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

Ciaran O’Boyle try secures bonus-point win

FLYING Garryowen winger Ciaran O’Boyle celebrated his first start for Munster in the Magners League by bagging the crucial bonus-point clinching try in a 14-point victory over Edinburgh at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.
The 64th minute try came as an early birthday present for O’Boyle who turned 25 yesterday. O’Boyle, who has previously played for the Munster A side, has been a prolific tr-scorer for Garryowen in the AIL for several seasons.
Munster maintained top spot in the Magners League as a result of their 28-14 success over the Scottish side.
The lively Keith Earls, powerful prop Tony Buckley and former All Black Doug Howlett also crossed for Munster’s tries before an attendance of 6,500.
Tony McGahan’s men currently enjoy a three-point lead over both Leinster and the Ospreys at the top of the Magners League.
Munster’s next fixture in the competition is an away tie with the Dragons on Saturday week, March 7.
Meanwhile Ireland coach Declan Kidney will be relieved to have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s big RBS Six Nations championship clash with England at Croke Park (kick-off 5.30pm).
Kidney will name his starting XV to face Martin Johnson’s England tomorrow.
In the All-Ireland League Shannon moved up to second place with a deserved 28-10 derby victory over Young Munster at Clifford Park.
Shannon collected a precious bonus point as a result of scoring four tries before Munsters’ biggest home crowd of the season. The defeat leaves Young Munster lying in the relegation zone.
Elsewhere Garryowen recorded their seventh straight success to move up to third place in the table. The Light Blues victims on this occasion were UCD.
UL Bohemian squandered an excellent opportunity to strengthen their grip on a top eight spot for next season’s new look AIL Division One when suffering a surprise 13-6 defeat to Old Belvedere at Annacotty.
In Division Two Old Crescent continued their promotion push with a 22-9 success over Greystones. Bruff suffered a 14-6 home defeat to UCC while Thomond lost out on a 0-9 scoreline to leaders Lansdowne at Fitzgerald Park.
The semi-final draw for the AIB Cup will see former champions Garryowen make the long journey to Ballymacarn Park to face giant-killers Ballynahinch on March 21. Young Munster will have home advantage for their last four clash with Cork Con on the same day.
The final of the AIB Cup is due to be played on May 5, with the game being televised live by RTE.

Colm Kinsella