Second only behind resolution wishlists in New Year importance is Cup footy - that much-vaunted exemplar of high-pressure rugby and ignominious early summer holidays.

For the successful, it prolongs the winter by way of do-or-die advances through latter rounds, quarter and semi-finals; and for those who finish on the lower side of the ledger after 80 minutes matches become fewer and further between. This weekend is a Cup rugby bonanza and opens with Buccaneers and Galwegians on Friday at 7.30pm, each vying for an all-Ireland semi-final berth in the Bateman Cup.

The Junior Division 1A table enters the Heineken Junior Cup, and the Galwegians Women open both their AIL national cup and Leinster Cup campaigns in Dublin. The Bish' (St Joseph's town) beat Clifden Community College, both already in the Connacht Schools Cup next week, on Thursday and sorted out second-tier supremacy for Development Cup honours. The other school headline this week involved the little-known (in rugby circles) CBS Roscommon who gained entry into the premier Supermacs Connacht Schools Junior Cup by way of their development cup semi-final success over The Jes'.

And throughout the province, despite school commitments, a waterlogged winter, and shortage of viable surfaces, Connacht's underage grades too fire off round after round of quarter-final and semi-final match-ups. While weather may yet rain proverbial spanners into various works, this season is primed for a stellar finish.

Both Monivea and Westport remain alive in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland Junior Cup, their fates hereafter play out on February 4 against Coleraine and Tullamore, with each to play local cup games in the interim, and the under17 and under15 grades are as scintillating as any following respective divisional split competitions.

While top-placed contenders selected themselves, there was an almighty race on for the third and fourth spots with seven teams across the competitions able to secure knock-out competition entry.

With the Junior 1A heavyweights advancing beyond January 8 untested, first round victors Corrib, Creggs, Loughrea, Buccaneers, Ballyhaunis and Ballinrobe now pit wits, wiles and weight for quarter-final berths.

The Heineken Connacht Junior Cup's preliminary round played out much as expected, Buccaneers drawing first blood against UCG in 2011. Neither pretty nor convincing, Buccaneers managed the bare minimum against a spirited students' side, the Dangan academics all but upsetting the applecart first game up. Loughrea, Corrib, and Creggs all posted more emphatic wins over Portumna, Gort and Carrick-on-Shannon (respectively) over the weekend, Loughrea the highest scorers at 44 (and also the biggest margin). Loughrea, a Junior 1A/1B floater in recent years are well-primed to advance further given their Sligo match-up is against a club whose all-stars compete in the AIL and will be, for the most part, unavailable for the juniors. Favoured to win, Loughrea are away from home for their next clash and may struggle to adjust to the Atlantic elements which often plague the Strandhill plateau.

Creggs must surf a Boys Club wave this weekend, which may have rolled gently to a standstill against neighbouring Galwegians at Glenina last weekend in the league, but cannot be underestimated stinging from the four-point loss. This weekend, still smarting from the unexpected defeat, Boys Club will look to smash Creggs against the rocks and send them back east board in bits, black, blue and beaten.

Junior 1A frontrunners Monivea host Tuam. While the red-and-blacks take top-billing over the red-and-blues, Tuam is a fearless beast who simply refuse to acknowledge scorelines, deficits or not, before the final whistle. Such scant regard for scorelines has always been Tuam's foremost virtue, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with frightening regularity. As far as this round's headline acts go, it's anyone's guess?

Obviously the Galwegians/Corinthians clash will pique interest within Galway city limits as both Junior sides have atoned for poor early season starts and are hitting their straps for the pre-Easter campaign. The Mayo derby will be keenly-contested but recent form suggests Westport has enough in the tank (and on the bench) to ward off the Castlebar challenge.

The two Ballyhaunis/Ballinrobe and Buccaneers/Ballinasloe matches could well be the pick of the bunch. In what has emerged as a Junior 1B/1C four-way dogfight, each can plausibly pull-off a quarter-final spot, and with a kind draw thereafter can expect good representation in the semis. Buccaneers claim the psychological advantage, 27-6 over Ballinasloe in the league on Dubarry soil, but Cup rugby is a little more complicated. Ballinrobe is third from the bottom in that competition, whereas Ballyhaunis tops the next one down.

Swords will fall this weekend, and at least three Junior 1A sides will summer to the tune of "if only...". Ballyhaunis and Sligo hold up the Junior 1C fort at this stage.

Time will tell whether either of them can claim a dragon-slaying scout badge come Monday morning.

Referee appointments:

Ballina v Corrib (D Collins); Creggs v OLBC (T Horkan); Galwegians v Corinthians (IPAS); Sligo v Loughrea (D Flood); Buccaneers v Ballinasloe (K White); Westport v Castlebar (E Dormer); Monivea v Tuam (K Collins); Ballyhaunis v Ballinrobe (J Doyne). 

All games commence at 2pm, first name listed at home.

Ballina's Big Bang a Christmas Cracker

After a two year hiatus the annual St Stephen’s day Aubrey Bourke Cup President’s XV game in Ballina played out with competition and entertainment aplenty.

The high-profile Heffernan Park fixture drew no shortage of player support and President Marc Loftus' makeshift mob tended more toward "star-studded" than "barrel-scraping". Far from wizened or walking wounded, Loftus' President's XV included 2010 stars David Mescal and Ronan O’Malley, and Cawley Cup flanker Phillip Rowe at centre. Surrey-based centre Chris O’Neill, Corinthians tighthead Tom Tolan, DLSP’s Francis Cooney, Galwegians' David Clarke, Connacht and Ireland’s Under20 and Under19 players David Heffernan and Brian Moylette also featured in one of the modern era's strongest President’s teams.

Prominent up front also was David Rowe and Ross Farrell, but Ballina responded well to their initial onslaught.

The incumbent Junior team began to impose control stringing several phases together in the second quarter and the President's XV conceded penalties to stave off tries. Ballina out-half Andy Moynihan obliged 22 minutes in to go three-nil up; and the next 18minutes elapsed without further score. Linkmen Michael Murphy (9) and the Laurence Leonard/Orrie Collins/Aidan McNulty back row stood out; while David Heffernan and Phillip Rowe (who moved into the pack from the centre) stood out in the forwards. Mescal, Clarke and fullback Robert Forbes impressed further out.

Ballina asserted more dominance as the second half wore on but defensive tenacity denied several scoring opportunities. Francis Conroy drew first blood latching on to some slick Jerome Harimate and Michael Allen interplay to score wide for an 8-nil lead. Camped deep in their own territory, the President's XV attempted to run the ball clear of the redzone but paid dearly when Harimate picked up an intercept and made short work of the space. Kevin McCarron added the extras to go 15 points clear.

Simon Wade for the The President's XV mounted a late comeback and found Isaac O'Grady driving hard for (and over) the line.

Aubrey Bourke's niece Jenny Bourke presented the cup to Murphy who, in turn, paid tribute to all involved. He said the competitive standard laid solid groundwork for the League's latter stages and impending Cup competitions. Ballina’s next game is away to Castlebar on Sunday, January 8.

Ballina: Kevin McCarron, Francis Conroy, Jerome Harimate, Michael Allen, Trevor Moore, Andrew Moynihan, Michael Murphy (C), Ciaran Melvin, Rodney O’Donnell, Paul Newell, Connor Forde, Mark Healy, Orrie Collins, Laurence Leonard, Aidan McNulty, Richard Kelly, Liam Lynch, Stephen Dolan, Robert Melody, Cormac Quinn, Donal Gillivary, James O’Connor, Russell O’Brien.

President's XV: Robert Forbes, Mark Jennings, Chris O’Neill, Phillip Rowe (C), Phillip Thornton, David Clarke, David Mescal, David Rowe, John Keaveny, Tom Tolan, Ross Farrell, David Heffernan, Kenneth Forde, Brian Moylette, Craig Farrell, Connor Dever, Robert Durcan, David Brunker, Cian Mullarkey, Brendan Barrett, Paul McCreanor, Simon Wade, Isaac O’Grady, Robert Durcan, Arthur West, Andrew West, Ronan O’Malley, Alan Jennings, Francis Cooney, Ryan Gregory, Daniel Carrabine. Referee: Alistair Brown.

Ballina 15 beat President's XV 5. (HT 3-0)

(contributed - Clive Moore)

Sligo Town & Country St Stephens Day Schedule

Sligo Rugby's feature event over the Christmas break is their much-anticipated Town v Country clash.

The match, traditionally held on St Stephen’s day, is always a fiercely-contested affair featuring players with domestic or family connections either side of the Sligo borough boundary. Any rugby playing Christmas visitors and ex-players are invited to run out and shed a few Christmas fill-gotten gains.

While Town claims bragging rights at present, the Country catchment potential makes 2011's champion a tough one to call. The game kicks off at 2.30, on Hamilton Park, players to meet at the club at 1.00pm. The aftermatch promises much and boasts Kiwis and Aussies of years past on the guestlist.

A new Sligo Rugby initiative features an Under20 Town and Country curtainraiser at 1.15pm. The Belfry Bar-sponsored trophy presentation precedes the main game kickoff. Those interested in playing the junior game please contact Caolan O Hehir (for Country) or Robbert Keegan (Town).

Scrumptious Christmas Disco

Sligo RFC's fully supervised non-alcoholic Christmas teenage disco will take place at the clubhouse on Thursday, December 22. Tickets are now on sale from the usual outlets.

Auction Fundraiser

Sligo RFC will be hosting a fundraising auction in the Glasshouse hotel on Sunday, February 19. The auction committee, led by George Draper, is busily collecting lots to go under the hammer! Antiques, Curiosities,Sports memorabilia, vouchers, and work pledges are all suitable for the event. For details contact George Draper, Justin Harte or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A drinks reception kicked off the Glasshouse Hotel's Sligo Rugby Club Christmas Party last Thursday, December 15. The “Your Christmas Jumper” themed fashion show did not disappoint, many of the homemade efforts as garish and outlandish as imaginations allowed. Olive Mc Tague won the much deserved award.

Sligo Rugby thanks The Glasshouse Hotel and staff for a fantastic night. Sligo Rugby wishes a very Happy Christmas and New Year to all its players and supporters.

contributed - Emer Benson