AIB Junior Cup Preview: Dromore v Mallow

AIB JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

Saturday, February 10

DROMORE v MALLOW

Dromore, 2.30pm
Referee: Kevin Beggs (Leinster)

Dromore Statistics/Notes:

Founded: 1932
Location: North County Down, 18 miles south of Belfast

Qualification: By finishing fifth – Rainey Old Boys finished first and were promoted to the senior ranks – in the 2005/06 Ulster Qualifying League, Dromore were one of four Junior clubs entered by the Ulster Branch into this season’s AIB Junior Cup first round draw.

Recent History: Won the Provincial Towns Cup once, way back in 1939. Won the Ulster Qualifying League in 1998/99, and proceeded into the Interprovincial Round Robin series. Beat Connemara 21-0 but lost 34-5 to Barnhall and 22-19 to Thomond – both Barnhall and Thomond were promoted to senior level.

AIB Junior Cup First Round: They won 15-10 at home to Westport with two tries from Mark Crothers and a conversion and penalty from John Cleland.

Ulster Qualifying League: Currently lie seventh in Section One of the Ulster Qualifying League having won five of their 15 matches. Are not in contention for a top four place so will not qualify for next season’s AIB Junior Cup.

2006/07 Cup Form: Won 28-20 away to Lurgan in round one of the Ulster Towns Cup but lost 55-0 at home to Ballymena seconds in the second round. Should just edge out Larne to win their section of the Ulster Junior League Cup and appear in the quarter-finals on March 31.

Junior Interpro players: Hooker Michael Harshaw, lock Neil McFarland, number 8 Ronnie Pepper and flanker Nigel Johnson have all been capped at Ulster Junior level in recent seasons
President: Gary Russell
Captain: David Cantley
Player-Coaches: Richard Mackey and Neil Doak
Foreign Players: None
Sponsors: JP Corry, Builders merchants
Notes: The club is very much part of an Ulster farming community. Also played at home in the first round

Mallow Statistics/Notes:

Founded: 1884
Location: In North County Cork, 40 miles from Cork city

Qualification: Alone amongst the four provinces, Munster used this season’s form to nominate their four contenders for the 2006/07 AIB Junior Cup’s first round. Mallow qualified by reaching the semi-finals of this season’s Munster Junior Challenge Cup, which was run off three months ago.

Recent History: Three seasons ago, Mallow were struggling at the bottom end of the third division of the Heineken Munster Junior League. They narrowley missed out on promotion in 2005 but won the Division Three title last season.

In this autumn’s Munster Junior Challenge Cup, Mallow beat Waterford City 36-0, St. Mary’s of Limerick 30-10 and Thurles 18-15 to reach the semi-final stage of the competition for the first time, Subsequently, they lost 20-7 to Crosshaven in the last-four.

AIB Junior Cup First Round: Won 19-9 away to Youghal. Cliff Cahill, Neil McSherry and Rory McSherry scored the tries with Andy Cashman adding two conversions.

Munster Junior League: Currently lie in fourth place in Division Two of the Munster Junior League, having won five games, drawn one and lost three. They will not be promoted into Division One at the end of the season.

2006/07 Cup Form: beat Castleisland 37-7 on January 28 in the first round of the Munster Junior Cup. Followed this with a 31-14 victory at home to Sunday’s Well seconds in the second round last Saturday. Have been drawn at home to Crosshaven in the third round.

Junior Interpro players: None
President: John Barry
Captain: Jerry Cronin
Player-Coach: Hemi Taukiri (New Zealand)
Foreign Players: Hemi Taukiri (New Zealand)
Sponsors: Molly Flynn’s Bar
Notes: Played away in the first round also, but this time they have to travel much further