Weekend Rugby Preview
21st April 2011 By Munster Rugby
The highlight of the Munster Junior Rugby season goes ahead next Sunday at 2.30 in Musgrave Park when Cork Constitution and Cashel meet in the final of the Munster Junior Cup.
This has the making of a great contest with cup specialists Cork Constitution aiming for their eighteenth title, eleven of which have been won in the last twenty five years. Cashel have never won this trophy but are going for a clean sweep in Munster as they bid to add to their Junior League title and Junior Clubs Challenge Cup before becoming a senior club next season.
The Temple Hill side have had the tougher route to the final and have improved with every outing. They began with a 21-15 away win over Youghal and than showed true class with a 21-17 win over Richmond in Limerick. Garryowen were defeated 45-23 in the quarter finals at Temple Hill and a fancied Kilfeacle side were beaten in the semi final at Musgrave Park 17-10.
Cashel started their campaign with a 37-16 home win over Crosshaven and were fortunate to beat St. Mary’s 17-10 in the next round. Dolphin were beaten 39-3 in the quarter finals and they were flattered by their 34-10 win over Galbally in the semi final.
Cashel’s only defeat this season was in the opening round of the All Ireland Junior Cup when they lost away to Monivea 23-19.
Since they won the Third Division title in 2003, Cashel made it to the First Division in 2007 and have won three titles since. Their Second XV have also swept the boards in North Munster winning both the Gleeson League and Webb Cup and face Ballincollig in the final of the Munster Junior 2 Cup next weekend.
Cashel have developed a superb complex and this bears well for the future of the Tipperary club.
Sunday’s test will be Cashel’s toughest this season and while they will start as favourites, they will have to produce a top class performance to lift the blue ribbon trophy of Munster Junior Rugby for the first time.
Con’ have injury worries to some of their players particularly Robert Clune and Peter O’Sullivan and are unlikely to confirm their starting fifteen until shortly before kick off. Both clubs are likely to line out as follows:
Cork Constitution Replacements: Jack Flannery, Bryan Cagney, Simon Hanbidge, Andriu Kelleher, Simon Barry.
Cashel: Darragh O’Brien; Rory O’Connor, Brian Silke, Patrick O’Connor, Kevin Quinlan; Conor Quinlan, Olly McGlinchey; Ed Horgan, Robert Coates, Howard Stanley; Eoin O’Connor, Ailbe Devitts; John Ed O’Connor, Ed Leamy, Brendan O’Connor (capt).
Replacements: Alan Guirey, Mike Kelly, Philly Ryan, Diarmuid O’Connor, Kevin Leamy.
Referee: Shane Kierans (M.A.R.)
Elsewhere there are three finals down for decision on Good Friday. Clanwilliam will be expected to beat Nenagh Ormond in the final of the Garryowen Cup at Kilfeacle.
Tanner Park houses two finals with Cork Constitution and Tralee getting proceedings under way in the Junior 2 Cup Final and this will be followed by the Junior 3 Cup Final involving Ballincollig and Fermoy which kicks off at 6.30.
The Munster Junior side face a South East XV in Waterford on Saturday as they prepare for next week’s Inter Pro’ opener against Leinster at Charleville next Friday evening.
Mitchelstown in their first season as an adult club face Cork Transport in the final of the Tait Cup at the Towns Park Midleton.
Holder’s Highfield travel to Tanner Park to face Ballincollig in the semi final of the Dave Dineen Cup with Mallow awaiting the winners in the final.
Skibbereen host Sunday’s Well in the Paul Twomey Cup semi final with the winners facing Old Christians in the decider.
On Monday the South Munster Youths are running off four of their finals at the C.I.T. complex. Proceedings get under way with Under 15 Development Cup Final between Dunmanway and Crosshaven at 11.30.
Kanturk play Sunday’s Well in the Under 17 League final at 1.00, the highlight of the day will be the Under 19 Cup Final involving Fermoy and Old Christians and this has a 2.45 start. The fourth final sees Bandon and Midleton battling it out for the Under 19 Phase 2 League Final and this will kick off at 4.15;
On Wednesday evening at Musgrave Park holder’s Skibbereen will play Old Christians in the Cork County Cup Final:
FIXTURES:
THRSDAY 21st APRIL
East Under 19 Cup Final: Clonmel v Waterpark, Clonmel, 7.00;
East Under 15 Plate Final: Nenagh Ormond v Kilfeacle, Thurles, 7.00;
North Under 19 Open Cup: Richmond v Garryowen, Canal Bank, 7.00;
U.L. Bohemian v Old Crescent, Annacotty, 7.00;
North Under 16 League Final: Thomond v Scariff, Annacotty, 7.00;
FRIDAY 22nd APRIL
Garryowen Cup Final: Clanwilliam v Nenagh Ormond, Kilfeacle, 6.00;
Junior 2 Cup South Final: Cork Constitution v Tralee, Tanner Park, 4.30;
Junior 3 Cup South Final: Ballincollig v Fermoy, Tanner Park, 6.30;
Casey Cup: Youghal v Dungarvan, Youghal, 6.30;
East Under 17 Plate Semi Final: Kilfeacle v Nenagh Ormond, Kilfeacle, 7.00;
East Under 13 Plate: Waterford City v Cashel, Waterford, 7.00;
North Under 19 League: Young Munster v Shannon – St. Mary's, Clifford Park, 7.00;
North Under 17 Open Cup: Shannon v Garryowen, Coonagh, 7.00;
SATURDAY 23rd APRIL
Magners League: Ospreys v Munster, Liberty Stadium, 6.30;
West Munster Under 17 Final: Abbeyfeale v Tralee, Killarney, 12.00;
Women’s AIL Division 1: Highfield v Old Belvedere, Woodleigh Park, 2.00;
U.L. Bohemian v St. Mary's College, Annacotty, 1.00;
Division 2 Final: Navan v Tralee, Dubarry Park, 2.00;
Division 2: Ballincollig v Galbally, Tanner Park, 12.30;
SUNDAY 24th APRIL
Munster Junior Cup Final: Cork Constitution v Cashel, Musgrave Park, 2.30;
Dave Dineen Cup Semi Final: Ballincollig v Highfield, Tanner Park, 12.00;
Junior 2 Bowl Semi Final: Skibbereen v Sunday's Well, Skibbereen, 2.30;
South Tait Cup Final: Cork Transport v Mitchelstown, Towns Park, 2.30;
Ballyrandle Cup: Youghal v Fethard, Youghal, 6.30;
East Under 17 Cup: Dungarvan v Waterpark, Dungarvan, 11.00;
East Under 13 Cup: Thurles v Waterpark, Thurles, 11.00;
East Under 13 Plate: Kilfeacle v Clonmel, Kilfeacle, 11.00;
North Under 19 Open Cup: Bruff v Thomond, Bruff, 12.30;
Women’s AIL Division 1: Clonmel v Cooke, Clonmel, 1.00;
Galwegians v Blackrock, Crowley Park, 1.00;
MONDAY 25th APRIL
Gleeson Cup Final: Cashel v Clonmel, Clanwilliam, 6.00;
South Under 19 Cup Final: Fermoy v Old Christians, C.I.T., 2.45;
South Under 19 Phase 2 Final: Bandon v Midleton, C.I.T., 4.15;
South Under 17 League Final: Kanturk v Sunday's Well, C.I.T., 1.00;
South Under 15 Development Cup Final: Crosshaven v Dunmanway, C.I.T., 11.30;
TUESDAY 26th APRIL
North Under 19 Cup Final: Shannon-St. Mary's v Young Munster, L.I.T., 7.00;
WEDNESDAY 27th APRIL
Cork County Cup Final: Old Christians v Skibbereen, Musgrave Park, 6.30;
North Under 17 Cup Final: U.L. Bohemian v Bruff, L.I.T., 7.00;
THURSDAY 28th APRIL
Munster 2nds League Semi Final: Thomond v Cork Constitution, Fitzgerald Park, 6.45;
Kelly Cup Final: Ballincollig v Carrigaline, Rathcooney, 6.30;
