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CLUB REVIEW
With many of the leagues in the All Ireland and Ulster domestic club
scene nearing the halfway stage, News Letter sports editor and rugby
correspondent, Richard Mulligan, takes a look at the state of play and
what to expect by the end of the season…
Domestic rugby takes centre stage at Kingspan
Stadium in the coming week with two of this
season’s showpiece finals in senior and junior
rugby taking place.
The Millar McCall Wylie Ulster Junior Cup final
between Instonians and Bangor on Tuesday
(December 15) promises to serve up a real pre
Christmas cracker between arguably two of the
best sides on the junior scene.
Instonians are the current Kukri Qualifying League
One champions and defeated Omagh Accies in
last year’s final. They are currently lying second in
the table to Bangor in Kukri One.
Bangor reached last year’s All Ireland Junior
Cup final before losing to Dundalk, the club from
Leinster who went on to see off Inst during the
round-robin play-offs, and they have been making
strong progress in recent seasons, reflected in the
fact they currently lead the way in Kukri One.
Key to Tuesday’s game will be how both clubs
come through this Saturday’s All Ireland Junior Cup
semi-finals.
Instonians entertain Clogher Valley while Bangor
go to Leinster side, Enniscorthy and it would be
fantastic if the Seasiders were to secure a victory
there and set up an all Ulster final, reflecting the
dominance of Ulster clubs in this competition in
recent years.
Anyone who is free on Tuesday night should make
the trip to Kingspan Stadium to see what will be a
quality Junior Cup final and reflect all that is good
about the current junior game in Ulster.
On Thursday night (December 17th) the First Trust
Senior Cup brings two great country clubs together
when Ballymena and Ballynahinch lock horns in the
blue riband event for senior sides.
The sea of change in the land of Ulster club rugby
has seen Ballynahinch rise to the top in recent
years, reflected in their success in the Senior Cup
and this will be their third final appearance on the
trot and hoping to repeat last year’s success when
they were victorious over Malone.
The cup this season has been a comfort zone for
the County Down club, whose All Ireland League
form has been poor, winning their first game of the
season in Ulster Bank Division 1A last weekend
after eight straight losses. Thursday night’s final will
be a nice diversion for Derek Suffern and his troops
as their focus will return to avoiding relegation in
their AIL league section come the New Year.
Ballymena’s form has been the opposite. They are
flying high in Ulster Bank Division 1B, currently lying
in second place after just one loss in the first half
of fixtures and pressing hard for promotion. Andy
Graham, the players and the club are to be praised
for the way they have turned things around after a
few barren seasons and they will be out to prove a
point on Thursday night as well as look to repeat
their Senior Cup successes in 2012 and 2013 when
they lifted the famous trophy.
Staying on the senior scene, it is fantastic to be
reporting on strong showings by Ulster clubs in the
revamped All Ireland League.
Banbridge and Malone have enjoyed fine runs in
Ulster Bank Division 2A and currently hold the top
two places respectively and making a strong case
for promotion.
A good run in the second half of the season, which
incidentally starts for them tomorrow, will hopefully
see both go on to take promotion.
In Division 2B, City of Derry lead the way - six
points ahead of the nearest contenders and with
a game in hand. Terry McMaster has done a solid
job since taking over as coach and while it is only
the midway stage, it would be hoped they can
maintain their current form and go on and secure
promotion. Armagh are just shy of the leaders
presently in fourth place, but they cannot be
discounted from being right in the mix come April.
CLUB REVIEW
CONTINUED OVERLEAF...
ARTICLE BY RICHARD MULLIGAN
SPORTS EDITOR & RUGBY
CORRESPONDENT, NEWS LETTER
@R_MULLIGAN1