The All Ireland Junior Cup kicks off this weekend, with Portadown, CIYMS, Clogher Valley and Donaghadee representing Ulster.
No Ulster side has won the competition since 2010 when City of Derry were the winners. Rainey were the only other Ulster winners in 2006 with Armagh having also contested the final. In the eight years of the competition Leinster sides have won the Cup five times, Ulster twice and Munster once.
Perennial Leinster winners Tullamore, who won the tournament in '09, '12 ...
The All Ireland Junior Cup kicks off this weekend, with Portadown, CIYMS, Clogher Valley and Donaghadee representing Ulster. No Ulster side has won the competition since 2010 when City of Derry were the winners. Rainey were the only other Ulster winners in 2006 with Armagh having also contested the final. In the eight years of the competition Leinster sides have won the Cup five times, Ulster twice and Munster once. Perennial Leinster winners Tullamore, who won the tournament in '09, '12 and '13 have been promoted to the Ulster Bank League this season. This year's favourites appear to be Dublin outfit Wanderers. After relegation from senior rugby two seasons ago, they sit top of Leinster's Junior 1A league with four wins and a maximum twenty points. Former Clogher Valley and Dungannon hooker Adam Duhig plays hooker for the Wanderers side. FIRST ROUND FIXTURES:
CLOGHER VALLEY v Kanturk
Coolmine v Westport
DONAGHADEE v Dundalk
Enniscorthy v CIYMS
Monivea v PORTADOWN
OLBC v Kilfeacle
Skibbereen v Ballina
Tralee v Wanderers CLOGHER VALLEY v KANTURK Clogher Valley will welcome Munster side Kanturk to the Cran this Saturday, with both sides having made it to the semi finals of last year's competition. Valley lost out to Enniscorthy and Kanturk were defeated by eventual winners Tullamore. The Fivemiletown squad have a busy schedule that will test their playing squad as they maintain their challenge for league and Cup honours in Ulster, as well as their quest to bring the All Ireland Junior Cup to the club. Kanturk finished runners up to Richmond last season in the Munster league and won their league game at home to Old Christians last Saturday (30-24). Clogher coaches Davy Black and Glen Kyle, along with captain Stephen Baxter, will demand nothing less than 100% from their players, and with a large vocal support the Valley should win this game. DONAGHADEE v DUNDALK Donaldson Park will welcome Ulster President, John Robinson, for this fixture as the 'Dee squad look for another good run in this competition. The availability of key players will determine the outcome of this game for the North Down side. Having lost 37-8 to Clogher last Saturday, coaches Stuart Hennessey and Paul McKenzie know it will take a massive effort from their players to win this game. With the 'Dee sitting second bottom in the league with two wins from six games, a good cup run would be a timely boost for the club. Dundalk have ambitions to play in the All Ireland league and will prove formidable opponents for the home side after winning their opening four league games. ENNISCORTHY v CIYMS The Belmont club have targeted the All Ireland Junior Cup and the Kukri Qualifying League as their goals this season. The East Belfast club want to return to the senior ranks and this would be a good marker for them. CIYMS sit fourth in the league, four points behind leaders Portadown with a game in hand. They recorded an impressive 32-27 win at Coleraine at the weekend. Enniscorthy were finalists in last season's competition but lost out to the impressive Tullamore. They sit seventh in their league with one win from their opening four league games. CIYMS coach Graham Cloke will want a big performance from his charges and if they deliver, they should progress to the quarter finals. MONIVEA v PORTADOWN The Connacht side have been beaten finalists in 2011 and 2012. But Kukri Qualifying League champions Portadown should possess too much experience and guile in their squad to lose this match. Silverware is a target for the Mid Ulster side this season and their emphatic win at Bangor in the Junior Cup clearly illustrates this. Coaches Richard Hedley and Ciaran O'Kane have a strong squad to select from. Portadown to win.
The All Ireland Junior Cup kicks off this weekend, with Portadown, CIYMS, Clogher Valley and Donaghadee representing Ulster. No Ulster side has won the competition since 2010 when City of Derry were the winners. Rainey were the only other Ulster winners in 2006 with Armagh having also contested the final. In the eight years of the competition Leinster sides have won the Cup five times, Ulster twice and Munster once. Perennial Leinster winners Tullamore, who won the tournament in '09, '12 and '13 have been promoted to the Ulster Bank League this season. This year's favourites appear to be Dublin outfit Wanderers. After relegation from senior rugby two seasons ago, they sit top of Leinster's Junior 1A league with four wins and a maximum twenty points. Former Clogher Valley and Dungannon hooker Adam Duhig plays hooker for the Wanderers side. FIRST ROUND FIXTURES:
CLOGHER VALLEY v Kanturk
Coolmine v Westport
DONAGHADEE v Dundalk
Enniscorthy v CIYMS
Monivea v PORTADOWN
OLBC v Kilfeacle
Skibbereen v Ballina
Tralee v Wanderers CLOGHER VALLEY v KANTURK Clogher Valley will welcome Munster side Kanturk to the Cran this Saturday, with both sides having made it to the semi finals of last year's competition. Valley lost out to Enniscorthy and Kanturk were defeated by eventual winners Tullamore. The Fivemiletown squad have a busy schedule that will test their playing squad as they maintain their challenge for league and Cup honours in Ulster, as well as their quest to bring the All Ireland Junior Cup to the club. Kanturk finished runners up to Richmond last season in the Munster league and won their league game at home to Old Christians last Saturday (30-24). Clogher coaches Davy Black and Glen Kyle, along with captain Stephen Baxter, will demand nothing less than 100% from their players, and with a large vocal support the Valley should win this game. DONAGHADEE v DUNDALK Donaldson Park will welcome Ulster President, John Robinson, for this fixture as the 'Dee squad look for another good run in this competition. The availability of key players will determine the outcome of this game for the North Down side. Having lost 37-8 to Clogher last Saturday, coaches Stuart Hennessey and Paul McKenzie know it will take a massive effort from their players to win this game. With the 'Dee sitting second bottom in the league with two wins from six games, a good cup run would be a timely boost for the club. Dundalk have ambitions to play in the All Ireland league and will prove formidable opponents for the home side after winning their opening four league games. ENNISCORTHY v CIYMS The Belmont club have targeted the All Ireland Junior Cup and the Kukri Qualifying League as their goals this season. The East Belfast club want to return to the senior ranks and this would be a good marker for them. CIYMS sit fourth in the league, four points behind leaders Portadown with a game in hand. They recorded an impressive 32-27 win at Coleraine at the weekend. Enniscorthy were finalists in last season's competition but lost out to the impressive Tullamore. They sit seventh in their league with one win from their opening four league games. CIYMS coach Graham Cloke will want a big performance from his charges and if they deliver, they should progress to the quarter finals. MONIVEA v PORTADOWN The Connacht side have been beaten finalists in 2011 and 2012. But Kukri Qualifying League champions Portadown should possess too much experience and guile in their squad to lose this match. Silverware is a target for the Mid Ulster side this season and their emphatic win at Bangor in the Junior Cup clearly illustrates this. Coaches Richard Hedley and Ciaran O'Kane have a strong squad to select from. Portadown to win.