Four enticing Charity Cup quarter-finals launch new rugby season

THE 85th renewal of the Limerick Charity Cup kicks off this weekend with four highly-attractive quarter-finals taking place.
On Friday night Nenagh Ormond host Garryowen in Nenagh’s Ormond Park while on Saturday Thomond RFC make an unenviable trip to Coonagh to face AIL champions Shannon (2.30pm) and Young Munster welcome Bruff RFC to Clifford Park (2.30pm).
Then, on Tuesday evening, Old Crescent visit Annacotty to face the home side UL Bohemian in what promises to be a cracking game.
All eight clubs will be hopeful of progressing in the competition as they prepare to launch their respective AIB All-Ireland League campaigns on Saturday, October 3 next.
The semi-finals of the Limerick Charity Cup are scheduled to take place on the weekend of September 5-6 with the first semi-final (Saturday, September 5) pitting the winner of the UL Bohemian v Old Crescent clash against either Nenagh Ormond or Garryowen.
Meanwhile the second semi-final (Sunday, September 6) will see the winner of the Shannon v Thomond and Young Munster v Bruff RFC encounters face off - the final is scheduled to take place on September 26.
Sadly, competition organizers have been more than disappointed with the public reaction to the tournament in recent seasons.
Although the competition marks the beginning of the rugby season and provides clubs with the perfect warm-up to the AIB All-Ireland League the tournament has been blighted by poor attendances with the Charity Cup struggling to meet its financial targets as a result.
Hopefully, this season local rugby fans will support the ties and help local charities in the process.
Last September Shannon, following a comprehensive 27-9 victory over Garryowen in the final, claimed the 2008 Charity Cup at Clifford Park.
A real highlight of the competition in recent years however was Bruff’s stunning 16-15 victory over UL Bohemian at Dooradoyle in 2007.
UL Bohemian, beating Shannon 18-10 in 2006, were the defending champions in 2007 while in 2005 Thomond won the competition beating UL Bohs (18-13) in 2005.
Shannon, beating rivals Garryowen 22-18 at Thomond Park, claimed the title in 2004 while in 2003 Garryowen saw off UL Bohs 29-5.
Thomond won the 2002 final beating UL Bohs 27-21.
Originally known as the Hospital Cup, the Limerick Charity Cup was introduced in 1924 by Garryowen’s Jack O’Sullivan to raise funds for Barrington and St. John’s Hospital. Jack O’Sullivan was a founder member of Garryowen FC and progressed to play for Munster while he also won two Irish caps.
Jack O’Sullivan won five Munster Senior Cup medals with the Light Blues and also went on to become President of Garryowen, the Munster Branch and the Irish union.
He was also responsible for bringing the first international game to Limerick in the late 1800s, with Ireland playing Wales on that occasion.
Garryowen were the first winners of the competition and hold the record for the most titles (24).

Brian McDonnell