Junior Rugby Preview: Busy weekend ahead as City Clubs hit the road

Going into the fourth series of Munster Junior League games, this weekend’s results will give us a better idea as to who are genuine contenders for promotion.  All three Limerick city clubs will be on the road. 

In Division one on Saturday, Thomond travels to take on Bandon while on Sunday, Richmond face Clanwilliam. St Mary’s will make the trip to Kinsale.

The tabletop battle between joint leaders Newcastle West and Mallow is an interesting pairing. The county side will be hurting after their defeat last Saturday in Dromore and they will have to be more clinical with their finishing if they are to continue their winning run in this league. It will be close but the home side should shade it.

Prior to their Challenge Cup defeat to Newcastle West, Thomond had recorded wins over Richmond and Waterpark but they will face a more difficult hurdle when they go to Bandon on Saturday. The Cork side will be hard to beat on their own soil and Thomond will do well to take points from this tricky fixture.

Richmond travel to Clanwilliam on Sunday, a venue that has proven to be a bridge too far too often for Limerick clubs. Richmond’s coaches will have been happy with their side’s first-half performance last week-end against Grosvenor but they will have to show major improvement defensively if they are to get a win against ‘Clan.’

Abbeyfeale has been impressive in division one after they moved up from Munster Junior League 2 a couple of seasons ago and they have already had wins over Galbally and Clonakilty. Their only league defeat so far was to Mallow when they lost 17-18 due to a last-minute score. On Sunday they are at home to Kilfeacle and District and, on form,  it looks as if there will be very little between these two at the final whistle.

Galbally, boosted by their win last week-end over St Senan’s, will travel to Crosshaven with confidence. The Limerick side are on five points at present and they will see this fixture as a good opportunity to add to that tally.

In division two, St Mary’s make the journey to Kinsale and they will be hoping to put that 55-0 cup defeat at the hands of Abbeyfeale behind them. They lost to Dungarvan last time out in this league but salvaged a losing bonus point, and if they can get something out of this game on Sunday it will keep them in touch with the leaders.

Fixtures, kick-off 2.30pm unless otherwise stated.

Saturday, 2nd November
Munster Junior League Division 1 Bandon v Thomond, Bandon, 5.30pm.
Sunday, 3rd November
Munster Junior League Division 1: Abbeyfeale v Kilfeacle, Abbeyfeale.
Clanwilliam v Richmond, Clanwilliam Park.
Crosshaven v Galbally, Crosshaven.
Newcastle West v Mallow, Newcastle West.
St. Senan’s v Clonakilty, Jim Slattery Park;
Waterpark v Skibbereen, Ballinakill.

Munster Junior League Division 2 Charleville v Thurles, Charleville.
Cobh Pirates v Muskerry, Cobh.
Dungarvan v Kanturk, Dungarvan.
Fethard v Fermoy, Fethard.
Kinsale v St. Mary’s, Kinsale.
Old Christians v Ballincollig, Rathcooney.
Tralee v Castleisland, Tralee.

Munster Junior League Division 3: Dunmanway v Chorca Dhuibhne, Dunmanway.
Mitchelstown v Douglas-Carrigaline, Mitchelstown.
Scariff v Bantry Bay, Scariff.
Waterford City v Killarney, Waterford.
Youghal v Killorglin, Youghal.