The Energia All-Ireland Junior Cup begins on Saturday afternoon with four Ulster teams bidding to get their hands on one of junior rugby’s most coveted pieces of silverware.
Portadown, Dromore, Omagh and Lurgan will compete against clubs from Leinster, Munster and Connacht in a straight knockout format cup competition.
Ulster teams have enjoyed great success in recent times, with the province being represented in each of the last six finals.
Dromore came agonisingly close to adding the All-Ireland Junior Cup to their list of honours last season. However, Lady luck was not on their side as they fell to a 13-10 defeat to Seapoint.
This season, they kick-off their journey with a home tie against Connacht representatives, Creggs.
In search of reaching the final for the first time, Omagh have been handed an away trip to Dunmore, while Portadown will host Cork’s Bandon at Chambers Park.
Lurgan make their Energia All-Ireland Junior cup debut on Saturday, and they could not have asked for a more difficult assignment after being drawn away to three-time winners, Tullamore.
Less than 10 years ago, the mid-Ulster outfit were plying their trade in Championship 3, and for head coach Damien Campbell, a place in the All-Ireland Junior Cup is reward for all the tireless work carried by a number of club volunteers over recent years that has helped the Pollock Park side rise through the ranks of the local junior game.
“It has been a real process to get Lurgan back into Championship One, and to have the opportunity to compete in the All-Ireland Junior Cup after only our second season back is a testament to the players who have bought into the club’s vision,” said Campbell.
“The commitment and loyalty shown by the group, along with the return of Lurgan men who wanted to help rebuild the club, has been outstanding.
“People often only see the 15 men on the pitch on a Saturday, but those performances are only possible because of the work being done throughout the club. Our volunteers, supporters and sponsors all play a massive role, and this opportunity is the result of everyone pulling in the same direction and believing in what we are trying to achieve.
“The All-Ireland Junior Cup is where we want to be testing ourselves. If we can continue building on the foundations that have been laid and make participation in this competition a regular occurrence, that would be an exceptional achievement for the club and the wider community that supports it.”
The full first round is as follows with the first name team having home advantage. All games kick-off at 2:30pm.
- Boyne RFC v Ballinasloe RFC
- Mallow RFC v Wicklow RFC
- Portadown RFC v Bandon RFC
- Dunmore RFC v Omagh RFC
- Tullamore RFC v Lurgan RFC
- Kilfeacle & District RFC v Suttonians RFC
- Dromore RFC v Creggs RFC
- Ballina RFC v Clonakilty RFC