Rugby fans ponder Connacht Junior Cup draw

Rugby fans ponder Connacht Junior Cup draw


Rob Murphy

THE draw for the first two rounds of this year’s Heineken Connacht Junior Cup took place in Busker Browne’s in Galway city on Monday night.
The top eight teams in Division 1A as of last weekend were seeded and receive a bye into round two. First- and second-round losers will enter a newly created Junior Plate competition, with the final set to be a curtain-raiser to this year’s Junior Cup final on April 9.
Holders Corinthians were drawn away to a strong Tuam in round two. Sligo, last year’s runners-up, will face either Buccaneers or Galwegians, while 2009 winners Monivea will host Castlebar in the second round, a monumental task for the Mayo side. The pick of the first-round ties is the derby clash between Portumna and Ballinasloe, with the winners at home to Ballina in round two. The north Mayo men, third in Division 1A, should come through there without too much trouble.
Ballinrobe and Ballyhaunis had contrasting first round draws. Ballinrobe are at home to Division 1B side Gort in the first round – a long-awaited first win of the season would see them into a second round home tie against either Connemara or Carrick. Ballyhaunis f must face the strongest non-seeded side, last year’s semi-finalists Corrib, in Headford in round one. If the east Mayo men can cause a major upset, then they will be on the road in round two, away to Westport, who will be happy to have secured the home draw.
In a break with tradition, the draw for the quarter-finals won’t be made until after the second round, adding a little suspense to proceedings. The Plate competition should also add a novel feel to knockout rugby this year, but with the seeded sides also eligible, it might well be dominated by the major sides who slip up early rather than some up and coming outfit. Time will tell.

THE DRAW IN FULL
February 6
Round One
Portumna v Ballinasloe
Ballinrobe v Gort?  
Connemara v Carrick?  
Corrib v Ballyhaunis?
Buccaneers v Galwegians?
Dunmore bye?
Creggs bye

February 27
Round Two
Creggs v Dunmore?  
Ballinrobe/Gort v Connemara/Carrick? 
Sligo v Buccaneers/Galwegians? 
Westport v Corrib/Ballyhaunis?   
UCG/Loughrea v OLBC?    
Monivea v Castlebar
Tuam v Corinthians?    
Portumna/Ballinasloe v Ballina

March 13
Quarter-finals
(Draw to be made after Round Two)

March 27
Semi-finals

April 9
Final