Adverse weather sees six games involving local clubs postponed

IRISH rugby continues to be on a high with the impressive displays coming thick and fast from the international, provincial and club sides.

Last weekend Ireland saw off Italy with ease as the feel good factor around the sport continues at pace but away from the national and provincial sides the game took a battering last Sunday as Mother Nature, not for the first time this season, flexed her impressive muscles.

There were six games down for decision last weekend with north and mid Cork teams involved but none of the half dozen games got underway due to a mixture of snow, ice and flooded pitches. This failure to get any of these games through will add to an ever lengthening backlog of games that need to be completed before season’s end.

One game that did go ahead saw J1 title chasers Richmond continue their impressive season with a win over Newcastle West to increase their lead at the top of the Munster Junior Leagues.

The Junior leagues are all hotting up right now with promotion and relegation far from resolved in any of the three divisions.

Local interest is still high in all grades even though titles don’t look like being secured in either the J1 or J2. However, the J3 grade has Fermoy and Mitchelstown both vying for top honours past the mid way stage.

Next Sunday Kanturk will host fellow Cork club Skibbereen at Knocknacolon in the only J1 game with a local interest. Both sides could do with a result here but Kanturk will be hell bent on making sure it is them that leave the field with the spoils.

Skibbereen sit two spots above Kanturk in ninth so a win for either will almost assuredly eliminate the risk of a late relegation dogfight.

In the J2, Mallow will need to impress this Sunday away to Thurles if they are to gain anything like mid-table safety soon.

The Tipperary side have been impressive all season and will look to nail down their promotion place with a couple of wins on the bounce. Mallow will come into this one as outsiders however don’t be surprised to see this one go all the way.

In the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup Muskerry will hit the road as they prepare to take on Cashel. This hugely significant annual competition is a genuine target for all junior sides and Muskerry will feel thanks to their recent upturn in fortune that they may well be in the hunt here.

Cashel will be tough opposition and will look to secure this tie early but if Muskerry can stay in this one till late on then they have a chance here.

Charleville head down to road to take on Cobh Pirates in the same competition looking to bring their league form with them into Cup action. Charleville have all the attributes required to cause a shock on the road but this is still likely to be a huge ask for the J3 leaders.

Mitchelstown are also in Munster Junior Cup action however they have home advantage over a Kinsale that they will be hell bent on a good Cup run.

Mitchelstown are struggling in the J2 after securing promotion to the middle tier at the first attempt last year so a run in the cup could be seen as a distraction – that said, a run in any competition is rarely a bad thing so the north Cork men are unlikely to give this one away easy. Good game in prospect here.

FIXTURES SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Munster Junior Cup

Cobh Pirates v Charleville , 2pm Cashel v Muskerry, 2pm Mitchelstown v Kinsale, 2pm

Munster J-League Division 1

Kanturk v Skibbereen, 2.30pm

Munster J-League Division 2

Thurles v Mallow, 2.30pm