AIB Junior Cup Preview: Seapoint v Limavady

AIB JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

Saturday, February 10

SEAPOINT v LIMAVADY

Kilbogget, 2.30pm
Referee: David O’Flynn (Munster)

Seapoint Statistics/Notes:

Founded: 1934
Location: Kilbogget, South County Dublin near Killiney

Qualification: By finishing third in the 2005/06 Leinster League, Seapoint were one of four Junior clubs entered by the Leinster Branch into this season’s AIB Junior Cup first round draw.

Recent History: Won the Leinster Branch Qualifying League (Leinster League) in the 2003/04 season and qualified for the end of season Interprovincial Round Robin series. They lost all three games, 7-6 to Bruff, 28-14 to Monivea and 9-7 to Coleraine.

Have won the prestigious Dublin Metropolitan Cup over the past two seasons, beating Monkstown in the 2005 final and Lansdowne in the 2006 decider. Have won three of the last six Spencer Cups – for junior clubs in the Dublin Metropolitan area.

Competed last season in the inaugural AIB Junior Cup. Won 17-3 away to Westport before losing 31-12 to Rainey Old Boys, the eventual winners, in the semi-final at Magherafelt.

AIB Junior Cup First Round: Won 20-13 at home to Monkstown. Stephen Walsh and Des Doyle scored the tries with Declan Griffin landing two conversions and two penalties.

Leinster Junior League: With one game left to play, they are currently in second place in the Leinster League’s Division One, with ten wins from 12 games. Naas lead the way.

Only a minor miracle would see them qualify for the end of season Round Robin series, but they will be contenders for the third successive season in the 2006/07 AIB Junior Cup.

2006/07 Cup Form: Received a bye in the Dublin Metropolitan Cup first round – on February 25 – and will be at home to Dublin University’s seconds in the second round.

Junior Interpro players: Four players – winger Sam Bozman, scrum half Declan Griffin, lock JP Finlay and number 8 Jonathan Walsh – made the Leinster Junior team last season. Leinster and Ireland U-20 full-back Felix Jones is also in the current squad.
President: Jim Breen
Captain: Jonny Walsh
Coach: Declan Keegan
Assistant Coach: Roelie Smit (South Africa)
Foreign Players: Cameron Burns (New Zealand)
Sponsors: Choice Hotels Ireland
Notes: IRFU Media Manager Karl Richardson’s choice as favourites for the competition. This is the second of two Leinster-Ulster clashes in this weekend’s quarter-finals

Limavady Statistics/Notes:

Founded: 1923
Location: County Derry, 17 miles from Derry city

Qualification: By finishing second in the 2005/06 Ulster Qualifying League, Limavady were one of four Junior clubs entered by the Ulster Branch into the 2006/07 AIB Junior Cup first round draw.

Recent History: Have never won the Ulster Qualifying League. Have played in Section One now for seven seasons. Reached the Provincial Towns Cup final five years ago, but lost to Ballymena seconds. Have played in two recent Provincial Towns Cup semi-finals.

AIB Junior Cup First Round: At home to Sligo, they won 22-0 – Marcus McCallum, Stuart Houston and Daniel King got the touchdowns while Aaron Brolly kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Ulster Qualifying League: Currently lie fifth in Section One of the Ulster Qualifying League, having won six, drawn one and lost six of their 13 matches. With five games left to play, they could yet make the top four and qualify for next season’s AIB Junior Cup.

2006/07 Cup Form: Received a bye in the Ulster Towns Cup first round and lost 22-12 away to Dungannon’s seconds in the second round. May need a play-off to emerge from their Ulster Junior League Cup section in the next month or two.

Junior Interpro players: Scrum half Glen Crawford and back rower Mark Nicholl
President: Wilson Kennedy
Captain: Ian Campbell
Player-Coach: Mark Nicholl
Foreign Players: None
Sponsors: O’Kane & Devine Building Contractors/Property Developers
Notes: Are one of four Ulster clubs to be kept apart in the Junior Cup’s quarter-finals