AIB General Manager Maurice Crowley was put to work as he pulled team names out of the cups - here he draws out the last team, Malone.
IRFU President Peter Boyle, in opening the AIB Cup draw, spoke of the important of club rugby in Ireland. He said: "The AIB Cup and AIB Junior Cup are part of the IRFU/AIB Community Rugby programme which was launched last year. It is another key aspect to our partnership with our much valued sponsor AIB."
An overhead shot of the proceedings in the AIB Corporate Box at Lansdowne Road, where the draws took place. St. Mary's College and Leinster out-half Jonathan Sexton is seen selecting a team for the Junior Cup draw.
These two may be Leinster team-mates now, but come the New Year they could be AIB Cup rivals! Jonathan Sexton of St. Mary's College and Lansdowne's Niall Ronan could face each other in the AIB Cup if Lansdowne can beat defending champions Cork Constitution in the single preliminary round match.
The 21-year-old Sexton, who is on a development contract with Leinster, has started the new AIB League season in excellent form for Division One outfit Mary's. He has tallied up 30 points so far in the campaign, including 17 of Mary's 22 in their win at home to Galwegians last weekend.
Ronan, 24, has played three times for Leinster in the Magners League this season, and has made two appearances for Lansdowne in the 2006/07 AIB League - he started last weekend's 19-10 defeat to Clontarf. A multi-talented player, who has also operated as a scrum half, Ronan played Gaelic football for Meath from Under-14 up to minor level before concentrating on rugby.
**All photos by Cathal Noonan of Inpho Photography**
