AIB Cup: First Round Previews

See below for IrishRugby.ie’s match-by-match previews of the first round of the 2006/07 AIB Cup which takes place this Saturday.

AIB CUP: FIRST ROUND: Saturday, January 13

CLONAKILTY (6th, Div Two) v GREYSTONES (2nd, Div Two), Shannonvale Cross, 2pm
Referee: tbc

Previous Meetings: 3 (Clonakilty W0, D1, Greystones W2); At Shannonvale Cross: 1 (Clonakilty W0, D1, Greystones W1)

Last Match: December 4, 2005 – Greystones 43 Clonakilty 11, Dr. Hickey Park (Division Three)

2006/07 League Form: Clonakilty: WLWLW
Greystones: WWWLW

Clonakilty – Notes:
*This is the first of three Munster v Leinster club clashes in the AIB Cup’s first round
*They were due to face Greystones in the AIB League on December 16, but that match was postponed due to bad weather conditions in the south west
*This is the Cork club’s first time in the AIB Cup – they are one of five Munster clubs in this season’s competition
*They qualified for the AIB Cup through the Munster Senior Cup, where they won 18-13 away to Midleton and beat Old Crescent 26-3 at Shannonvale Cross before they lost 31-14 to Cork Constitution in the semi-finals
*They have yet to beat Greystones in the AIB League – they drew 13-13 with the County Wicklow side the last time they visited in the league (February 2004)
*Top Points Scorer: Gary Cribb – 55; Top Try Scorer: John O’Donnell – 3

Greystones – Notes:
*They first played Clonakilty during the 2001/02 season
*They are competing in the AIB Cup for the first time and have requested that this weekend’s game doubles up as an AIB League fixture, postponed from earlier in the season
*They are one of six Leinster clubs in this season’s AIB Cup – they qualified for the competition as the best runners-up in the five-section Leinster Senior League Cup
*They beat Skerries 52-5, lost 28-27 to Terenure and beat Suttonians 36-12 to finish second in Section A of the Leinster Senior League Cup – they lost 22-20 to eventual winners Old Belvedere in the semi-finals
*They have picked up a bonus point for tries in their last three AIB League outings
*Top Points Scorer: James Power – 51; Top Try Scorer: Ronan Carroll – 6

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE (14th, Div One) v CORK CONSTITUTION (1st, Div One), Templeville Road, 2pm
Referee: Ger English (Munster)

Previous Meetings: 17 (St. Mary’s W6, D1, Cork Con W10); At Templeville Road: 7 (St. Mary’s W3, D0, Cork Con W4)

Last Match: December 9, 2006 – St. Mary’s College 13 Cork Constitution 24, Templeville Road (Division One)

2006/07 League Form: St. Mary’s: LLLLD
Cork Con: WDWWW

St. Mary’s College – Notes:
*They have already played three Munster clubs at home this season, beating Garryowen 12-8 and losing to both Cork Con (24-13) and UL Bohemians (24-10)
*They first played Cork Con during the 1990/91 season – this weekend’s game is a repeat of last season’s AIB Cup final which Con won 37-12
*Last year they beat Greystones 39-14, Terenure 35-21 and Garryowen 23-14 on the way to the AIB Cup final
*They have lost their last six competitive fixtures against Cork Con – Mary’s are one of six Leinster clubs in the AIB Cup’s first round
*They qualified for the first round as the top Leinster seed when they won Section E of the Leinster Senior League Cup, collecting bonus point wins against Bective (43-9), Seapoint (38-6) and Old Wesley (46-10) – they lost 16-6 to Clontarf in the semi-finals
*Top Points Scorer: Jonathan Sexton – 73; Top Try Scorer: Jonathan Sexton – 2

Cork Constitution – Notes:
*They have won their previous two games played away in Leinster this season, beating Blackrock 25-24 and St. Mary’s College 24-13
*This is the second of three Munster v Leinster club clashes in the AIB Cup’s first round
*They are the reigning AIB Cup champions – last year, they beat Shannon 20-17, Belfast Harlequins 41-13, Buccaneers 20-13 and saw of St. Mary’s 37-12 in the final
*They are one of five Munster clubs to be entered in this season’s competition – they beat Lansdowne 39-25 after extra-time in November in the only preliminary round match
*They are unbeaten in their last five AIB League games and qualified for the AIB Cup through the Munster Senior Cup, beating Clonakilty 30-22, Highfield 29-8, Shannon 16-12 and Clonakilty 31-14, but they lost 18-13 to Garryowen in the final
*Top Points Scorer: Richie Lane – 47; Top Try Scorers: Richie Lane, Brendan Cuttriss – 2 each

SHANNON (4th, Div One) v CLONTARF (2nd, Div One), Thomond Park, 2pm
Referee: Olan Trevor (Munster)

Previous Meetings: 13 (Shannon W10, D0, Clontarf W3); At Thomond Park: 8 (Shannon W6, D0, Clontarf W2)

Last Match: January 6, 2007 – Shannon 16 Clontarf 17, Thomond Park (Division One)

2006/07 League Form: Shannon: LDWWL
Clontarf: WWWWW

Shannon – Notes:
*They have won ten of their last eleven games at home to Leinster clubs
*In last season’s AIB Cup, they lost 29-17 at home to Cork Con in the first round
*They progressed past the second round of the Munster Senior to qualify for the 2006/07 AIB Cup, beating Waterpark 59-10 and Young Munster 35-6 before they lost 16-12 to Cork Con in the quarter-finals
*They have beaten Clontarf in two AIB League semi-finals at Thomond Park – 15-12 in April 2002 and 21-11 in April 2005 as well as beating them 30-3 in last May’s Division One final at Lansdowne Road
*They are currently fourth in the Division One table
*Top Points Scorer: Tadhg Bennett – 40; Top Try Scorers: Stephen Kelly, Sean Cronin – 3 each

Clontarf – Notes:
*They have travelled to Munster four times already this season, winning twice
*They first played Shannon during the 1997/98 season and beat the Limerick men 17-16 in a thrilling Division One game last weekend
*They qualified for the AIB Cup as the Section D winners of the five-section Leinster Senior League Cup – they beat Blackrock 27-3, drew 14-14 with Dublin University and beat Barnhall 32-7, and eventually lost 19-16 to Old Belvedere in the final
*In the AIB Cup last year, they beat Dungannon 30-20 at home but lost 15-14 at home to Garryowen in the quarter-finals
*Their scrum half and captain, Fiach O’Loughlin, was a senior Shannon player up until two seasons back
*Top Points Scorer: Matt Nethery – 30; Top Try Scorers: Peter O’Brien, Fiach O’Loughlin, Johnny Wickham, John Duffy, Bernard Jackman – 2 each

BALLYMENA (8th, Div One) v UCD (15th, Div One), Eaton Park, 2pm
Referee: Dermot Moloney (Munster)

Previous Meetings: 7 (Ballymena W6, D1, UCD W0); At Eaton Park: 4 (Ballymena W3, D1, UCD W0)

Last Match: January 6, 2007 – UCD 10 Ballymena 40, Belfield (Division One)

2006/07 League Form: Ballymena: WWWLW
UCD: LLLWL

Ballymena – Notes:
*This is the first of two Ulster v Leinster club clashes in the AIB Cup’s first round
*They have beaten the only Leinster team – Terenure 29-10 – to have visited Eaton Park this season
*They first played UCD during the 1994/95 season (in Division Two) and have won four of their last five Division One matches
*They lost out in the preliminary round of last season’s AIB Cup to Buccaneers (28-16) and are one of four Ulster clubs in the competition this term
*They qualified for the 2006/07 AIB Cup by finishing joint-top in last season’s Ulster Senior League, losing only one of their ten matches against Belfast Harlequins
*Top Points Scorer: Dirkie Strydom – 64; Top Try Scorer: Chris Henry – 3

UCD – Notes:
*They have travelled to Ulster once already this season and lost 29-24 at Dungannon
*They drew 9-9 at Eaton Park when they first played Ballymena in the AIB League in 1994/95
*This is their first time in the AIB Cup – they qualified as the Section C winners in the Leinster Senior League Cup, beating Wanderers 38-8, Tullamore 45-10 and County Carlow 21-3 before Clontarf knocked them out in the quarter-finals
*They have yet to win at Eaton Park in the AIB League and have won only one of their last ten Division One matches
*They have conceded the most points (230) and the most tries (34) in all three divisions of the league so far this season
*Top Points Scorer: Fergus McFadden – 66; Top Try Scorer: Ian Keatley – 3

GALWEGIANS (9th, Div One) v DUNGANNON (6th, Div One), Crowley Park, 2pm
Referee: Mark Gargan (Leinster)

Previous Meetings: 7 (Galwegians W2, D0, Dungannon W5); At Crowley Park: 4 (Galwegians W2, D0, Dungannon W2)

Last Match: February 18, 2006 – Dungannon 29 Galwegians 27, Stevenson Park (Division One)

2006/07 League Form: Galwegians: WLDWL
Dungannon: WWWLW

Galwegians – Notes:
*They have already beaten one Ulster club at home this season (Belfast Harlequins 29-8)
*They are due to face Dungannon in Division One on March 24 – they have lost their last three leaguea games with Dungannon
*They first played Dungannon in the AIB League during the 2000/01 season
*In last season’s AIB Cup, they beat Cashel 13-9 and went on to lose 23-6 at home to Buccaneers in the quarter-finals
*They qualified for this season’s AIB Cup by winning the 2006/07 Connacht Senior League by seeing off Buccaneers home (20-15) and away (18-14)
*Top Points Scorer: Paddy O’Toole – 29; Top Try Scorer: Conor McPhillips – 6

Dungannon – Notes:
*They have visited Connacht already this season and lost 19-14 to Buccaneers – they won 19-12 on their most recent AIB League visit to Crowley Park (April 2005)
*They have only managed two wins in their last ten games on the road in the league
*They first played competitively against Galwegians in the round robin at the end of the 1990/91 season – they won 12-6 and went on to qualify for Division Two of the AIB League
*They lost away to Clontarf, 30-20, in the first round of last season’s AIB Cup and are one of four Ulster clubs in this season’s competition
*They qualified for the 2006/07 AIB Cup by finishing joint-first with Ballymena in last season’s Ulster Senior League – back in 2001, they won 31-29 against Galwegians in the Division One semi-final at Crowley Park
*Top Points Scorer: Richard McCarter – 63; Top Try Scorer: Richard McCarter – 6

BELFAST HARLEQUINS (16th, Div One) v NENAGH ORMOND (4th, Div Three), Deramore Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Ken Henley-Willis (Leinster)

Previous Meetings: 0

Last Match: N/A

2006/07 League Form: Belfast Harlequins: LLLLL
Nenagh: WWWDW

Belfast Harlequins – Notes:
*They have lost all four games, one of them at home, which they have played against Munster clubs in Division One so far this season
*They were also drawn at home to a Division Three club in last season’s AIB Cup – Suttonians and they beat the Dubliners 50-12
*They qualified for the 2006/07 AIB Cup by finishing third in last term’s Ulster Senior League – this weekend sees them playing a Tipperary side for the first time
*They have recently appointed former Ulster coach Alan Solomons as a coaching consultant to player-coach Andy Ward
*They have lost their last nine AIB League games, but have won all ten of the fixtures in this season’s Ulster Senior League
*Top Points Scorer: Niall O’Connor – 40; Top Try Scorer: –

Nenagh Ormond – Notes:
*The club was founded way back in 1884 and this is their second season in the AIB League
*This is the only Munster v Ulster club tie in the AIB Cup’s first round – this is Nenagh’s first time in the cup competition
*Like Suttonians last season, they are carrying the first for Division Three in the AIB Cup
*They qualified for the competition via the Munster Senior Cup, receiving a first round bye, then beating Bruff 17-10 before losing their semi-final 44-12 to eventual winners Garryowen
*They are unbeaten in their last six Division Three games
*Top Points Scorer: John Lillis – 43; Top Try Scorer: Trevor Powell – 3

GARRYOWEN (5th, Div One) v BUCCANEERS (12th, Div One), Dooradoyle, 2pm
Referee: John Carvill (Leinster)

Previous Meetings: 9 (Garryowen W3, D0, Buccaneers W6); At Dooradoyle: 5 (Garryowen W2, D0, Buccaneers W3)

Last Match: December 16, 2006 – Buccaneers 8 Garryowen 6, Dubarry Park (Division One)

2006/07 League Form: Garryowen: LLWWW
Buccaneers: LWDWD

Garryowen – Notes:
*They first played against Buccaneers in the AIB League during the 1998/99 season – they lost 8-6 to Buccs in Division One last month
*They have lost their last two league games but have won two of their last three meetings with this weekend’s opponents
*This is the only Munster v Connacht club tie in the AIB Cup’s first round
*They qualified for this season’s competition through the Munster Senior Cup, beating Nenagh 44-18 in the semi-finals and Cork Con 18-13 in last month’s final
*They made it to the semi-finals of last season’s AIB Cup, beating Dolphin 33-7 and Clontarf 15-14 before going down to St. Mary’s, 23-14, in the semis
*Top Points Scorer: Conor Kilroy – 51; Top Try Scorer: Ciaran O’Boyle – 4

Buccaneers – Notes:
*They have been in Limerick once already this season – they lost 34-6 at Shannon
*They are one of two Connacht clubs entered in the AIB Cup this season and lost 15-9 on their most recent AIB League visit to Dooradoyle (January 2006)
*Their captain this season, Conor Hartigan, is a former Garryowen back row – they should face one of their former players, Conor Kilroy, in the Garryowen ranks this weekend
*In last aseason’s AIB Cup, they beat Ballymena 28-16 in the preliminary round before seeing off DLSP 50-13 and Galwegians 23-6, but in the semis, they lost out to Cork Con 20-13
*They qualified for the 2006/07 AIB Cup by beating Galwegians 16-12 in the Connacht Senior Cup final at the Sportsground in October
*Top Points Scorer: Tom Cregan – 78; Top Try Scorer: Tom Cregan – 3

TERENURE COLLEGE (13th, Div One) v MALONE (15th, Div Two), Lakelands Park, 2pm
Referee: Leo Colgan (Munster)

Previous Meetings: 8 (Terenure W7, D1, Malone W0); At Lakelands: 5 (Terenure W4, D1, Malone W0)

Last Match: April 29, 2006 – Terenure College 50 Malone 20, Lakelands Park (Division Two)

2006/07 League Form: Terenure: WLLLL
Malone: LWLLL

Terenure – Notes:
*They have played one Ulster club at Lakelands already this season – they managed to beat Dungannon 23-12
*They first played Malone during the 1991/92 season (in Division Two) and have never lost to the Belfast outfit in eight meetings in AIB competitions
*They are one of six Leinster clubs to have qualified for this term’s AIB Cup – they qualified for the competition by winning Section A of the Leinster Senior League Cup, beating Suttonians 35-22, Greystones 28-27 and Skerries 39-6 before they went down 18-8 to eventual winners Old Belvedere
*They have lost four of their last five AIB League games
*This is the only Division One v Division Two match-up in the first round
*Top Points Scorer: Robbie McCarthy – 26; Top Try Scorers: Alex Dunlop, James Blaney – 3 each

Malone – Notes:
*They have travelled to Leinster once already this season but lost 16-15 at Barnhall
*They first played Terenure during the 1991/92 AIB League season and have won one of their last five league matches
*In the AIB Cup last season, they also travelled to play Terenure in the first round and lost out 17-12
*This is the second Ulster v Leinster club tie in the AIB Cup’s first round
*They qualified for this season’s AIB Cup by finishing fourth in the 2005/06 Ulster Senior League, winning six and losing four of their ten matches
*Top Points Scorer: Gareth Fry – 26; Top Try Scorer: Johnny Moutray – 4

– AIB League and Cup Statistics courtesy of Des Daly –