Cookies face Shannon in attractive semi-final

THE fourth semi-finalist in the 2009 Limerick Charity Cup will be confirmed on Tuesday night when UL Bohemian host Old Crescent in Annacotty (6.30pm).
UL Bohemian, who will compete in Division 1A of the AIB All-Ireland League this season, are favourites to overcome Division Two’s Old Crescent - the winner of Tuesday night’s clash will then face Garryowen at the semi-final stage this weekend. On Friday night Garryowen fought off a determined Nenagh Ormond side (23-15) in Tipperary. Nenagh Ormond were determined to make a big impression on the Light Blues with tries from Nick Kennedy and Stephen Harvey plus a conversion from Trevor Connolly pushing the home side into a 12-8 interval lead. Garryowen however re-grouped at the break and tries from Lorcan Bourke and Alan Gahan (two) allied to a Willie Staunton drop goal and some solid kicking from Gerry Hurley helped the Light Blues to a decisive 23-15 win.
Nenagh Ormond were dealt a severe blow on the eve of their clash with Garryowen when the former Shannon and Munster back-row Colm McMahon left the club to become a Regional Development Officer with Munster Rugby - Colm McMahon stood down just as his second season as senior coach with the Nenagh club was about to begin.
The pick of this weekend’s semi-finals however will be the clash of arch-rivals Young Munster and Shannon - the time, date and venue for both semi-finals has yet to be confirmed.
On Saturday afternoon in Corbally Young Munster saw off a gallant Bruff with eight points to spare (27-19). Tries from Aaron Carroll and Ian Cross helped the Cookies into a rather fortunate 14-13 half time lead, but once Young Munster introduced scrum-half Mike Prendergast to the side the Cookies were easily the better side in the second half with an Aaron Carroll try and a drop goal from Alan Kingsley, who joined Munster from Garryowen during the off-season, settling the issue.
Meanwhile at LIT on Saturday a David Quinlan try, two penalties and a conversion from David O’Donovan gave Shannon a narrow 13-10 win over Thomond in their respective quarter-final. A Jamie English drop goal gave Thomond an early lead while David Sheehan also scored a try for Thomond which Ger Finucane converted.
Also this Saturday the draw for the opening two rounds of the AIB Cup will take place in the club house of Ballynahinch RFC, the reigning AIB Cup Champions, at 12.45pm - 48 clubs will go into the hat with the teams in Division Two and Division Three drawn in the first round while the teams from Divisions 1A and Division 1B will be included for the second round. The draw for the AIB Junior Cup will be made at a later date.
While the final of Limerick Charity Cup is scheduled for September 26 there’s little respite for Limerick clubs in the coming weeks with the first round of the ODM Munster Senior Cup and the quarter-finals of the ODM Munster Senior Cup due to take place on Saturday, September 12 and Saturday, September 19 respectively.
First round draw: (A) UL Bohemian v Old Crescent, (B) Midleton v UCC, (C) Garryowen v Dolphin, (D) Clonakilty v Shannon, (E) Cashel v Nenagh Ormond, (F) Thomond v Highfield, (G) Sunday’s Well v Cork Constitution & (H) Bruff v Young Munster. Quarter-Finals: (I) H v E, (J) B v A, (K) C v D & (L) G v F. Semi-Finals (November 29): L v I & J v K. The final is scheduled to take place on January 2, 2010.
In an extraordinary development Limerick rivals Shannon and Garryowen could meet three times during the next four weeks.
If Shannon and Garryowen beat Clonakilty and Dolphin respectively in the first round of the ODM Munster Senior Cup on September 12 they will face one another in the quarter-finals on September 19. The clubs could also face one another in the Limerick Charity Cup final on September 26 and finally Shannon are scheduled to travel to Dooradoyle to face the Light Blues on the opening weekend of the AIB All-Ireland League (Saturday, October 3).

BRIAN MCDONNELL