Galwegians And Corinthians Contest Glynn Cup

The senior game will bring a curtain down on proceedings at 4pm and this year, rival clubs Galwegians and Corinthians have come together to launch a website for the novel event.

The website, www.glynncup.com, has details of parking arrangements, match times and a history of the Glynn Cup which started in 1959.

The two Galway-based clubs came together last season to resurrect the trophy which was first played for 51 years ago this St. Patrick’s Day as an annual cup match between ‘Wegians and Corinthians and was played for 37 times up to 1999.

This year’s event will take place at Crowley Park, ‘Wegians’ home ground, and sees the two clubs once again do battle in a novel and exciting way that includes every team from every age group in the two clubs.

The event takes the form of a Ryder Cup style matchplay contest, with every team in the club having a part to play.

The teams also battle for the Langan Trophy which is incorporated into the competition. Points from underage games from Under-13s up to Under-19s count towards that event.

At the recent launch, Galwegians RFC President Derrick Murphy thanked the organisers for their hard work over the past six months preparing for the event and emphasised the important role events like this play in promoting club rugby in the west of Ireland.

Corinthians President Dr Des Bluett echoed those sentiments and outlined the excitement the competition generated in his own club last season.

Last year’s event attracted close to 3,000 people to Corinthian Park and went down to the final game of the day to decide the winner.

Galwegians took the title with a 14-10 victory in the senior game, thanks to tries from Derek Boyd and Tom Ellard.

Big wins for the Crointhians Under-20s, thirds and Under-15s in the earlier sessions had helped them head into that final game with a one-point lead, but Galwegians success in the Langan Trophy was keeping them in contention and two vital points in the final session from their Under-14s and ladies set up the grand finale.

This season’s event will be played out on two pitches rather than three, which will make the smooth running of proceedings even more imperative.

To allow for this a huge group of volunteers are required and Galwegians have put plans in place for such a scenario on the day.

Food, refreshment, snacks, hot beverages will all be available over the course of the afternoon with fans able to enjoy the action at Crowley Park right up to the last try and then make their way down to the Sportsground that evening for Connacht’s crunch Magners League clash with the Dragons which kicks off at 6.30pm.

Each game last for 40 minutes, with 20 minutes a half. The exception is the senior game which will last for an hour.

The games will involve teams from mini rugby up to Under-19s in the youths section and at adult level from thirds to senior.

The ladies will also be in action and in all there will be a total of ten 40-minute games taking place between 11am and 5pm.

Each team will be playing for a point in the overall standings with half a point awarded for a draw. Should the sides be level, the senior match will decide the overall outcome of the competition. The mini rugby will be non competitive in keeping with IRFU guidelines.