The strength in depth of club rugby in Leinster is reflected by the clash on Saturday of holders and Leinster League Division 1A winners Tullamore against Towns Cup champions Enniscorthy in the final of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup at Cill Dara Rugby Club’s grounds in Beechpark (KO: 2.30pm)…
The county Offaly side are attempting to win the national trophy for the third time whilst their opponents are participating not only in their first final but it is also their debut in the tournament which is open annually to the top four teams in each of the provinces.
It is also particularly appropriate that two clubs which are celebrating significant milestones this season have reached the finale; it is Tullamore’s 75th anniversary while Enniscorthy are 100 years old.
Tullamore’s route to the Saturday’s decider included an opening round 52-15 home win over Ballymoney from Antrim, a second round 47-17 victory over Monivea from Galway, also at home in Spollanstown before travelling to north Cork for a 24-0 semi-final success over Kanturk.
Enniscorthy’s first venture into the Junior Cup was a long journey to west Cork in the 1st round where they beat Skibbereen 26-10 before a 2nd round 15-8 home victory in Ross Road against Donaghadee from county Down and then a 29-17 win in Fermanagh at the penultimate stage over Clogher Valley.
This is the third time in its short eight-year history that two Leinster clubs will contest the final and as such it guarantees that a Leinster club will lift the trophy for the fifth time.
Leinster Rugby would like to wish both finalists the best of luck and may the best team win.
