Rugby Weekend Preview

Only one senior game involving a Munster side this weekend as Junior and Schools rugby dominate the fixtures program.

Thomond travel to Ballymena for the second time this season when they play one of their two outstanding Ulster Bank League Division 2 games at Eaton Park. Currently they are bottom of the table and with five games to play the Limerick side desperately need the points to avoid a relegation play off.

The game of the weekend is the top of the table clash in Division One of the Munster Junior League when defending champions Richmond play leaders Cashel at Richmond Park on Sunday. Both these sides are unbeaten but Richmond were held to a draw by Kilfeacle and that is why they trail the Tipperary side by two points. The big prize at stake is a place in the All Ireland League next season and on form Cashel must be fancied to take the spoils. Cashel have already beaten Richmond in the Challenge Clubs Cup earlier in the season and will be confident of taking the spoils but Richmond disappointed after last week’s Cup exit will not make it easy.

The other big issue in this Division is the battle for a top five finish which guarantees entry to the All Ireland Junior Cup next season. Crosshaven who have already qualified for the final of this season’s competition are in third place and they travel across the harbour to Cobh Pirates and will be confident of picking up the points.

Four of the other five sides in contention face each other. Kilfeacle on a high after last week’s big derby win over Clanwilliam are at home to Skibbereen and they will fancy their chances of another victory.

Old Christians and Clanwilliam meet under the Rathcooney lights on Saturday night. Clanwilliam shocked after last week’s cup defeat will want to get back to winning ways as a defeat would be a big blow to their chances of finishing in the top five.

Tralee entertain Thurles and it is difficult to see anything other than a home win

Bottom side Ballincollig must win their home game against Waterpark if they are to have any chance of avoiding the drop into the Second Division; while in the other tie home advantage should see Clonmel get the better of St. Senan’s.

Galbally should take another big step towards promotion from the Second Division with a home win over Ennis.

The big battle is for the second promotion spot with five sides still in contention. Kanturk have a four point lead over the other sides, with three games remaining. They entertain Newport and another win could see them in with a great chance of top flight rugby next season.

Newcastle West travel to Muskerry and the Ballyanly side are not clear of relegation yet and are sure to make things difficult for their visitors.

Mallow level on points with Newcastle West lost valuable ground last week with that defeat by St. Mary’s. They have a home tie with Killarney and should keep their hopes alive with a victory and with a trip to Kanturk yet to come all is not lost for the North Cork side.

Castleisland travel to Youghal knowing that they must win to keep their faint hopes alive. Youghal are on a great run at the moment and with home advantage will fancy their chances of taking the points.

Bandon have put a few results together recently and a win at home to St. Mary’s would edge them further away from the danger zone. The visitors will be a difficult side to beat and will be expected to take the points.

Bottom side Charleville are at home to Kinsale and this is a must win game for the North Cork side if they are to have any chance of avoiding the drop. Kinsale have been very erratic this season but are quite capable of taking the points.

There are four games listed in Division Three with leaders Presentation travelling to Kilrush and the visitors should win and take another step towards promotion for the first time.

The big battle is the second promotion spot. Waterford City currently hold that spot and travel to Dungarvan knowing that they may need maximum points to stay in contention.

Scariff with a game in hand are a point behind and they are at home to Douglas and will hope to repeat their recent Junior Cup result.

Fermoy should take the points at home to bottom side Shandon.

The big games of the weekend are the two Avonmore Milk Schools Senior Cup Semi Finals. On Saturday Rockwell bidding for their third final face C.B.C. at Clanwilliam Park and will be expected to book their place in the decider.

The other tie is at Thomond Park on Sunday where Crescent College Comprehensive face holders P.B C. and the Cork side will be expected to advance by the narrowest of margins.

FIXTURES:
FRIDAY 4th MARCH
O'Carroll Plate: Fethard v Thomond, Fethard, 7.30;

South Under 19 League Section 1: Fermoy v Old Christians, Fermoy, 7.30;

SATURDAY 5th MARCH
Magners League: Munster v Newport Gwent Dragons, Musgrave Park, 7.30;

Ulster Bank League Division 1B: Dungannon v Buccaneers, Stevenson Park, 2.00;

Ulster Bank League Division 2: Ballymena v Thomond, Eaton Park, 2.30;
Corinthians v U.C.D., Corinthian Park, 2.30;
DLSP v Balynahinch, Kirwan Park, 2.30;

Division 3: NUIM Barnhall v Suttonians, Parsonstown, 2.30;

Munster Junior League Division 1: Old Christians v Clanwilliam, Rathcooney, 7.30;

Webb Cup: Old Crescent v Cashel, Rosbrien, 12.30;
Shannon v Garryowen, Coonagh, 3.00;

O'Carroll Plate: St. Mary's v St. Senan's, St. Enda's, 2.30;

Evans Cup: Waterpark v Clonmel, Ballinakill, 2.30;

Under 21 South Western Conference Play Offs: Buccaneers v U.C.C., Dubarry Park, 2.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Garryowen, Annacotty, 2.30;

Under 21 Friendly: Old Crescent v Shannon, Rosbrien, 1.00;
Corinthians v Bruff, Corinthian Park, 2.30;

Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Semi Final: Rockwell v C.B.C., Clanwilliam Park, 3.00;

Avonmore Milk Under 19 League Section B Play Off: Sunday's Well v Kilfeacle, Mahon, 2.30;

Avonmore Milk Under 17 League Section A Play Off: Bandon v Shannon, Bandon, 1.30;

South Under 19 League Section 2A: Midleton v Charleville, Towns Park, 12.30;

Section 2B: Dunmanway v Ballincollig, Dunmanway, 12.00;

South Under 17 League Section 1: Fermoy v Crosshaven, Fermoy, 11.30;
Midleton v Cork Constitution, Towns Park, 11.00;

Section 2: Youghal v Skibbereen, Youghal, 11.30;

Section 3: Highfield v Cobh Pirates, Woodleigh Park, 11.30;

South Under 15 League Final: Kanturk v Mallow, Charleville, 12.00;

South Under 15 League: Youghal v Muskerry, Youghal, 11.30;

West Cork Cup Quarter Finals: Clonakilty v Bandon, The Vale, 12.00;
Kinsale v Ballincollig, Kinsale, 11.30;

West Munster Under 17 Plate Final: Killorglin v Iveragh, Killorglin, 12.30;

West Munster Under 15 League Play Off: Tralee v Killarney, Tralee, 11.00;

West Munster Under 13 Play Off: Killorglin v Tralee, Killorglin, 11.00;

Under 19 Friendly: Muskerry v Bandon, Ballyanly, 12.15;

Under 13 Friendly: Charleville v Sunday's Well, Charleville, 12.00;

SUNDAY 6th MARCH
Munster Junior Cup: Garryowen v Thomond, Dooradoyle, 2.30;

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

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

Division 3: Dungarvan v Waterford City, Dungarvan, 2.30;
Fermoy v Shandon, Fermoy, 2.30;
Kilrush v Presentation, Kilrush, 2.30;
Scariff v Douglas, Scariff, 2.30;

Munster Seconds League North: Nenagh Ormond v Bruff, Nenagh, 2.30;
UL Bohemian v Shannon, Annacotty, 2.30;
Young Munster v Old Crescent, Clifford Park, 2.30;

South:Midleton v Dolphin, Towns Park, 2.30;
U.C.C. v Cork Constitution, Curaheen Road, 2.30;

Junior 2 Cup South: Cobh Pirates v Castleisland, Cobh, 2.30; Off
Cork Constitution v Kinsale, Temple Hill, 12.00;
Crosshaven v Dolphin, Crosshaven, 12.00;
Dungarvan v Youghal, Dungarvan, 12.00;
Dunmanway v Iveragh, Dunmanway, 2.30; Off
Kanturk v Listowel, Kanturk, 12.00;
Killarney v Clonakilty, Killarney, 2.30;
Old Christians v Carrigaline, Rathcooney, 12.00;
Tralee v Kenmare, Tralee, 2.30;
Waterford City v Mallow Waterford, 2.00;

Junior 3 Cup South: Bandon v U.C.C., Bandon, 2.30;
Bantry Bay v Fermoy, Bantry, 2.30;
Douglas v Dolphin, Moneygourney, 2.30;
Mitchelstown v Ballincollig, Mitchelstown, 2.30;

Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Semi Final: Crescent Comp. v P.B.C., Thomond Park, 3.00;

Avonmore Milk Under 19 League Quarter Finals: Waterpark v Nenagh Ormond, Ballinakill, 12.00;

Avonmore Milk Under 17 League: Section B: Bruff v Kilfeacle, Bruff, 11.00;

Section D: Nenagh Ormond v Kanturk, Nenagh, 12.00;

East Under 17 Development League: Cashel v Fethard, Cashel, 11.00;
Clanwilliam v Thurles, Clanwilliam Park, 11.00;
Clonmel v Galbally, Clonmel, 11.00;

East Munster Under 15 League Semi Final: Waterpark v Cashel, Ballinakill, 10.30;

East Munster Under 15 Cup: Carrick-on-Suir v Waterpark B, Carrick-on-Suir, 11.00;
Clanwilliam v Fethard, Clanwilliam Park, 11.00;
Clonmel v Galbally, Clonmel, 11.00;
Kilfeacle v Thurles, Kilfeacle, 11.00;

East Under 13 League: Kilfeacle v Dungarvan, Kilfeacle, 11.00;
Thurles v Cashel, Thurles, 11.00;

East Under 13 Development League: Galbally v Nenagh Ormond, Galbally, 11.00;
Waterford City v Clonmel, Waterford, 11.00

North Under 15 League Final: Old Crescent v Shannon, LIT, 11.30;

Under 19 Friendly: Newcastle West v Ennis, Newcastle West, 12.00;

Under 14 Friendly: Estuary v Presentation, Shanagolden, 11.30;

Under 13 Friendly: Cobh Pirates v Crosshaven, Cobh, 1.30;

Womens All Ireland Cup: Tralee v Highfield, Tralee, 12.30;

Womens All Ireland Plate: Ballincollig v City of Derry, Tanner Park, 1.00;
Clonmel v Shannon, Clonmel, 1.00;
Galbally v Old Belvedere, Galbally, 12.30;

TUESDAY 8th MARCH
Schools U17 Blitz: St. Munchins,2.00;

Schools Under 17 Blitz: C.I.T., 4.30;

WEDNESDAY 9th MARCH
Daunt Cup: Waterpark College v Newtown School, Waterpark, 2.30;

King Cup Quarter Final: Patrician Academy v Limerick CBS, Mallow, 2.00;
St. Mary's (Newport) v Colaiste Muire, Newport, 2.00;

Under 15 A League Cup: Castletroy College v St. Munchin's, Castletroy, 2.30;

Under 15 B League Cup: Castletroy College v St. Munchin's, Castletroy, 2.30;