Weekend Rugby Preview

It is another big weekend for Bruff as they bid for a place in the Ulster Bank All Ireland Senior Cup Final when they play U.C.D. at Kilballyowen Park on next Sunday with a 3.00 kick off.

Bruff’s great season continues after their ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup success over Garryowen three weeks ago. They will want to bounce back after their recent league defeat by Lansdowne in the League. Their opponents UCD are in a strong position for promotion from the Second Division and should give the Munster Cup holders a run for their money but in front of a loyal home crowd Bruff should book another final place in April.

There are two Munster sides involved in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League this weekend and both are challenging for promotion from the Third Division.
Highfield entertain NUMI Barnhall at Woodleigh Park this Saturday and the home side will hope that their long lay off will not come against them as they aim to move ahead of their local rivals Sunday’s Well who they face next week.
Nenagh Ormond are away to Naas and after collecting maximum points in their last two games and another win will see the Tipperary side move into sixth place.

Sunday’s Well entertain Clonakilty in a second round Munster Junior Cup tie on Sunday and the home side cannot be over confident of advancing, after the West Cork side’s 22-16 home win over Old Crescent in the opening round.

There is a full program of games in the Munster Junior League with First Division pacesetters Cashel and Richmond expected to record home wins. Leaders Cashel are at home to Old Christians and despite the visitors recent good run, they are unlikely to halt Cashel’s charge towards a third title.
Defending champions Richmond will not give up their title easily and they will be all out for a maximum points victory when they host Waterpark.
Clanwilliam after their shock defeat by Waterpark last week will hope to get back to winning ways when they entertain Skibbereen, while Crosshaven should pick up all the points away to bottom side Ballincollig who look doomed for Second Division rugby next season should they lose.
Thurles could ease their relegation fears with an away victory over Clonmel. Kilfeacle should prove too strong for St. Senan’s at the Tipperary venue, while Cobh Pirates face a difficult test at home to Tralee.

In the Second Division the top two sides face each other when leaders Galbally travel to Newcastle West. The West Limerick side lost top spot last week after their surprising defeat away to Castleisland and another defeat could see them fall further behind the main promotion challengers. Galbally are undefeated this season and on current form will fancy their chances of another victory.
Two sides behind them Kanturk and St. Mary’s meet at the Duhallow venue and the Saints after their shock defeat last week at home to Youghal face a difficult test to get back in the promotion race.
Castleisland face a difficult tie when they travel to Ennis and must win to keep their promotion hopes alive.
At the other end of the table the two bottom sides meet with Bandon hosting Charleville and a ding dong battle is expected with the points crucial to both.
The two sides above the bottom two sides Newport and Muskerry meet at Ballyanly with Muskerry anxious to end a recent poor run with a win.
Mallow’s promotion ambitions have slipped in recent weeks and they can afford anymore slip ups when they host Kinsale.
Youghal after an excellent performance last week will have it all to do at home to Killarney.

Third Division leaders Presentation can take a major step towards promotion with a win away to third placed Fermoy. The home side lost valuable ground last week with a share of the spoils away to Abbeyfeale.
Scariff in second place will hope to get back to playing rugby after a lengthy lay off due to the weather. They are at home to Abbeyfeale who are putting in a late charge for promotion and the points could go either way.
Waterford City still on the fringes of the promotion race will expect to collect the points away to Killorglin.
Douglas with games in hand will be looking for another maximum point victory away to Dungarvan and like wise the same applies to Corca Dhuibhne who travel to Kilrush.
The other game sees the bottom two sides in action with Shandon looking for their first win of the campaign when they travel to Bantry Bay.

The semi finals of the Gleeson League should also be decided this weekend with Cashel hosting defending champions Richmond under lights on Friday evening and Shannon play Clonmel in Coonagh in the other tie.

The second phase of the Under 21 South Western Conference League gets under way this weekend as does the league competitions in South Munster.

FIXTURES:
FRIDAY 21st JANUARY
B&I Cup:Munster v Esher,Dooradoyle,7.30;

Gleeson League Semi Final:Cashel v Richmond,Cashel,7.30;

Barry Cup Semi Final:Rockwell v C.B.C.,Rockwell,2.30;

Mungret Shield:Abbey CBS v CBS Sexton St,College Lands,1.00;

Under 17 Friendly:Fermoy v Bandon,Fermoy,7.00;

SATURDAY 22nd JANUARY
Heineken Cup:Munster v London Irish,Thomond Park,3.30;

Ulster Bank Cup Semi Final:Dungannon v Corinthians,Stevenson Park,2.30;

Ulster Bank League Division 2:Old Wesley v D.L.S.P.,Donnybrook,2.30;

Division 3:Highfield v Barnhall,Woodleigh Park,2.00;
Naas v Nenagh Ormond,Naas,2.30;

Gleeson League Semi Final:Shannon v Clonmel,Coonagh,1.00;

Under 21 South Western Conference Division 1 Section A:Young Munster v Corinthians,Clifford Park,1.00;

Group A:Garryowen v Shannon,Dooradoyle,1.00;
Highfield v Cork Constitution,Woodleigh Park,2.30;
U.C.C. v U.L. Bohemian,Curaheen Road,2.30;

Group B:Dolphin v Bruff,Musgrave Park,2.30;
N.U.I.G. v Galwegians,Galway,2.30;

Division 2:Nenagh Ormond v Monivea,Nenagh,1.00;
Buccaneers v Thomond,Dubarry Park,2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly:Rockwell v Terenure College,Rockwell,11.00;

South Under 17 Quarter Final:Kanturk v Charleville,Kanturk,10.30;

South Under 15 League Section One:Cork Constitution v Fermoy,Mahon,11.00;
Kanturk v Cobh Pirates,Kanturk,11.00;
Old Christians v Sunday's Well,Rathcooney,12.00;

Section Two:Clonakilty v Ballincollig,The Vale,11.00;

Under 19 Friendly:Bandon v Kinsale,Bandon,11.00;
Crosshaven v Highfield,Crosshaven,11.30;

Under 17 Friendly:Midleton v Highfield,Towns Park,11.00;
Youghal v Sunday's Well,Youghal,1.00;

Under 15 Friendly:C.B.C. v Bantry Bay,Lansdowne,12.00;

Under 14 Friendly:Sunday's Well v Highfield,Mahon,11.30;

SUNDAY 23rd JANUARY
Ulster Bank Senior Cup Semi Final:Bruff v U.C.D.,Kilballyowen Park,3.00;

Munster Junior Cup:Sunday's Well v Clonakilty,Musgrave Park,2.30;

Munster Junior League Division 1:Ballincollig v Crosshaven,Tanner Park,2.30;
Cashel v Old Christians,Cashel,2.30;
Clanwilliam v Skibbereen,Clanwilliam Park,2.30;
Clonmel v Thurles,Clonmel,2.30;
Cobh Pirates v Tralee,Cobh,2.30;
Kilfeacle v St. Senan's,Kilfeacle,2.30;
Richmond v Waterpark,Richmond Park,2.30;

Division 2:Bandon v Charleville,Bandon,2.30;
Ennis v Castleisland,Ennis,2.30;
Kanturk v St. Mary's,Kanturk,2.30;
Mallow v Kinsale,Mallow,2.30;
Muskerry v Newport,Ballyanly,2.30;
Newcastle West v Galbally,Newcastle West,2.30;
Youghal v Killarney,Youghal,2.30;

Division 3:Bantry Bay v Shandon,Bantry,2.30;
Dungarvan v Douglas,Dungarvan,2.30;
Fermoy v Presentation,Fermoy,2.30;
Killorglin v Waterford City,Killorglin,2.30;
Kilrush v Corca Dhuibhne,Kilrush,2.30;
Scariff v Abbeyfeale,Scariff,2.30;

Munster Seconds League North:Nenagh Ormond v Young Munster,Nenagh,2.30;
Old Crescent v UL Bohemian,Rosbrien,2.30;
Thomond v Garryowen,Fitzgerald Park,2.30;

South: U.C.C. v Dolphin,Curaheen Road,2.30;

Junior 2 League Group A:U.C.C. v Clonakilty,Curaheen Road,12.00;
Tralee v Carrigaline,Tralee,2.30;

Group B:Ballincollig v Dolphin,Tanner Park,12.00;
Dungarvan v Cork Constitution,Dungarvan,1.00;

Mick Barry Cup Group A:Kenmare v Skibbereen,Kenmare,2.30;
Listowel v Old Christians,Listowel,2.30;

Group B:Kanturk v Mallow,Kanturk,12.00;
Youghal v Cobh Pirates,Youghal,12.00;

George O'Connell Cup Group A:Carrick-on-Suir v Highfield,Carrick-on-Suir,2.30;
Waterford City v Kinsale,Waterford,2.30;

Group B:Castleisland v Iveragh,Castleisland,2.30;
Dunmanway v Killarney,Dunmanway,2.30;

Junior 3 League South Group A:Fermoy v Ballincollig,Fermoy,12.30;
Mitchelstown v U.C.C.,Mitchelstown,2.30;

Group B:Bandon v Douglas,Bandon,2.30;
Bantry Bay v Cork Transport,Bantry,1.00;

Gleeson Cup:Waterpark v Fethard,Ballinakill,2.30;

Schools Senior Friendly:Ard Scoil Ris v Castleknock College,Ard Scoil Ris,12.30;

East Under 17 Development League:Clonmel v Clanwilliam,Clonmel,11.00;
Galbally v Cashel,Galbally,11.00;
Thurles v Carrick-on-Suir,Thurles,11.00;

East Under 15 League:Waterford City v Carrick-on-Suir,Waterford,11.00
Waterpark v Clonmel,Ballinakill,11.00
Clanwilliam v Nenagh Ormond,Clanwilliam Park,11.00;
Fethard v Waterpark B,Fethard,11.00;
Kilfeacle v Galbally,Kilfeacle,11.00;
Thurles v Cashel,Thurles,11.00;

North Under 17 League:Bruff v Thomond,Bruff,12.15;
Shannon v Garryowen,Coonagh,12.00;
Kilrush v Young Munster,Kilrush,11.30;
Ennis v Newcastle West,Lee's Road,12.00;

North Under 15 League:Scariff v St. Mary's,Scariff,11.00
Garryowen v Kilrush,Dooradoyle,11.30;
Thomond v Ennis,Fitzgerald Park,11.00;
Young Munster v UL Bohemian,Derryknockane,11.30;

North Under 14 League:Newport v Estuary,Newport,11.00;
Garryowen v UL Bohemian,Doooradoyle,11.30;
Shannon v Newcastle West,Coonagh,11.30

North Under 13 League:Bruff v Young Munster,Bruff,11.30;
UL Bohemian Hawks v Old Crescent,Annacotty,11.00;

South Under 18 League:Cork Constitution v Charleville,Temple Hill,2.00;

Women's Munster Cup:Clonmel v Youghal,Clonmel,1.00;
Highfield v Shannon,Woodleigh Park,2.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Nenagh Ormond,Annacotty,1.00;

WEDNESDAY 26th JANUARY
Avonmore Milk Schools Junior Cup:B School v Rockwell,

Womens:U.C.C. v Ballincollig,Mardyke,7.00;