Cup action on the agenda after all rugby fixtures were postponed last weekend
WEATHER again dominated the sporting pitches of Ireland last weekend as games in all codes and grades of Irish sport had to be put back for a week at least.
Munster managed to get their game against Castres in the Champions Cup over the line after having to delay for several hours, but on the amateur front the elements had to be obeyed and most games failed to make it to post.
Last weekend Mitchelstown were the only local side scheduled to take their place in competitive action but that game was postponed. Cup action will again be the order of the day for Mitchelstown this Saturday as they hit the road to take on Fethard & District in the Munster Junior Cup.
Mitchelstown have shown glimpses of the side that did so well in the J3 last season and they will be eager to put together something like a good cup run – whether it is in this competition or another. Fethard will be no pushovers here and considering home advantage is theirs they will be in no mood to roll over for the North Cork J2 men.
This Mitchelstown cup game is the only fixture involving a local adult side scheduled to take place this Saturday with all the other games down for decision on Sunday.
Muskerry will be first into action as they head to Tipperary to take on Cashel in the Bank of Ireland Junior Cup. The Mid-Cork side have impressed many this year in the J2 but have found themselves on the wrong side of some tight, high scoring affairs – that said, the boys in blue and white have been able to see out some good results lately which all bodes well for some sort of a title run – although that is much more likely to happen in a cup rather than a league setting.
Cashel have plenty of pedigree at this grade and will be hard to beat but if Muskerry can keep their attacking play at the same level while increasing the durability and resilience of their defence then this one might be much closer than the pundits may suggest.
Kanturk are also in Junior Cup action as they entertain another Tipperary side, Clonmel, in Knocknacolon this weekend. Another game with a 2.00pm kick off on Sunday, this one is likely to be another close-run thing as both sides have shown plenty form of late. Kanturk have had a tough season thus far but a league win in their last outing has eased any lingering relegation concerns – for now anyway.
Kanturk could do with a good cup run, something they are well capable of putting together, however league security will always come before cup silverware as the club looks to rebuild a side capable of challenging at the top of Munster Junior Rugby.
Charleville are also entertaining this weekend with Killorglin making the trip to the North Cork venue. The Kerry side have a good cup tradition and will fancy their chances of seeing off the North Cork division 2 junior rugby side however home advantage may well make this a true 50-50 cup tie.
Charleville have not had the best of season’s so far but like their neighbours in the north of the county, a good cup run can put tough league campaigns to the back of their collective minds – for a short while anyway.
Fermoy are scheduled for a competitive friendly on Friday night at 7.30 with Old Christians. These fixtures are important to keep the competitive juices flowing as the season can get a little fragmented around January.
There are a host of Under 18 cup ties also on this weekend with Muskerry taking on Bruff in the U18 Cup while in the seconds, Mallow entertain Old Christians in the George O’Connell Cup at 12 midday, Sunday.
2017/2018 has been far from easy for the local junior rugby sides however with some dragging themselves clear of relegation trouble of late while others have found something of a competitive spark, the next two or three months could be highly entertaining for those local rugby fans that crave either league or cup success.
Silverware won’t come easy to any side and with so much competition, from all corners of the province, at all grades, the standard required continues to rise year-on-year – something that is unlikely to change anytime soon. This weekend’s fixtures are a perfect example of the challenge that faces local rugby sides as they look to make their way through the rocky and unpredictable road that is Munster Junior Rugby.
FIXTURES
Saturday January 27 at 6.30 pm Munster Junior Cup
Mitchelstown v Fethard & District in Fermoy
Sunday January 28 at 2pm Munster Junior Cup
Kanturk v Clonmel in Knocknacolon Cashel v Muskerry in Cashel Charleville v Killorglin in Charleville