WITH the new AIL season only weeks away and cup competitions now in full flight, rugby attention in the city and county is now firmly focused on the new club rugby season. With new seasons come new faces. Limerick’s senior clubs have made numerous new signings for the upcoming 2009/10 campaign and some are sure to prosper in their new environments.
Some of the main newcomers are listed below, courtesy of Emerald Rugby. Bruff (1): Philip Moloney joins from Garryowen. Garryowen (5): Donal Sheehan from Old Crescent; Rory Griffin from UL Bohemian; Symon Galazka from Loughrea; Kevin McCoy from Old Crescent; Michael Dunphy from UL Bohemian. Old Crescent (2): Cathal Parkes from UL Bohemian; Chris DeLooze from UL Bohemian. Shannon (5): Batt Duggan from UL Bohemian; Felix Jones from Seapoint; Mossy Lawlor from Wasps; Sean Duggan from Young Munster; Gerry Morgan from Old Crescent. Thomond (7): Ger Finucane from Old Crescent; Glenn Carroll from Young Munster; David Foley from Young Munster; Fintan Cross from UL Bohemian; Jamie English from UL Bohemian; Stephen McGrath from Young Munster; David Sheehan from Young Munster. UL Bohemian (3): John Ed O’Connor from Cashel; Myles Richardson from Garryowen; Ian Condell from Scottish Rugby Union. Young Munster (8): Eoghan O’Byrne from Thomond; Alan Kingsley from Garryowen; Ian Cross from UL Bohemian; Aaron Carroll from Roscrea/Old Crescent; Raymond Molonery from Roscrea/Old Crescent; James O’Neill from Old Crescent; Danny Grace from Old Crescent; James Jackman from Waterpark.
In other club news, The draw for the 2009/2010 AIB Cup took place this week. The first round of the draw includes the 32 clubs from Divisions Two and Three of the AIB League. The winners of these ties will then go forward to the second round to play the 16 clubs from Divisions 1A and 1B of the AIB League. The first round of the competition will be played on the weekend 26/27 September and the second round will be played on the weekend 17/18 November. Round three of the AIB Cup takes place on November 7/8, the Quarter finals on November 21/22 with the Semi Finals set for December 19/20. Holders Ballynahinch have been drawn at home in the second round against Cork Constitution in a repeat of last season’s final.
AIB Cup First Round Draw, Limerick Teams, Rainey Old Boys V Old Crescent, Clonakilty V Bruff, Highfield V Thomond
AIB Cup Second Round Draw: St. Marys V Clonakilty/Bruff, Young Munster V Terenure/Connemara, UL Bohemians V Belfast Harlequins/Naas, Navan/Instonians V Garryowen, Highfield/Thomond V Midleton/UCD, Rainey OB/Old Crescent V Clontarf, Shannon V Buccaneers.
