletroy College,Glenstal,3.00;
P.B.C. v Bandon Grammar,Wilton,2.30;

Under 15 Friendly:Crescent Comp. v Ard Scoil Ris,Dooradoyle,2.30;
P.B.C. v Bandon Grammar,Wilton,2.30;