Castlebar and Ballinrobe in big all-Mayo Connacht Junior Cup clash

Cloondeash will be the venue on Sunday for a huge local rugby derby as Castlebar and Ballinrobe clash in the quarterfinal of the Connacht Junior Cup.

There is always a bit of bite when these two sides meet, with both capable of advancing to the semi-final stages of the competition. The game will kick-off at 2 p.m.

Ballinrobe will have to recover from the disappointment of last Sunday's J1A relegation playoff defeat to Westport. The 33-19 victory for Westport means they will be playing J1A again next year, with Ballinrobe dropping down to the J1B division.

The cup may give them a chance of redemption, but Castlebar will be intent on making home advantage count in their quest for a last four spot.

Meanwhile, the Castlebar J2 development team (pictured above) have qualified for their semi-final following an impressive bonus point away win against Corrib. The try scorers were Peter Basquille, Conor O’Neill, Chris Rowland and John O’Brien. The J2 team will also have a home semi-final.

Elsewhere, off the pitch, Castlebar RFC’s Jim Moore was presented with a Volunteer Recognition Award by the IRFU before the Guinness Six Nations Championship match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium last Sunday week.