Draw Revealed For All-Ireland Junior Cup Quarter-Finals
The two Munster qualifiers, Clonmel and Waterpark, will have home advantage in the All-Ireland Junior Cup quarter-finals following the draw for the last-eight matches, which was made at IRFU HQ. All games will take place on Saturday week (November 10) at 2.30pm.
Ashbourne, who began their title defence with a 57-point hammering of Westport, face a quarter-final trip to Waterpark whose first Junior Cup appearance in nine years saw them defeat cup debutants Carrickfergus. Alex Molloy was their hat-trick hero in a 37-7 first round victory.
All four Leinster clubs advanced to the last-eight, and there is a mouth-watering Leinster derby to look forward to as 2014 and 2016 Junior Cup champions Enniscorthy have been drawn at home to Dundalk, the 2015 winners who edged out Instonians 17-14 thanks to Darragh Conroy’s brilliant last-minute penalty.
Dundalk came from 14 points to defeat Inst, and Enniscorthy, who had tries from Jack Kelly (2), Ivan Jacob, Killian Lett and Arthur Dunne, erased an 18-5 deficit to win 32-18 away to Richmond and reach the quarter-final stage for an incredible sixth time in seven years. Declan O’Brien and Kieran Hurrell’s men were 31-10 winners when they hosted Dundalk in the Leinster League last month.
Clonmel are through to their third quarter-final in four years, which will see them host Belfast side CIYMS who were semi-finalists back in 2014. Dylan Cadogan scored 16 points, including two tries, in Clonmel’s 36-24 win at Creggs, while CIYMS scored 32 points in knocking out Connacht League Division 1A leaders Monivea.
Ballyclare, the Ulster Championship pacesetters, also saw off Connacht opposition to set up a home tie with Wicklow. Out-half Robbie Reid impressed with a 16-point haul, including a a well-taken 15th-minute try and two closing penalties, in Ballyclare’s 21-10 success in Connemara.
Wicklow dominated from start to finish at Ashtown Lane as they ended Kilfeacle & District’s interest in this year’s competition. Runners-up just nine months ago, Kilfeacle fell to a 52-3 defeat with full-back Ben Porter and winger Dean Leonard both bagging braces for George Naoupu’s charges.
The four winners of the November 10 quarter-finals – extra-time will be played if a match ends in a draw – will progress to the semi-finals which are down for decision on Saturday, December 15. This season’s final has been scheduled for Saturday, January 26.
ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Saturday, November 10
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
BALLYCLARE v WICKLOW, the Cloughan
CLONMEL v CIYMS, Ardgaoithe
WATERPARK v ASHBOURNE, Ballinakill
ENNISCORTHY v DUNDALK, Ross Road
ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR CUP – LIST OF CHAMPIONS:
2018 – Ashbourne
2017 – Ashbourne
2016 – Enniscorthy
2015 – Dundalk
2014 – Enniscorthy
2013 – Tullamore
2012 – Tullamore
2011 – Crosshaven
2010 – City of Derry
2009 – Tullamore
2008 – Navan
2007 – Seapoint
2006 – Rainey Old Boys