The Friday Interview: AIB Cup Special

In a special edition of ‘The Friday Interview’, IrishRugby.ie chatted will all four of the captains involved in this weekend’s AIB Junior Cup and AIB Cup finals – Blackrock College’s Des Dillon, David Quinlan from Shannon, Navan’s Bernard Smyth and Tullamore skipper Nigel Ravenhill.

Saturday is a huge day for Irish club rugby as Dubarry Park in Athlone plays host to the 2007/08 AIB Junior Cup and AIB Cup finals.

In the Junior Cup final (kick-off 1.30pm) Navan and Tullamore will clash in a fascinating Leinster derby, while two more first-time finalists, Blackrock College and Shannon, will compete for Senior honours. The AIB Cup final will kick off at 3.30pm and will be broadcast live on RTE Two.

For the week that is in it, IrishRugby.ie got the thoughts of the clubs’ respective captains ahead of the big day. Journalist Coilin Duffy was posing the questions.

Ahead of his side’s AIB Cup final clash with Shannon on Saturday, Blackrock College captain Des Dillon talks about ‘Rock’s campaign to date, the influence of the likes of top scorer Fionn Carr, coaches Barry Gibney and Emmet Farrell and veteran hooker Shane Byrne, the club itself and the challenge Shannon will pose.

Click here to listen to the interview.

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Set to lead his side out for Saturday’s AIB Cup final showdown with Blackrock College, Shannon captain David Quinlan talks to IrishRugby.ie about their cup run to date, the benefit of a Munster Senior Cup win earlier in the season, Shannon’s prospects of a league and cup double, the club itself, the players and coaches involved, and what he expects from Blackrock College.

Click here to listen to the interview.

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IrishRugby.ie catches up with Navan captain Bernard Smyth as he looks ahead to his side’s AIB Junior Cup final showdown with Tullamore on Saturday. He also discusses Navan’s approach to a busy series of games, their cup wins over Armagh, Clogher Valley and Crosshaven, their Australian coach Brad Harris, the first team squad, and the club itself and its facilities.

Click here to listen to the interview.

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Tullamore captain Nigel Ravenhill talks to IrishRugby.ie about Saturday’s AIB Junior Cup final clash with Navan, on his side’s performances in previous rounds, on the club itself, the people involved and its facilities, and what he makes of the Navan side.

Click here to listen to the interview.

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This is the second week of our new feature, ‘The Friday Interview’. Last week we talked to young Ulster referee David Wilkinson. Click here to listen.