Can our two leading Ulster sides Clogher Valley and Portadown journey south this weekend and record two wins on the road to make it an All Ulster final in the All Ireland Junior Cup in 2014. Both sides face two club sides that have not performed well in their respective leagues in Leinster and Munster. We know from past experience the Southern sides bring a physicality to their game that the Ulster sides struggle to compete with. Witness the failure of these two Ulster sides to win their Round Robin tournaments in 2011/12 and 2012/13 as the Ulster league winners. In the Quarter finals it was the four home sides who prevailed to make it to the semi finals of this years competition. Will we have a repeat or is it the away sides who are going to triumph. Both Ulster sides recorded high scoring league wins last Saturday with Clogher Valley defeating Cooke 45 – 6 and Portadown winning 59 – 12 at UUC.
Enniscorthy v Portadown
Having won five games in a row the Leinster side were thrashed 36 – 0 away to fellow Leinster side Dundalk 36 – 0 last Saturday in a league game. Enniscorthy had travelled without three key forwards and lost their influential number 8 to injury after twenty minutes. Not ideal preparation for a Cup semi final. Portadown have to match a side that have beaten CIYMS 25 – 0 in an earlier round: Donaghadee and Clogher Valley on route to last season’s final. Their ground has not been a happy venue for visiting Ulster sides. Enniscorthy have a good Cup record and will pose a real threat to the Portadown xv with wins in addition to CI: they beat fellow Leinster rivals Coolmine 30 – 22. They have a good kicking game with a talented backline that like to play on the front foot. Their pack is hard working and will create problems for the experienced Portadown forwards at the breakdown. Portadown coach Richard Hedley has a full squad to choose from with the experienced back row forward Gareth McCoy returning to playing action last Saturday. The return of key players Ollie Montels, Nicky Jackson, Alan Whitten, Willy Graham and Peter Lamb proved a sound selection for the win over Dundalk in the previous round. With veteran Barry Gribben at scrum half along with a solid front five Portadown have the experience to end the cycle of defeats for Ulster sides against Enniscorthy. Discipline will be crucial in deciding the outcome of this game. Portadown to win.
Skibbereen v Clogher Valley
The west Cork side will provide the Fivemiletown side with an enormous challenge if they are to progress one step further than last season and make the final this season. Skibbereen are coached by Kiwi Hemi – Taukiri who played rugby with Kanturk and Mallow in the Munster league. He has experience of two All Ireland Junior Cup semi finals in recent years. Skibbereen may have lost five out of seven of their league games this season but recorded two impressive home wins in the All Ireland Cup over Ballina 36 – 18 and neighbours Tralee 17 – 10 in a tightly contested quarter final. They have experience in abundance with tight head prop and Captain Vincent ‘Vinny’ White bringing fifteen years of experience to a steely pack. Skibbereen have also added a versatile back in South African Steven Hensel to their playing squad. He has already proved himself a match winner with his tries and kicking. Having played int the Vodacom Cup and at Under 21 level in the Currie Cup he represents a real threat to the Clogher side. Coach Hemi – Taukiri has come off the bench to use his experience at out half to see out games. Other danger players for Clogher Valley are prop Sean O’Neill for his ball carrying skills, Ger O’Mahoney in the second row, Number 8 Dave Shannon, Scrum half Mike Limrick and full back/winger Dave Shannon. Clogher coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black have a full squad to choose from. They have experience in the forwards where David Sharkey and the Wilson brothers will be key players. Half backs Aaron Best and out half Philip Holme have key roles to play in managing their side through this difficult tie. The Tyrone side have shown their determination to make the final in securing wins over Kanturk 10 – 9 and Kilfeacle 29 – 0. Again dicipline will be crucial in deciding the outcome of this match. Clogher to win
