The focus may be on the Champions Cup match involving Ulster and Clermont Auvergne at the Kingspan stadium on Sat. In the Domestic game we have the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup semi finals this weekend along with a full playing programme in Div 2 and 3 of the Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship.

There is also a big week coming up with the first of two Cup Finals at the Kingspan stadium involving Ballynahinch seconds v Omagh in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup on Tuesday night followed by the First Trust Senior Cup involving Holders Ballynahinch and Dungannon on Thursday night.

All eyes will be on Clogher Valley this week as the Fivemiletown team pursue a place in the final of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Junior Cup. They face difficult opponents in Leinster side Ashbourne away. In the other semi it is an all Leinster pairing with current Cup Holders Enniscorthy seeking a third Cup win. They have to travel to an inform DLSP team. This is the only trophy Clogher Valley have failed to win in Junior rugby. Against all the odds this season can the Ulster side lift their game to another level and make their second final.

Week nine of the Ulster Bank All Ireland League completed the first half of the AIL fixtures last weekend. With teams not resuming league action until the 21st Jan 2017 for (Section 2) sides and 28th January for (Section 1) sides the coaches and players will welcome the break to recharge tired bodies and refocus energies for the second half of the AIL programme. Both City of Derry and Dungannon are awaiting confirmation from the IRFU that their game postponed on the 26th November will be played at Judges Road on the 31st December. Malone and Sunday's Well have brought forward their game in Cork to the 14th January 2017. This has necessistated the SONI Ulster Premiership match scheduled for the 14th January being brought forward to the 17th December at Hatrick Park in Magherfelt.

In reviewing the league results last weekend only 3 out of 11 Ulster sides won including Ballynahinch, Malone and undefeated Armagh. Not the return we expected from the clubs for their final AIL matches in 2016. Armagh retain their 1st place in Div 2B with Rainey despite losing at Bruff holding on to 1st place in Div 2C.

Interesting looking at the AIL results in the other three provinces. In Leinster 9 teams won out of 16 with 8 teams winning out of 15 in Munster. The only province with a 100% record was Connacht with the four sides all winning in the same weekend for the first time this season.

Last season we witnessed Ulster clubs performing well in the first half of the season only to fall away in the latter stages of the AIL. Hopefully the results last week end are not an indication of what lies ahead this season. We need our top club sides competing in Div 1A alongside the Leinster and Munster teams.

Has there been a shift away from the dominance of the Leinster clubs in Div 1A this season. What we are witnessing is three Munster clubs, Cork Constitution, Young Munster and Garryowen occupying top four placings along side leaders Lansdowne.

In the Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship Div 1 two points separate the top five teams Portadown, Instonians, Omagh, Ballyclare and Enniskillen after last weeks results. Both Instonians and Ballyclare picked up valuable wins against Carrickfergus and Dromore with Portadown and Enniskillen losing against Clogher Valley and Cooke. Omagh were involved in a titanic contest with Coleraine, winning 13 - 6 to qualify for the Junior Cup Final.

In the bottom half of Div 1 there is a separate league battle with four league points separating Cooke, Carrickfergus, Dromore and Clogher Valley as they fight to avoid finishing in 9th place and a play off against the 2nd place team in Div 2. Bottom club Ards remain winless in 10th place and are favourites to be relegated.

In Div 2 both leaders CIYMS and Coleraine are involved in Conference League action this week. This leaves the opportunity for Limavady and Academy in 3rd and 4th place to close the gap this week. At the bottom end of Div 2 five points separate the bottom three sides UUC, Lisburn and Donaghadee.

In Div 3 Ballymoney are the pacesetters with the PSNI and Lurgan battling it out for 2nd place. Lurgan won a vital game against the PSNI at home last week to remain in contention.

It was disappointing to hear this week that Head coach Dave Irwin had stepped down at Ards due to work commitments. His place has been taken by John West who will be assisted by Scott Young. We wish them well in turning around the fortunes of this former AIL club.

I was also disappointed to hear from Stephen Gilliland that his transfer from Instonians to CIYMS has yet to go through. I understand this transfer saga has been ongoing since September. Hopefully this matter can be resolved amicably between both clubs. I don't like hearing about players being denied the opportunity to play rugby.

FIRST TRUST SENIOR CUP FINAL. KINGSPAN STADIUM.
Played Thursday 15th December2016. Kick off 7.30PM
Ballynahinch v Dungannon

MILLAR McCALL WYLIE JUNIOR CUP FINAL. KINGSPAN STADIUM.
Played Tuesday 13th December 2016. Kick off 7.30PM
Omagh v Ballynahinch seconds

ULSTER BANK ALL IRELAND JUNIOR CUP SEMI FINALS

Clogher Valley v Ashbourne
We think back to the 29th October 2016. Clogher Valley hadn't won a match since March 2016. They were struggling at the bottom end of Div 1 of the Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship still seeking their first league win of the season. The 1st round of the AIL Junior Cup gave the coaches Glen Kyle and Davy Black the opportunity to take the players away to their then opponents Monivea in Connacht. A 27 - 6 win was just the tonic the players needed with No 8 Ryan Wilson scoring four tries. Would this win be the turning point in their season. Their next game would be the quarter finals of the AIL Junior Cup away to their Ulster rivals Portadown at Chambers Park. Once again the Fivemiletown side raised their game and came away with a 15 - 8 win to progress to the semi finals. Now the target for the coaches and players was to start winning league games and move away from the bottom two places in Div 1. Two wins away to Dromore 3 - 0 and Portadown away 17 - 14 have moved the team to within four points of Dromore, Carrickfergus and Cooke on 14 points.

This weekend they continue their travels on the road for their 7th away match in a row having won their last four. Can they make it five before they return to play at their spiritual home of the Cran against Ballymena seconds in the Conference League on the 17th December.

It is hard to believe their last match at home on the 8th October was against their Tyrone rivals Omagh when they suffered their heaviest defeat at the Cran 50 - 12. One can only describe it as a remarkable achievement, lead by the coaches and players through sheer hard work and determination to turn around their season. This work ethic has impacted not only on the 1st xv but you only have to look at the performances of their 2nd and 3rd xv teams.

Clogher Valley will travel as the underdogs in this tie at Ashbourne. There are two changes to the side that won at Portadown last week with prop Neil Henderson unavailable to travel. He is replaced by Philip Moore. Andy Breen returns to the wing to replace Eamon Whyte. The bench is expected to include Ronan McAleer, PC Falconer, Eamon Whyte, Mark Ellis, Matthew Keyes, Ian Mulligan and Alex McKeown.

The bonus for Clogher this season has been the progress made by their new half back pairing of Neil Trotter and Fleming Agnew along with Philip Wilson at full back. Wilson in particular is attracting a lot of attention with his performances. He has proved an able replacement for Paul Armstrong who moved to Dungannon two seasons ago. Everybody in Ulster will be behind the side this weekend. To reach the Final will in itself set an example to other struggling Ulster clubs. Through hard work and commitment you can turn your season around.

De La Salle Palmerston (Leinster) v Enniscorthy (Leinster)
Ashbourne (Leinster) v Clogher Valley (Ulster)

KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIV 2
Grosvenor v Donaghadee
Head coach Robert Ford and his side have settled into their new environment at Gibson Park with Malone. The fact that their three sides all won last weekend is a testament to the progress the teams are making. Grosvenor have quietly moved into 5th place on 20 points with 4 wins from their 7 games played. Have they left it too late to be involved in the promotion race. The coach was delighted to get a bonus point win at UUC last week with several areas to be worked on in training this week. He was impressed by UUC who are a good side and are much better than their league position suggests.

For the match with Donaghadee the coach welcomes back Pearce Jamison and Mitchell McComb into their starting lineup. It is the intention of the coach to use his full squad over the next few games to give several of the players their chance. Notable additions to the playing squad this season have included utility halfback Allen McCluggage who has been a key performer on the 1st xv. Winger Matty Johnston added to his growing reputation by scoring two more tries at UUC. The clubs second xv have been going well this year and much of the credit goes to coach Marty McCullough who has worked hard to build a side that is challenging for league and Cup honours.

The coach is targeting a strong second half to the season for his 1st xv. Their aim is to finish in the top four and build on this solid foundation going forward.

Donaghadee Head coach Paul Blewitt along with his assistant Chris Good continue to work hard with their playing squad to turn their season around. The lack of experience in the side has not faulted the effort of the players both at training and on the pitch.

Larne v Academy
It has been a difficult couple of weeks for Larne Head coach Laurence Kelly and his assistant Stevie McReynolds. One week you win 73 - 0 at Donaghadee. Then you lose your next two league games against Coleraine 70 - 0 and Limavady 57 - 10. Player unavailability has been a key issue for this small and talented playing squad. Coach Kelly was impressed by the Limavady team who had put the work in to defeat his team. Work commitments and players away this weekend has seriously depleted his playing options. He is expecting another tough day at the office against a very good Academy side.

Academy Head coach Gareth Lynn views this match at the Glynn as another tricky fixture for his players. He fields a similar side to the one that defeated Belfast Harlequins seconds 74 - 0 last week. The coach believes his talented backline are starting to click and are scoring some great tries. He is expecting another tough game.
Academy have won four of their last five league games with 5/7 so far this season. Their only losses coming against CIYMS and Coleraine.

Lisburn v UUC
Crucial game for both sides this week. Lisburn are still seeking their first league win this season with the students only win coming against Donaghadee. Certainly a lot at stake for both teams if they are to avoid relegation this season. Two must win games for new Lisburn Head coach Andy Postlewaite coming up with the students this week followed by Donaghadee away next week.

Both teams have shown improvement in recent weeks with Lisburn losing their last league game 32 - 21 at home to Academy and their conference league game 14 - 13 away to Banbridge seconds last week. UUC were leading against Grosvenor before a strong finish won the match for the Belfast side 24 - 10 last week. Another narrow 25 - 15 loss at Randalstown along with the feedback on the student side is that Lisburn coach Andy Postlewaite and his players face difficult opponents this weekend.

Lisburn welcome back several long term injuries into their playing squad this week with the coach having a few difficult selections to make. A situation he welcomes. The players are in great spirit this week with large numbers turning out to training. A first win this week is the start of an important six week period for the club.

Randalstown v Limavady
This has all the ingredients for a very close and exciting contest at Nelisbrook Park. Both sides like to run with the ball and with so much at stake in the promotion chase, points are vital for Limavady Head coach Mark Nicholl and his players. Both sides are in good form with Randalstown losing narrowly 7 - 3 at leaders CIYMS two weeks ago. Limavady come into this match on the back of three league wins.

Randalstown Head coach Gary Longwell acknowledges Limavady are a quality side and deserve their high position in the league. After gaining promotion last season they are used to winning games and are playing with skill and confidence.

Limavady scored eight tries in their 57 - 10 win over Larne last week. Coach Mark Nicholl has added Clive Scott, Stuart Houston and Jack McCool to his squad this week with no fresh injury worries from last week.
He agrees Randalstown will be a huge test for his young side. He is well aware that Gary Longwell will have his team well drilled in the pack and tough to break down.

Grosvenor (5) v V Donaghadee (10)
Larne (7) v Academy (4)
Lisburn (9) v UUC (8)
Randalstown (7) v Limavady (3)

KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP/CONFERENCE DIV 2
Malone seconds v Coleraine. Played Thursday 8.12.16. Kick off 7.45PM
Armagh seconds v CIYMS
Belfast Harlequins seconds v Banbridge seconds

KUKRI ULSTER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP DIV 3
Ballymoney (1) v BHSFP (7)
Cavan (10) v Virginia (9)
Holywood (6) v Ophir (10)
Lurgan (3) v Letterkenny (8)
Monaghan (9) v Strabane (4)
Newry (5) v PSNI (2)

Cheers,
George