Limerick's Young Munster learn Bateman All-Ireland Cup semi-final details

MUNSTER Senior Cup holders Young Munster have been drawn away to high-flying Terenure College in the semi-finals of the Bateman All-Ireland Cup next month.

Gearoid Prendergast's Young Munster side will take on their All-Ireland League Division 1A rivals Terenure at Lakelands Park on Saturday, January 14, 2.30pm, in a game that doubles up as a league fixture.

The doubling up of the fixtures came following a request from both clubs. Should the game finish in a draw, the result will stand for the All-Ireland League result and extra-time will be played to determine who goes through to the Bateman Cup final.

The opening Bateman Cup semi-final takes place a week earlier when Buccaneers will Queen’s University at Dubarry Park on Saturday, January 7.

The historic All-Ireland Cup competition returns after Christmas as the four provincial Cup winners battle it out for the prestigious title, which has been dominated by Munster and Dublin clubs since it was reintroduced in 2010/11.

Famously, Young Munster were the 1928 winners of the Bateman Cup and have contested two other finals, including last February’s decider in Cork which Lansdowne won in convincing fashion.

Sean Skehan’s Terenure side, who won an elusive Leinster Senior Cup for the club last season, have impressed with their consistent form this term as Division 1A leaders. They will visit Munsters' in their final league match of 2022 on December 10.

Munsters' retained the Munster Senior Cup last season, beating old rivals Garryowen in the final. The Greenfields side have claimed the scalp of reigning Division 1A champions Clontarf and Dublin University in the AIL in recent weeks. 

The Bateman Cup final has been scheduled for Saturday, February 4, with the venue to be confirmed.

Over a century ago, the Bateman Cup was presented to the IRFU by Dr. Godfrey Bateman in memory of his sons Reginald and Arthur who were killed during the First World War. It was first played for in 1922.