Weekend Preview And Fixtures

With the season drawing to a close several finals are to be decided in the coming week as well as the closing stages of several other competitions.

Cork Constitution take on UCD in the Ulster Bank Bateman Cup final at Temple Hill on Saturday, with the home side aiming to retain the trophy.
UCD ran out 23-17 winners when these sides met at the Belfield Bowl in the AIL in November and the Lilywhites reversed this defeat with a 14-6 home win over the Dublin Students in January.

The Munster Junior Cup semi finals take centre stage on Sunday as Clanwilliam welcome Clonakilty to Tipperary Town, while UL Bohemian, who won successive titles in 2009 and 2010 host Clonmel to Annacotty.

The first semi final of the Junior Plate sees St Mary’s taking on Parish neighbours Shannon at Grove Island on Thursday evening with Tralee awaiting the winners in the final.

In the first Junior Clubs’ Challenge Cup semi final, Skibbereen will be looking to make the most of home advantage count as they entertain St Mary’s at the Carbery Showgrounds, with the West Cork side aiming to avenge last October’s 33-7 League defeat at Grove Island.

Munster Junior League Division 2 champions St. Senan’s and Bandon, who narrowly missed out on promotion, contest the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Shield decider at Charleville. St Senan’s recorded a comprehensive 32-5 home win when these sides met in the League in October.

Douglas and Division 3 champions Ballincollig contest the Martin O’Sullivan Cup decider at Musgrave Park next Tuesday evening and Douglas will be looking to avenge March’s narrow 17-13 home League defeat.

Highfield have home advantage against Garryowen in the final of the Munster Seconds League on Sunday.

Thomond’s third string side, who won the Gleeson League, will be going for a clean sweep as they take on St Mary’s in the Webb Cup and McInerney Cup deciders and this will be followed by a Munster Junior 2 Cup final appearance against Bandon.

Mitchelstown and Bandon go head to head in the first Kelly Cup semi final under lights at the Showgrounds in Fermoy on Friday evening and the second semi final on Sunday sees last year’s finalists Mallow taking on Cobh Pirates at St Joseph’s Road.

Dunmanway-Bantry Bay and Midleton contest the McCarthy Cup final in Cobh on Sunday.

FIXTURES:
TUESDAY 29th APRIL
Cork County Cup Final: Clonakilty v Kanturk, Musgrave Park, 7.00;

McInerney Cup Final: Thomond v St. Mary's, Annacotty, 7.00;

Ballyrandle Cup Final: Clonmel v Waterford City, Dungarvan, 6.45;

THURSDAY 1st MAY
Munster Junior Plate Semi Final: St. Mary's v Shannon, Grove Island, 7.15;

Galwey-Foley Cup Final: Corca Dhuibhne v Iveragh, Castleisland, 7.30;

FRIDAY 2nd MAY
Kelly Cup Semi Final: Mitchelstown v Bandon, Fermoy, 8.00;

O'Connor Cup Final: Clonmel v Nenagh Ormond, Cashel, 7.30;

SATURDAY 3rd MAY
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Ballynahinch v Buccaneers, Ballymacarn Park, 2.30;

Ulster Bank Bateman Cup Final: Cork Constitution v U.C.D., Temple Hill, 2.30;

Junior Interprovincial: Munster v Ulster, Youghal, 2.30;

Webb Cup Final: Thomond v St. Mary's, Thomond Park, 2.30;

Kinsale Sevens, Kinsale, 10.00-6.30;

Pat Lawlor Under 13 Tournament, Annacotty, 11-5.00;

SUNDAY 4th MAY
Munster Junior Cup Semi Finals: Clanwilliam v Clonakilty, Clanwilliam Park, 2.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Clonmel, Annacotty, 2.30;

Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup Semi Final: Skibbereen v St. Mary's, Skibbereen, 2.30;

Munster Junior Clubs Shield Final: Bandon v St. Senan's, Charleville, 2.30;

Munster Seconds League Final: Highfield v Garryowen, Woodleigh Park, 2.30;

Kelly Cup Semi Final: Mallow v Cobh Pirates, Mallow, 12.00;

McCarthy Cup Final: Dunmanway-Bantry Bay v Midleton, Cobh, 2.30;

Kinsale Sevens, Kinsale, 10.00-6.30;

TUESDAY 6th MAY
Martin O'Sullivan Cup Final: Ballincollig v Douglas, Musgrave Park, 7.00;