Brian Hickey hits out at treatment of Munster Senior Challenge Cup

Cork Constitution coach Brian Hickey has criticised the decision to postpone four Munster Senior Challenge Cup first round games.

Hickey fears the move is another blow for one of Ireland’s great club competitions which has slipped down “the pecking order” over the last decade.

Constitution open their title defence against Highfield at Woodview Park (2.30pm) this afternoon, and it’s one of just two surviving ties, the other between old Limerick rivals Shannon and Garryowen at Coonagh (2pm).

Hickey is conscious Highfield will provide his side with a tough challenge in the knowledge that the opponents would see the Temple Hill outfit as the “perfect scalp”.

“Once again, the cup seems to be a victim of all these cancellations; we’re obviously not thinking beyond the Highfield game, but things have changed for all those going into the next round.

“It is, however, a shame that an agreed format for the cup this year has been changed again.

“A hugely important competition doesn’t appear to be high on the pecking order any more. It seems to have been changed within about a month of being formulated. I believe the next round is going back to the week before Christmas from mid November. I would have a huge issue as to how the Munster Senior Cup is being treated from being a prestigious competition.

“It seems to me that the values the competition stood for was the hallmark of what made Munster clubs successful in the All-Ireland League and made Munster successful at competitive level.

“I appreciate that it is a difficult competition to fit in but when the Cork Charity Cup is gone from a three-round competition to a one-day event, surely that frees up two other weekends.” On the game, he hopes that last week’s Ulster Bank League win away to Clontarf will provide a boost of confidence to his charges.

It was Constitution’s first league win of the season after two draws and two last-minute defeats. Hickey said: “We managed to almost lose it again at the death, but a lot of the things we had been working on started to come off and they showed good character to hold out at the end. Once again, we were points (15) ahead but left them back and kept chipping away at the lead. It was 15-14 at the end, but the experience helped us in the finish.” Garryowen will be equally wary of facing into today’s clash with Shannon, despite their early return to the top flight of AIL rugby.

Forwards coach Paul Neville said he had no doubt that Shannon would come out with all guns blazing. “They got a win last week over UL Bohemian and I have no doubt that they will want to build on that.”

Meanwhile Irish referees George Clancy, Peter Fitzgibbon and John Lacey are amongst the officials in action in the opening round of the European Cup, with Lacey taking charge of a game that involves two teams in Munster’s group. Former Munster wing Lacey has been chosen to referee in the game between Leicester Tigers and Stade Francais, while Clancy takes charge of Saracens against Toulouse and Fitzgibbon is referee for the all- French clash between Bordeaux-Begles against ASM Clermont. Three more Irish referees have been chosen for Challenge Cup games, with Dudley Philips in charge of the Worcester Warriors v La Rochelle tie and Gary Conway to officiate as London Irish host Agen. To complete the group, Andrew Brace takes on the battle between Gloucester and Zebre at Kingsholm.