Weekend Rugby Preview

Plenty of action in both Division 1A and 1B of the Ulster Bank League as well as a full program in the Munster Junior League

There are some interesting derby ties in the Ulster Bank League with the action beginning on Friday night with old rivals Garryowen and Shannon meeting at Dooradoyle in Division 1A. Both sides suffered heavy defeats last week in Dublin and both know that another defeat in this tie would have them fighting relegation for the rest of the season. It should be another close contest with little expected to be between them at the finish.

Young Munster who lost top spot last week after that surprising big home defeat by St. Mary’s travel to Cork to face a Dolphin side boosted by their great win over Clontarf. The “Cookies” know they will have to win this tie to stay in the hunt, while Dolphin will be no push over and could cause another upset.

St. Mary’s College who moved into top spot have a home tie against Cork Constitution. The Temple Hill side kept their title prospects alive with a late win over Old Belvedere last week and will have to put in another big performance if they are to stay in the hunt for honours.

In Division 1B U.L. Bohemian put in a great second half rally last week to defeat Galwegians and they now face one of the promotion contenders Ballynahinch at Dooradoyle. While U.L. Bohes chances of promotion look remote, they could give the Co. Down side a big test.

The other two Munster sides in this Division meet at Bruff where U.C.C. are the visitors in a vital bottom of the table clash. U.C.C. got their first win of the season last week and another victory could see them move off bottom spot and ahead of Bruff. The County Limerick side have been unlucky in some of their recent games and will make a big effort to halt this losing run.

With just four games left to play in Division 1 of the Munster Junior League, leaders Richmond can take take a big step towards their third title with an away win over Galbally, the side who moved into second place last week six points behind them. If Richmond can continue to show their recent form, they should win and the gap may just become too wide for the chasing pack.

Both Kanturk and Skibbereen lost valuable ground last week in their quest for their first title. Kanturk face a tough encounter when they travel to Waterpark, while Skibbereen will hope to put last week’s poor performance against Galbally behind them when they entertain struggling Kilfeacle.

Eight sides are still in danger of being relegated. Bottom side Thurles look doomed at the foot of the table and they have to win at home to fellow strugglers Tralee.

Old Christians who last week were second last moved up to the top half of the table with win over Clonmel and they will hope to follow that victory up with another win against Clanwilliam.

Clonmel who have gone into free fall in recent weeks will hope to halt their recent poor run with an away win over St. Senan’s and Crosshaven could add to Cobh Pirates problems with a home win in their local derby at Crosshaven.

The top two sides in Division Two meet in a vital promotion game when leaders Mallow host St. Mary’s. Both sides go into this contest with some impressive wins in recent weeks and there should be little between them at the finish.

Kinsale in third place can take advantage with a bonus point win away to bottom side Bandon. Killarney will hope to maintain their challenge with an away win over struggling Ballincollig.

Both Presentation and Newcastle West who have games in hand on the leaders are still in contention for promotion. Presentation are at home to Scariff and Newcastle West travel to Ennis and both will be expected to win.

In the other ties in this Division Muskerry are at home to Castleisland and Youghal entertain Newport.

In Division Three leaders Dungarvan are away to Waterford City and a defeat for the West Waterford side could open up the promotion race.

Charleville face a tricky encounter away to Douglas, Carrick-on-Suir who have not played a game since mid November should prove too strong at home to Bantry Bay.

Abbeyfeale will be expected to get the better of Corca Dhuibhne and Dunmanway could move off the foot of the table with a home win over Kilrush.

FIXTURES:
THURSDAY 12th JANUARY
Barry Cup Semi Final: P.B.C. v St. Munchin's, Wilton, 2.30;

FRIDAY 13th JANUARY
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Garryowen v Shannon, Dooradoyle, 7.30;
Division 1B: Buccaneers v Galwegians, Dubarry Park, 7.30;

Senior Friendly: Old Crescent v Nenagh Ormond, Rosbrien, 7.30;

SATURDAY 14th JANUARY
Heineken Cup: Munster v Castres Olympique, Thomond Park, 3.40;

Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Clontarf v Old Belvedere, Castle Avenue, 2.30;
Dolphin v Young Munster Musgrave Park, 2.00;
Lansdowne v Blackrock College, Aviva Stadium, 2.30;
St. Mary's College v Cork Constitution Templeville Road, 2.30;

Division 1B: Ballymena v Dungannon, Eaton Park, 2.30;
Bruff v U.C.C., Kilballyowen Park, 1.30;
U.C.D. v Belfast Harlequins, Belfield, 2.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Ballynahinch, Annacotty, 2.00;

Division 2B: Connemara v Wanderers, Monastery Road, 2.30;

Senior Friendly: Cashel v Old Wesley, Cashel, 1.00;
Sunday's Well v Midleton, Musgrave Park, 1.00;
Thomond v Highfield, Fitzgerald Park, 1.20;

Gleeson League Semi Finals: Clonmel v Thomond, Clonmel, 2.30;
Garryowen v Shannon, Dooradoyle, 1.00;

Under 21 South Western Conference Section A: Highfield v U.L. Bohemian, Woodleigh Park, 2.30;
Thomond v Cork Constitution, St. Nessan's, 1.00;
Buccaneers v Bruff, Dubarry Park, 2.30;
NUIG v Garryowen, Galway, 2.30;

Junior 2 Friendly: Richmond v St. Mary's, Richmond Park, 2.00;
Avonmore SuperMilk Under 17 League Group 1: Waterpark v Abbeyfeale, Ballinakill, 2.00;

Group 3: Kanturk v Ennis, Kanturk, 11.30;

Group 4: Tralee v Sunday's Well, Tralee, 1.00;

South Under 19 League Play Off: Crosshaven v Sunday's Well, Crosshaven, 12.00;

South Munster Under 15 League Section 1: Fermoy v Cork Constitution, Fermoy, tbc;
Muskerry v Mallow, Ballyanly, 10.30;

Section 2: Bandon v Crosshaven, Bandon, tbc;
Kinsale v Highfield, Kinsale, 10.30;

West Munster Under 15 League: Castleisland v Abbeyfeale, Castleisland, 11.00;
Killarney v Listowel, Killarney, 11.00;

Under 19 Friendly: Fermoy v Mallow, Fermoy, 1.00;

Under 17 Friendly: Old Christians v Sweden U18, Rathcooney, 12.00;
Youghal v Crosshaven, Youghal, 11.00;

Schools Junior Friendly: Rockwell v Castleknock, Rockwell, 12.00;
Rockwell B v Castleknock B, Rockwell, 12.00;

Under 15 Friendly: C.B.C. v Terenure, Lansdowne, 12.30;
C.B.C. B v Terenure B, Lansdowne, 12.30;
C.B.C. C v Terenure C, Lansdowne, 12.30;
Midleton v Youghal, Midleton, 11.00;

Under 14 Friendly: Sunday's Well v Midleton, Mahon, 11.00;

SUNDAY 15th JANUARY
Munster Junior League Division 1: Clanwilliam v Old Christians, Clanwilliam Park, 2.30;
Crosshaven v Cobh Pirates, Crosshaven, 2.30;
Galbally v Richmond, Galbally, 2.30;
Skibbereen v Kilfeacle, Skibbereen, 2.30;
St. Senan's v Clonmel, Jim Slattery Park, 2.30;
Thurles v Tralee, Thurles, 2.30;
Waterpark v Kanturk, Ballinakill, 2.30;

Division 2: Ballincollig v Killarney, Towns Park, 2.30;
Bandon v Kinsale, Bandon, 2.30;
Ennis v Newcastle West, Ennis, 2.30;
Mallow v St. Mary's, Mallow, 2.30;
Muskerry v Castleisland, Ballyanly, 2.30;
Presentation v Scariff, Rathuard, 2.30;
Youghal v Newport, Youghal, 2.30;

Division 3: Abbeyfeale v Corca Dhuibhne, Abbeyfeale, 2.30;
Carrick-on-Suir v Bantry Bay, Carrick-on-Suir, 2.30;
Douglas v Charleville, Moneygourney, 2.30;
Dunmanway v Kilrush, Dunmanway, 2.30;
Waterford City v Dungarvan, Waterford, 2.30;

Munster Seconds League North: Garryowen v Old Crescent, Dooradoyle, 2.30
Nenagh Ormond v Thomond Nenagh, 2.30;

Munster Seconds League South: Cork Constitution v Highfield, Temple Hill, 2.30
Sunday's Well v Midleton, Musgrave Park, 2.30;
U.C.C. v Dolphin, Mardyke, 2.30;

South Junior 2 League Phase 2 Group A: Cork Constitution v U.C.C., Temple Hill, 12.00;
Skibbereen v Tralee, Skibbereen, 1.00;

Group B: Carrigaline v Dolphin, Moneygourney, 12.00;
Old Christians v Waterpark, Rathcooney, 2.30;

Mick Barry Cup Group A: Bandon v Clonakilty, Bandon, 12.00;
Iveragh v Killarney, Cahirciveen, 2.30;

Group B: Waterford City v Cobh Pirates, Waterford, 2.30;

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

Group B: Dungarvan v Muskerry, Dungarvan, 2.30;
Youghal v Kinsale, Youghal, 12.00;

South Junior 3 League Phase 2 Group A: Cork Transport v Mitchelstown, Corn Field, 2.30;
Sunday's Well v U.C.C., Curaheen Road, 12.00;

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

Avonmore SuperMilk Under 17 League: Group 1: Young Munster v Highfield, Derryknockane, 1.30;

Group 2: Bruff v Dungarvan, Bruff, 12.30;
Clonakilty v Killarney, The Vale, 12.00;

Group 3: Listowel v Clonmel, Listowel, 1.00;

Group 4: Thurles v Thomond, Thurles, 1.00;

East Under 15 League North: Clanwilliam v Cashel, Clanwilliam Park, 11.00;
Kilfeacle v Nenagh Ormond, Kilfeacle, 11.00;
Galbally v Thurles, Galbally, 11.00;

East Under 15 League South: Carrick-on-Suir v Waterpark B, Carrick-on-Suir, 11.00;
Fethard v Waterford City, Fethard, 11.00;
Waterpark v Dungarvan, Ballinakill, 11.00;

East Under 13 Cup: Cashel v Dungarvan, Cashel, 11.00;
Nenagh Ormond v Thurles, Nenagh, 11.00;
Waterpark v Fethard, Ballinakill, 11.00;

East Under 13 Plate: Clonmel v Clanwilliam, Clonmel, 11.00;
Waterford City v Galbally, Waterford, 11.00;

North Munster Under 17 League: Kilrush v Old Crescent, Kilrush, 12.30;
Richmond v Garryowen, Canal Bank, 12.00;

North Munster Under 15 Conference: Newport v Ennis, Newport, 11.30;

North Munster Under 14 League: Old Crescent v U.L. Bohemian Eagles, Rosbrien, 11.30;
Shannon v Bruff, Coonagh, 12.00;
Young Munster v Ennis, Derryknockane, 11.30;

North Munster Under 14 Conference: Ballina-Killaloe v Kilrush, Scariff, 11.30;
Estuary v Presentation, Shanagolden, 11.30;
Richmond v Thomond, Garryowen Green, 11.30;
U.L. Bohemian Hawks v Newcastle West, Annacotty, 11.30;

North Munster Under 13 League: Ennis v Garryowen, Ennis, 12.00;

North Munster Under 13 Conference: Kilrush v Scariff, Kilrush, 11.30;

Under 19 Friendly: Shannon v Garryowen, Coonagh, 12.00;
Youghal v Midleton, Youghal, 11.00;

Under 17 Friendly: Muskerry v Dunmanway, Ballyanly, 11.30;

Women's Munster Cup Group A: Galbally v U.L. Bohemian, Galbally, 2.30;
Thurles v Nenagh Ormond, Thurles, 12.30;

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

Women's Development League: Clanwilliam v Dungarvan, Clanwilliam Park, 1.00;
Clonmel v Fermoy, Clonmel, 2.30;
Youghal v Bandon, Youghal, 12.30;

MONDAY 16th JANUARY
Munster Seconds League North: Shannon v Bruff, Coonagh, 7.30;

O'Gorman Cup: Carrigaline CS v Roscrea CC, Carrigaline School, 12.30;

WEDNESDAY 18th JANUARY
Avonmore Supermilk Schools Senior Cup: Midleton College v Ard Scoil Ris, Towns Park, 2.30;

THURSDAY 19th JANUARY
Mungret Shield: Midleton College v Abbeyfeale C.S., Towns Park, 1.00;