FOR the seventh time in the last ten years, Monivea are Connacht Junior League champions. The incredible run began in 2003 with a league final victory over Buccaneers and has been interrupted just three times since, by Westport in 2006, Sligo last season, and Corinthians in 2009.

They secured the title with a nine-all draw with OLBC at the Castle Grounds on Sunday. A rare blip in a season where up to that point they had won every game. It was a surprise result but a share of the points was no more than the visiting Galway city side deserved after a battling defensive display.

Greg Faherty’s late penalty earned Boy’s Club the points against a Monivea side that have scored just 19 points in their last two outings and have certainly slipped off their top form during that period.
The All-Ireland Junior Cup semi final takes place a week on Saturday at home to Coleraine and before that they face a trip to Ballina this Sunday, safe in the knowledge that improvements are needed despite their incredible record of having won 14 and drawn one from 15 games this season.

The battle for the next two automatic All-Ireland Cup places will rage on for a few more weeks with Ballina sitting in second despite yet another defeat on their travels, this time away to the league’s form side, Galwegians 26-18. OLBC are third but will still need to defeat Tuam in their next outing to be absolutely sure of a first ever appearance in the national competition next season.

Ulster Bank League
The action begins again in earnest in the All Ireland League this weekend with Galwegians looking to end a run of 2012 defeats in Division 1b at home to Bruff in a crucial clash at the wrong end of the table.

UCC seem cut adrift at the bottom now but with nine rounds of action still to play, that last relegation spot and the relegation play off position are far too close for comfort for Colm Rigney's men. A home win is a must on Saturday.

Buccaneers are just one point off the top in a thrilling promotion race that has five teams all within four points of each other. The midlanders lost at home to Garryowen in the All-Ireland Cup semi final last weekend and will be looking to bounce back in the evening kick off at Dubarry Park (7:30) on Saturday when they host fifth placed Ballymena.
 

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.