Limerick clubs eye crucial Munster Senior Cup fixtures

THE second series of group fixtures in the new-look Munster Senior Challenge Cup takes place this Saturday afternoon.

The games kick-off earlier than usual in order to avoid a direct clash with Ireland's Rugby World Cup opener with Romania which gets underway in Bordeaux at 2.30pm Irish time.

In Saturday's Munster Senior Challenge Cup group fixtures, Bruff will look to make it two wins from two when entertaining Midleton at Kilballyowen Park at 12,30pm.

Another Limerick club looking to extend their winning start to the competition are Young Munster who entertain UCC at Clifford Park at 12.30pm.

Meanwhile, Old Crescent have their first outing in the competition when travelling to South Tipperary to take on Clonmel at 12.45pm.

Garryowen FC are another Limerick side away to Tipperary opposition this weekend as the ‘Light Blues’ face Cashel at 1pm.

Shannon will be looking to bounce back from their opening round defeat in the group stages of the competition when hosting Highfield on the back pitch at Thomond Park on Saturday, 1pm.

The competition this season contains four groups with each team that finishes top reaching the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Cup. A total of 14 teams are taking part in this season's Munster Senior Challenge Cup.

Young Munster made a winning start to the defence of their Munster Senior Cup when getting the better of local rivals Garryowen 15-5 at Dooradoyle on Thursday last.

Three-in-a-row seeking Young Munster took a 7-0 lead with a maul try scored by Stephen McLoughlin.

Home side Garryowen then hit back with a try on the half hour mark scored by Bryan Fitzgerald, but Munsters' held a slender 7-5 half-time lead.

The Greenfields side then stretched their lead in the second half through a penalty goal, before Tomas Clifford made the game safe when adding a further try.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, AIL 1A side Shannon succumbed 19-29 at home to last season's beaten Munster Senior Cup finalists Nenagh Ormond at Coonagh. The home side, who handed senior debuts to up to 10 players in the game, were outscored by five tries to three.

Shannon, who led 19-17 at half-time, had tries from Shane Carew, Matt Burke and Killian Corkery. Michael Cooke added two conversions.

Bruff got their campaign off to a winning start after edging past Limerick rivals UL-Bohemian 23-22 at Annacotty. Bruff had tries from Cillian Rea and Pa Maher, while Paul Collins added 13 points with the boot.

UL-Bohemian notched four tries, including five-pointers from Myles Lawlor, Sean O’Grady and Pauric Nesbitt.