Brennan’s Connacht side – under new coach Ambrose Conboy and backs coach Cory Brown -secured a second consecutive inter-provincial title last Saturday, a resurgence which has been hailed by many in the province as a key sign of an upward trend across the board.

However the former Connacht under 20 manager and Ballinasloe native is concerned that the competition’s future is under immediate threat.

“There is opposition within IRFU to the whole concept of inter-provincial competitions at this level. Junior rugby people and branch committees will have to fight tooth and nail to keep this competition alive in the coming weeks and months.”

For Brennan the future is far from secure despite the hugely positive response to the competition from players and clubs.

This season alone, rugby clubs in Edenderry, Loughrea, Larne, Dromore, Kanturk and Castleisland have hosted games with unwavering enthusiasm and commitment.

“The IRFU’s focus is their elite player development programme and under that policy, Junior inter-provincials are not looked upon as a source for finding talent.”

Brennan believes that this is missing the point of inter-provincial competition for amateur players adding.

“Junior rugby is the highest populated grade in Irish rugby and a series like this honors the commitment and dedication given by some of the top players at that grade. It’s a huge honour for clubs and players to be involved and we think it would be a considerable blow to club rugby at this level if the series was abolished.”

Caption: The Connacht squad prepare for action on Sunday in Castleisland.

The AR7s and knockon.ie have teamed up this year, so we’ll be promoting the event during the summer as a good option for clubs looking to use the 7 aside game as an opportunity to build for the new season as well as those clubs that simply want to target such events purely as some off season fun.

The 7 aside competition takes place on Saturday August 4th with a full day of tag rugby taking place on Sunday August 5th and parties on both night in the Bounty at Dubarry Park.

Entry for the Men’s Open competition is €250 per team with the winners receiving €2000.

The Men’s Junior competition is €200 per team with a prize fund of €1000.

The Women’s Open competition is also €200 per team and again there is €1000 on offer for the winning team.

This year’s event includes a mixed tag tournament on the Sunday to complete what should be a festival of rugby at Dubarry Park.

Munster Scorers: Ben Martin 3 pens
Connacht Scorers: Greg Faherty 1 try; Rob O’Beirn 2 pens, 1 con.

The Connacht juniors secured a second successive inter-provincial championship in Castleisland on Sunday with another excellent performance underpinned by ferocious defence and heads up attacking play.

Both sides were unbeaten heading into the contest making it a straight forward winner takes all showdown and having won away to Munster and hammered Ulster, Munster were justifiably favorites but they just could not handle the westerners in the second half and Greg Faherty’s vital try mid way throughout that half ultimately sealed the win.  
After years of battling as also rans at this level, the grade is acting as a neat barometer for the rapid growth of the game in the province and this year’s achievement under the guidances of coaching Ambrose Conboy and Cory Brown is arguably even more impressive then last year’s breakthrough campaign.

The 2011 championship winning squad were at the end of a three year cycle of coming close before finally securing their goal. This years squad was new and untested at this level and based on the power balance in club rugby, many felt they would struggle to repeat the success.

To put things in context, only one of the starting fifteen for Connacht in last year’s title clinching win over Munster last year started in the Kerry town at the weekend. That’s a phenomenal turnover of players for a province with the smallest player base and their success really does underline the undoubted potential for the future. Connacht Manager Sean Brennan was proud of his squad.

“We have a small pick compared to the other provinces in terms of clubs but maybe small is beautiful in one sense, for the likes of Leinster, with so many clubs it can be difficult to get the selection right.

“We picked from eight clubs and got a good spread of players, everyone of the 22 played their part on Saturday and we had full confidence in all of them. The work ethic of the squad and the team spirit was brilliant especially considering the short space of time we had to work with.” added the victorious manager.

Ballinasloe men Rob O’Beirn and John Hayse were two players who emerged here. Both have underage experience in green and have been loyal servants of their club in Division 1b this year, full back O’Beirn kicked the points, flanker Hayse scored a key try in round one and was key throughout.

Westport’s Kevin Corcorm returned after a one year hiatus and performed tremendously well on the wing, the Neale native Cosgrove score a key try against Leinster and has now emerged as a key man thanks to a fine seasons with his new club OLBC.

Ballina duo Mickey Murphy and Aidan McNutly made an impact format he bench for a Connacht side that had to deal with three sin bins in the contest to Peter Cosgrove, Mark Mullins and captain Martin Lee but still shad the defensive strength to withstand a Munster side that toiled bravely but couldn’t find a breakthrough.

The sides had been locked together at 6-6 each at half time before Ben Martin kicked Munster ahead but Faherty’s intercept try midway through the half proved vital.

Up front Connacht were strong throughout, Monivea’s Brian Murphy received the player of the tournament award. The Loughrea native has had a fine season and was key here using his tremendous technical ability to good effect throghout.

Some of the Connacht leagues more underrated stars also showed their colours including a number of OLBC’s key men this season in the shape of James Walsh, Paul McCreanor, James Moran, Faherty, Cosgrove and David Dooley.

Long serving Tuam star Rob Lee slotted in with ease at 12 while Jamie Murphy became Connacht’s new ten this season and was a revalation as was his clubmate in the back row Stepehn Burke. Loughrea stalwarts Willie Cullinane and Mark Mullins also had a big part to play, the latter suffered an injury on Saturday that kept him in Kerry overnight but reports were positive on Sunday.

Brennan was delighted with the team spirit that developed in the new look squad this season and highlighted an example of how even after two titles on the bounce and a seven match winning run at this grade, there is still resistance to accepting the western province as a force.

“We came together on April 10th and the squad spirit developed quicker than we could have hoped for, that was key. After Saturday’s game, the Munster coach John O’Neill, congratulated his side for playing some lovely rugby and said ‘well done Connacht, you didn’t come to play.‘ Obviously we would disagree strongly.

“We scored five tries in the tournament and only conceded three,” added Brennan “we won in a year where it’s the equivalent of Ireland trying to win in Twickenham and Paris as we had two of our three games on the road. It’s a great achievement for coaches and players and it will hopefully act as another shot in the arm for the game in Connacht.”

Last year Connacht came up against Munster at the Sportsground and won comfortably on their way to a Grand Slam, the year before in Ballincollig, Munster had the title in their hands only for the westerners to score a late, late try to snatch the win and hand the title back to Leinster.

This fixture has meat to it then anyhow, throw in the fact that both sides have won their previous two encounters and you have a good old fashioned cup final in store.

Munster have one extra bonus point which means a draw with no extra bonus points will secure them the title.

There should be little between the sides with Munster only getting a hesitant nod on the basis of home advantage but Connacht’s winning streak at this level is now at six since that win in Ballincollig two years ago.

Munste by 2

Munster: (TBC)

Connacht: 5. Robert O’Beirn (Ballinasloe); 14. Kevin Corcoran (Westport), 13. Jermoe Harrimate (Ballina), 12. Robert Lee (Tuam), 11. Peter Cosgrove (OLBC); 10. Jamie Murphy, (Tuam), 9, Greg Faherty (OLBC); 1. James Walsh (OLBC), 2. Martin Lee (Corrib) (cpt), 3. Paul McCreanor (OLBC); 4. Mark Mullins (Loughrea), 5. Brian Murphy, (Monivea); 6. Willie Cullinane (Loughrea), 7. John Hayes (Ballinasloe), 8. Stepehen Burke (Tuam).

Replacements: Mike Ward (Tuam), Alex Lee (Ballina), Ronan Coughlan (Monivea), James Moran (OLBC), Aidan McNulty (Ballina), Mickey Murphy (Ballina), Dave Dooley (OLBC).

Ulster v Leinster, Larne, Saturday 2:30pm

It’s unusual for this fixture to be anything other than key to deciding the outcome of the title but on Saturday, both sides are playing for pride and third place.

For Ulster coach Alasdair McKee the narrow loss to Connacht in round one was key as it killed momentum heading south last weekend and they came up against a Munster side high on confidence from their win over Leinster.

Declan O’Brien and Leinster haven’t faired much better in their two outings with the concession of a key try in the final ten minutes of each game costing them dearly but they can have no complaints overall.

There is far too much pride in each camp not to come at this at full throttle and with Larne RFC putting on a big show on the day it promises to be a good battle.

Ulster by 2.

Ulster (15-9, 1-8): Phil Cartmill (Cooke); Chris Watson (Ballymoney), Cormac McCartney (Ballymoney), Wayne Lyons (Clogher Valley), Chris Cousens (Portadown); Gary Clotworthy (Ballyclare), Scott Nelson (Ballymoney); Arron Ramage (Ballymoney), Mal Allister (Portadown), Philip Moore (Clogher Valley); Michael Dunleaby (UCC), Stephen McReynolds (CIYMS); Kenny McComb (Donaghadee), David Sharkey (Clogher Valley), David Campbell (Ballymoney).

Replacements: Lee Moody (Academy), Martin Smyth (Omagh), Andrew Kelly (Grosvenor), Chris Hamilton (Donaghadee), James Bates (Clogher Valley), PC Falconer (Clogher Valley), Chris Cooper (Academy).

Leinster (TBC)

–

Division 1a

The league Rules

8 teams, Home and away format, 14 games, Winner into Round robin, top four into All Ireland Cup, seventh into relegation play off, eighth relegated.

The Teams

Wanderers
Tullamore
Enniscorthy
Newbridge
Coolmine
Garda
Dundalk
Cill Dara

The Questions

How will Wanderers fare?

The senior club with enormous pedigree begins a whole new life in the Leinster Junior ranks. They’ll hope it’s only a temporary dwelling before a swift return but history suggests they may need some time to rebuild and by that we mean, seasons.

Skerries, Monkstown and Co Carlow have been relegated from the All Ireland League to Leinster in the past, the north County Dublin side took six years to bounce back but have returned, Monkstown bounced back up but came down again and now sit in Division 1b alongside Carlow – although both will be promotion contenders.

All that will serve as warning signs and Wanderers will have the added problem of facing fired up clubs week in week out especially at Lansdowne Road. The novel fixture will mean that bit more than usual to a Tullamore or Enniscorthy and every club from Cill Dara to Newbridge will want their scalp.

Even allowing for some smart recruitment and the continued emergence of some of their young talent, in theory at least, Wanderers could play well in 90% of their games and still miss out on the top four. That said, they are not to be written off.

Caption: Wanderers will be getting used to life in the Leinster league next season. Pic: Rory Raftery Sligo RFC.

Who are the title contenders?

Wanderers are outsiders as we have said but still contenders and it will all depend on recruitment and player retention but then again, as it is only May the same line can be thrown out in relation to any side.

At this point in time, taking last season on it’s merits and gauging the potential for growth in each club, Tullamore, Enniscorthy and Newbridge should be the main contenders with Coolmine always worth keeping an eye on even if this season was a disappointment.

Considering their All Ireland title and the strong, longer lasting title push last year Tullamore look good but Enniscorthy’s Towns Cup triumph makes them really serious contenders. It has the potential to be a great season.

Will Cill Dara establish a top flight footing?

Tough ask for the powerful side from Beechpark. They were strong at J2 level this year winning the 1b league and had good strength in depth, especially up front, throughout the campaign.

The one concern for the Division 1b Champions is their points scoring rate. They just didn’t score regularly enough last year and relied more on a ferocious defence and Paddy Behan’s vision to win games.

That will have to change in Division 1a but it’s not as if the club is taking a step into the unknown they’re back in the top flight after a brief hiatus and will be determined to stay there.

Can Enniscorthy kick on?

The Towns Cup triumph had a ‘first chapter’rather than ‘epic finale’ feel to it. As cup triumphs go, beating Skerries, Newbridge and Tullow along the way to the title is no mean feat either.

The warning shot across the bow comes in the example of Dundalk from last season. They struggled for long periods last season and only came good in the final month to avoid the drop.

For us, they fell victim of one of the more complex and understandable realities of amateur sports when it comes to achieving goals and setting new ones, the second half of that can be a challenge after players have given up so much time for a cause and reached the promised land.

Enniscorthy have a younger age profile though and this will only be their second season back in the top tier so we see no reason to suggest they’ll follow the same path.

How many teams are at the proverbial Crossroads?

Lots of them. Namely Newbridge, Coolmine, Garda, Dundalk and Wanderers.

Tullamore are a safe bet for top four, Enniscorthy less so but they are very much on the upward curve and Cill Dara are in new territory and more than capable of matching what ‘scorthy achieved after going up last season.

All that leaves us with the five mentioned, Newbridge made real progress this year making the All Ireland Cup for the first time but they fell away after Christmas with a cup win at Kilkenny one of the few high points, can they redress that and push on next season?

Coolmine were potential title challengers back in September but they failed to spark raising a gallop late in the season to win the Spencer Cup and a reach a Metro Cup semi final before letting a big lead slip against NUIM Barnhall. They need consistency and could get sucked into a relegation scrap if it doesn’t come.

Garda will have been happy with sixth but they will also be aware that they didn’t make much of an impact at cup time and could find themselves down towards the bottom again this season, Dundalk recovered well towards the end but need a spark in their squad while we’ve talked of the challenges that face Wanderers.

It really promises to be some season and it might take a month of action before clear contenders for the title and the drop emerge.

We’ll have a permanent spot for this later in the month with links to all clubs but to start with we thought we’d highlight where each club stands heading into next season in the four provincial Junior leagues and the All Ireland Ulster Bank League.

Some notes

* This is a work in progress so feel free to highlight any errors.

* Clubs are placed in order of their finishing position this season.

* We are setting a target of getting full squad details for 2012/13 from every team in the Ulster Bank League and the top tier in each of the four provinces and we’ll let you know how you can help us with that in the coming weeks.

* Where a club’s 1st xv competes at J2 level or below, they are listed as ‘non J1′

* For the purpose of clarity we’ve called each provincial league tier, ‘Provincial 1′ ‘Provincial 2′ etc.

The Table

Irish Club Rugby Pyramid

These two sides don’t like each other all that much. There’s no harm in that. Sean Lineen is to Glasgow’s what Warren Gatland was to Connacht all those years ago, a brash kiwi who is not afraid to ruffle feathers and who is loved by the local rugby enthusiasts. They gave him an emotional home farewell on his last home game in charge.
It was Lineen who stoked the fires a couple of seasons ago with comments about ‘hating’ playing against the western province adding “at least the other provinces try and play rugby”. Harmless stuff but that was the spark that has led to a bit of bite in the fixture.

We say all that to highlight the niggle that was in this contest and emphasis that while Glasgow clearly had more to battle for and that told in the end, Connacht didn’t just show up in end of season mode. They toiled and probed but unlike the previous three outings, nothing was going right.

The game was lost after half time with Glasgow leading 11-3 but by no means home and hosed, Four successive lineout steals from the monstrous Richie Gray gave the home side – roared on by a huge following – all the impetus needed. Duncan Weir tagged on two penalties in the period.

However, the contest was only fully put beyond Connacht’s reach on 68 minutes when Peter Fitzgibbon came up with a yellow card that only he can explain.

Connacht had won a penalty, Chris Cusiter – Glasgow’s Lions capped scrum half – held the ball and refused to return it. Paul O’Donoghoe pushed him to the ground in the scuffle and was promptly shown a yellow card for the innocuous incident.

So to sum up for the younger rugby players reading, according to highly rated Irish referee Fitzgibbon. Chris Cusiter’s actions in slowing down the game and petulantly holding onto the ball were fine and in the end, earned his side a reversed penalty. O’Donoghoe’s frustrations warranted the only punishment. A nonsense decision in favour of the instigator.

Glasgow had a second try from John Barclay soon after and the game was done, their first half score from Canadian wing DTH Van De Merwe was the game’s key score however, as it epitomised the undoubted edge they had in the contest when it came to phase building attacks.

Highlights from the game from a western point of view include some promising first half counter attacks with Tiernan O’Halloran and Kyle Tonetti to the fore, another barnstorming display from George Naoupu and solid ball carrying from Connacht Clan player of the season Ronan Loughney.

Caption: Ronan Loughney and Michael Swift were a key part of the engine room this season. Pic: Jonathan Curran, Sporting Occasions.

And that is that, a season of immense progress done on a sunny evening at the home of Partick Thistle FC. Who would have foreseen such progress at this point twelve months ago when Heineken Cup rugby was a possibility but nothing more, the covered Clan Terrace merely a drawing on paper and the idea of 3,200 season ticket holders fanciful at best.

The RaboDirect Pro 12 attendances alone increased by over 100% this season. Close to 2,500 supporters have already signed up for next season’s well priced season ticket packages with spaces on the Clan Terrace’s running out fast. Jerseys and merchandise can be spotted all over the province.

This isn’t just a Galway thing either, despite far too much talk about that. The city is the perfect home, the Sportsground is becoming a quirky rugby outpost that should prove a graveyard to more sides of the calibre of Harlequins and Ulster in the coming seasons but the growth is province wide.

Putting Connacht on the European rugby map may well prove beneficial in more ways than simply swelling some pub coffers in the province’s capital city. It’s about regional identify and promoting the west of Ireland around the continent. On and off the field, the progress is encouraging.

Next season, Connacht’s emerging players (including the bulk of Nigel Carolan’s under 20 Grand Slam heroes from last September) will be involved with the A squad’s first ever foray into the British and Irish Cup.

It all adds up, and while Saturday night was frustrating, Connacht took to the field with seven home grown west of Ireland natives in their starting line up. A province with just 22 clubs producing the local talent and it’s paying off after years of resistance when it came to giving these young lads a chance.

At Christmas, in the midst of a horrible run, Connacht reached a low point in defeat at Thomond Park in terms of performance and attitude. Munster’s second strong steamrolled their lethargic opponents. At that point we asked for all involved to simply ponder the question “What is the point of Connacht rugby?”

No such pondering is needed now. The tide turned with that narrow, heart stopping win over English kingpins Harlequins that ended the Londoners hopes in the competition and has kicked on in recent months.

A highest ever league finish of eighth is a good note to finish on but with an influx of talent on the way, the targets will be getting more lofty in the coming months.

Connacht brought their winning streak at this level to six on the bounce with a gutsy come from behind 24-18 victory over Leinster in Loughrea this afternoon to maintain hopes of retaining the title.

AUDIO: Connacht Coach Ambrose Conboy

http://www.knockon.ie/audio/ambroseconboyconnachtjuniorsbeatmunster.mp3

Having trailed 10-0 early, the home side fought back with tries from Peter Cosrgove and Kevin Corcoran to go ahead before Jerome Harrimate sealed the win in the closing stages with a third try. Leinster’s last gasp score from Padraig Mahon was too little to late.

Meanwhile Munster secured a bonus point 34-15 victory to Ulster in Kanturk scoring some brilliant tries in a strong second half performance to add to their win over Leinster.

Connacht v Leinster, Loughrea 2:30pm.

Connacht host a Leinster side looking to bounce back from a narrow loss in round one and determined to gain some revenge for last year’s loss to the westerners.

Ambrose Conboy has been forced into three key changes from the side that won a Connacht record fifth Junior Inter-provincial on the bounce in Dromore last week.

Michael Murphy, Dave Prior and Aidan McNulty all members of the Grand Slam winners last year miss this game with Greg Faherty, Robert Lee and Willie Cullinane coming into the side. 

Leinster are looking to bounce back from defeat to Munster and have made four changes in their front five to improve set piece play. Captain Frank Murphy is the only player to return from the Edenderry game in that unit.

Ashbourne’s Gavin Kennedy performed well as a replacement at nine on Saturday and he starts this time round. Here is Leinster manager Dave Mahon after the 20-16 loss against Munster.

AUDIO Leinster Manager Dave Mahon

http://www.knockon.ie/audio/davemahonleinsterjuniors.mp3

The Verdict

Connacht are now a serious force at this grade but the simply reality is they’ll start Saturday’s game with just one player who started last year’s final game against Munster. Injuries and unavailable players is a problem for any side at this grade but the westerners have been hit hard. That said last week proved that the depth of talent out west is greater than at any point in history.

Leinster are wounded and have taken some pretty serious action re-organising their front row. Luke Goff was a key man for Enniscorthy this season, Ger Moore is a busy hooker with Cill Dara who gets through a huge amount of work. They’ll be ready for an east Galway battle and might just have the edge. On paper they really should but last week proved such a rational is a poor guide.

Away by 4

Leinster: 15. Karl Darragh (Newbridge) 
14. Ross Doyle (Portarlington)
 13. Ross Barbour (Enniscorthy) 
12. Damien McCabe (Enniscorthy) 
11. Padraig Mahon (Newbridge) 
10. Ivan Poole (Enniscorthy)
 9. Gavin Kennedy (Ashbourne): 1. Luke Goff (Enniscorthy), Ger Moore (Cill Dara), Shane Reilly (Portlaoise);  4. Frank Murphy (Tullow) 5. Philly Ryan (Kilkenny); 6. Tony Ryan (Enniscorthy)
, 7. Mitchel Dalton ( Enniscorthy), 8. Eoin Walsh (IT Carlow)

Replacements: John Rowe (Wexford Wanderers) 
17: Johnny Lee (Coolmine)
 18: Grant Wattleworth (Newbridge)
19: Rory McCann (Newbridge)
 20: Damien Broughal (Cill Dara)
 21: Richie Hughes (Tullamore)
22: Paddy Behan (Cill Dara)

Connacht: 15. Robert O’Beirn (Ballinasloe); 14. Kevin Corcoran (Westport), 13. Jermoe Harrimate (Ballina), 12. Robert Lee (Tuam), 11. Peter Cosgrove (OLBC); 10. Jamie Murphy, (Tuam), 9, Greg Faherty (OLBC); 1. James Walsh (OLBC), 2. Martin Lee (Corrib) (cpt), 3. Paul McCreanor (OLBC); 4. Mark Mullins (Loughrea), 5. Brian Murphy, (Monivea); 6. Willie Cullinane (Loughrea), 7. John Hayes (Ballinasloe), 8. Stepehen Burke (Tuam).

Replacements: Mike Ward (Tuam), Alex Lee (Ballina), Ronan Coughlan (Monivea), James Moran (OLBC), Conor Hurst (Tuam), Eoin Cosgrove (Tuam), Dave Dooley (OLBC).

MATCH 2

Munster v Ulster Kanturk, 2:30pm

Munster are on a high after their fine win in Edenderry and host an Ulster side reeling from a three point defeat to the men from the west last Saturday. They’ve named a side with just two changes for the fixture, Ulster have not named their side.

Greg Carroll of Clonmel comes in on the wing in place of the talented Ciaran O’Coilean while versatile front row forward Mike Cronin starts at hooker.  Here’s John O’Neill after Saturday’s win.

AUDIO: Munster Coach John O’Neill

http://www.knockon.ie/audio/Johnoneillmunsterjuniors.mp3

The Verdict

John O’Neill’s side will be favourites to make it two from two with their confidence up after a gutsy display against the Offaly club helped in no small part by captain Ben Martin.

We don’t have an Ulster side but we can imagine there will be a number of changes after the defeat at home to Connacht. They are complete underdogs here which makes them dangerous but this is a tremendously well drilled Munster side with a real sense of purpose about their season.

Home by 2

Munster: 15. Ben Martin (Clonmel); 14. Ciaran O’Coilean (Corca Dhuibhne), 13. Murray Kinsella (Waterpark), 12. Darren O’Keefe (Crosshaven), 11. Peter Earlie (Kanturk); 10. Morgan Lyons (Clonmel), 9. Aaron Daly (Youghal); 1. Alex Simpson (Richmond), 2. Fearghal Lawlor (St Senans), 3. Michael McInerny (Ennis); 4. Stephen Burke (Galbally), 5. Sean Walsh (Clanwilliam); 6. Brian O’Sullivan (Tralee) (cpt), 7. Gearod Phelan (Richmond), 8. Dan McCabe (Kanturk)

Replacements: 16. Brian O’Neill (Kanturk), 17. Patrick Ryan (St Senans), 18. Mike Cronin (Castleisland), 19. Brian Lyons (Thurles), 20. Ian Fitzgerald (St Senans), 21. Ruari Geary (Cobh Pirates); 22. Greg Carroll (Clonmel), 23. Jeff McNamara (Richmond).

Ulster: TBC