If the first weekend is anything to go by, this season’s Munster Junior League should be another captivating campaign. Some early favourites started off impressively and will be aiming to follow up their opening-day victories.

It’s early days in the Munster Junior League, but one of the potential games of the season takes place on Sunday in West Cork, when pacesetters Clonmel and Clonakilty face off, both teams laying down firm markers in their opening two games.

The insurers will tot up the cost of the damage inflicted by yesterday’s storm but there will be no pay-out to ease the heartbreak the weather has wreaked on Clonmel RFC.

Just one of three planned point-to-point fixtures survived the elements yesterday and that was the Island Foxhounds meeting that took place at Ballydarragh in north Co Wexford.

The Enda Bolger-trained newcomer Marlbrook lit up yesterday’s North Tipperary Foxhounds point-to-point fixture at Nenagh by destroying the opposition in the opening five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Back In Focus is the nap choice to make a successful debut over fences in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase at Listowel today.

ULSTER BANK ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR CUP - FIRST ROUND RESULTS:

IT’S been an exciting start to the Munster Junior League, with some surprising early front runners.

THIS year’s Munster Junior Cup final promises to be an exciting affair as specialists Cork Constitution will aim to put a dent in the trophy-laden season of Cashel. The Tipp side hope for a clean sweep, and Con will need to put in a big performance to win at Musgrave Park on Easter Sunday at 2.30pm.

THE Munster Junior Cup dominates the fixture list this weekend, but the biggest match is arguably taking place in the top flight. Second-placed Richmond, who currently trail Cashel by seven points, play their game in hand at home to Waterpark.

ALTHOUGH it is early days in the First Division of the Munster Junior League, many of the early favourites are up at the right end of the table.

TRALEE’S Challenge Cup clash with Crosshaven at Myrtleville highlights a weekend of semi-finals in the three Junior clubs competitions.

IT COULD prove a decisive week in the Munster Junior League as two of the top three contenders clash in what is arguably the game of the season so far.

IT is back to league action in the Munster Junior Leagues as all three divisions approach the tail-end of the season, and every point will be battled for as teams bid for glory or aim to avoid the dreaded drop.

IT was a wonderful weekend for the Kerry clubs in the opening round of the Martin O’Sullivan Cup.

Not every Leinster and Munster rugby hero can get to Croke Park tomorrow. Some – such as their junior counterparts – will be wading through the mud to keep their passion for the amateur game burning brightly. DIARMUID O’FLYNN met some of them.

IT’S a very social club, is Bruff RFC, and that was much in evidence at last Saturday’s vital AIL division 3 match against promotion rivals Queens University, from Belfast.

CRESCENT Comprehensive came from behind to beat Ard Scoil Rís in their Munster Schools Junior Cup clash on the back pitch at Thomond Park.

CROSSHAVEN can book their place in the semi-final of the play-offs for the Heineken Munster Junior League if they beat Ennis at the Clare venue in their outstanding league tie this weekend.

THE statement hung in the air like a heat haze on a desert highway, or a bad smell in the Pairc Uí Chaoimh toilets.

CLONMEL’S challenge for honours in the First Division of the Heineken Munster Junior League will be severely tested this week, when they travel to face holders Bruff.