This weekend we see the first rounds in the First Trust sponsored Ulster Senior Cup and the Millar McCall Wylie sponsored Junior Cup involving teams from Qualifying One and Two. Both competitions provide the opportunity for clubs to win a piece of silverware before Christmas at the recently renovated Ravenhill. The Senior Cup final is listed for Wednesday the 11th December with the Junior Cup pencilled in for Tuesday the 17th December. Both finals will be a new experience for teams using the changing rooms in the Aquinas Stand as they enter the hollowed turf of Ravenhill. Who will be the clubs to grace these finals?
The Senior Cup has four evenly matched fixtures on Sat with Ards,Instonians, Dungannon and Ballynahinch receiving a bye. In the first tie the inform Armagh host neighbouring Banbridge at the Palace grounds. Armagh will be favourites with coach Daniel Soper hoping to turn around the fortunes of Banbridge following two league defeats to Malone and Instonians. Current Senior cup holders Ballymena travel to Gibson Park to face Malone. Momentum is with the Eaton Park men after an encouraging start to their Ulster league campaign and a recent friendly win at Malone. Belfast neighbours Queens and Belfast Harlequins meet at the Dub. Again there is little to choose between both sides. Harlequins should shade this fixture. Hatrick Park will welcome City of Derry as the host side Rainey will look to return to Ravenhill where they lost out in the Senior Cup final last season to Ballymena. Rainey should progress, but this will be an keenly contested cup tie. One to watch.
Junior Cup
With thirteen ties down for decision this weekend. All Ireland Junior Cup representatives Clogher Valley, CIYMS, Portadown and Donaghadee have received a bye in the first round. Ballymoney host Lisburn still seeking their first win of the season. A narrow loss to neighbours Coleraine last weekend should see the Kilraughts team record their first win of the season. Ballynahinch seconds should prove too strong for Belfast Harlequins seconds at home with their firsts receiving a bye in the Senior Cup. Banbridge seconds host City of Derry seconds who were the joint winners of the Towns Cup last season with Ballyclare. Home advantage should see Banbridge progress. After a strong performance against Portadown in their opening league game Bangor should win at home to Academy.
Carrick against Instonians seconds is another interesting tie with the Shaws bridge team presenting a stern test for the home fifteen. One of the eagerly awaited ties will see Coleraine entertaining Dungannon seconds at Sandel Lodge. With ‘Gannon’ firsts receiving a bye in the Senior Cup they will have strong xv to choose from. Coleraine have impressed in their opening league performances. Coleraine to progress. Dromore entertain Armagh seconds at Barban Hill. After their impressive 22 – 15 win at Cooke last Saturday. Dromore should start as favourites. Armagh overwhelmed Randalstown in their conference league game last Sat 43 – 0. Two potential league contenders in Qualifying Two meet at Mullaghmeen when Enniskillen host North West rivals Limavady. Skins coach Alastair McKee will have been disappointed to lose out half Chris McVitty and second row James Carleton to Qualifying One champions Portadown. He has retained influential number 8 Jamie Johnston and along with the leadership of scrum half Ricky Connor they should prove too strong for the men from the Roe Valley. Grosvenor welcome Ballymena seconds to Belmont . This will be a daunting challenge for new Grosvenor coach Peter Lowry. Ballymena to progress. Coach Phil Marshall will welcome Malone seconds to Mellon Park as his Omagh team look to challenge for league and cup honours this season. Omagh have retained their developing playing squad from last season. Their weekend visit to Benone Beach should see them making the next round. Rainey’s large playing squad should again provide a strengthed second team with the opportunity to progress at the expense of neighbours Randalstown. Can the influence of Randalstown coach Gary Longwell provide an upset !!! The students of Coleraine would be expected to win against Ards seconds. With Ards firsts receiving a bye in the Senior Cup their seconds are capable of winning at the Riverside. Probably the tie of the round is the visit of Cooke to Ballyclare. Cooke would be expected to win this fixture. But the Clare team demonstrated last season they are a formidable team at home as they progressed to the Towns Cup final to share the trophy with City of Derry seconds and narrowly lose out to Bangor in the race to win promotion to Qualifying One. The ‘White Hare’ men secured an emphatic 33 – 6 win at Lisburn last Saturday to launch their Qualifying Two ambitions. Ballyclare to win.
Qualifying Three
Donegal play Monaghan and Newry host Lurgan in the opening league fixtures. In this keenly contested league relegated Larne and Gordon West Cup holders Holywood will be the favouites to challenge for this league.
Qualifying Four
BHSFP host Londonderry YMCA. High School lost their opening league game at Ophir last Saturday by 55 – 11. Ophir along with Civil Service will be the two sides challenging for promotion.
