Dowling hoping Munster can repeat interprovincial triumph
Under the guidance of Dowling and team manager Sinead Enright (Macroom), the province ended a five year wait for glory in 2024, claiming just their ninth win in the event's 61-year history. Now, the side are aiming to repeat the feat last achieved by a Munster Women's team in 2002 and 2003.
'Back in the 2000s, Munster won it two years in a row so that is their whole thing now, that we have to do as good as that team, that we have to go for two in a row,' said Dowling.
'They are full of confidence and anticipation.'
Five players from last year's winning side return, including current Bridgestone Women's Order of Merit leader Aideen Walsh (Lahinch), Valerie Clancy (Killarney), Mairead Martin (Kanturk), Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) and Caitlin Shippam (Ballykisteen).
Douglas pair Karen O'Neill and Aoife Ní Thuama also return to the fold, having last featured in 2023 and 2022 respectively, adding further experience to a tight-knit group.
'There's a great bond,' said Dowling.
'We have Cork, Clare and Waterford so there was a lot of slagging now between the Banner and the Déise and the Rebels. I think now of the seven, five are Cork and we have one from Limerick and one from Clare.'
Having enjoyed interprovincial success as both a player and captain, Dowling understands that the finest of margins can decide the championship but knows that another victory would be especially meaningful.
'It would be amazing, it really would. Munster has won it so little over the years, it would be very special. The main thing really is that they just put up a good performance, and I know they will,' said Dowling.
'There are great golfers on all the teams, and it comes down to very small margins at the end of it, but we'd be hoping.'
Another team looking to make history are the Leinster Men's side, who are chasing a fourth title in a row, an achievement that would match their great 1960s team who triumphed from 1962 to 1965.
Harry McAlinden (Bray) captains the side for a fourth time and will look to a strong line up which includes West of Ireland champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), Munster Stroke Play runner-up Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), East of Ireland runner-up Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) and Keith Egan (Carton House) as they bid to defend their crown once more.
The three-day event tees off at 8am Wednesday morning with a two-tee start as the Women's Championship leads the way with their foursome matches. Munster will begin their defence against Connacht while Ulster face Leinster before the Men's Championship gets underway at 8.24am, with Leinster facing Munster and Ulster taking on Connacht.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
La Rochelle sacking suggests ROG's 2025/26 backlash to be felt by Leinster
Munster have drawn former coach Johan van Graan's Bath Rugby in the pool stages of the 2025/26 European Champions Cup. While Leinster will be looking at another familiar face as Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle have come up in their group!Munster and Bath are in Pool 2 and are also joined by RC Toulon, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby and Reds will have new coach Clayton McMillan in place by the time they face van Graan's English champions, a match sure to be a sell-out whichever side is at looking to support Munster, however, will be at the pin of their collar if the match is in Bath as The Rec's capacity is just 14, have made some significant signings for the new season including Henry Arundell from Racing 92. He was a front-line England three-quarter at RWC2023 before the collapse of London Irish forced him to move to France at which point he became inlegible to play for such he is expected to be restored by Steve Borthwick for the November series of games, not least as 2025 Six Nations regular, centre Ollie Lawrence, is already at Graan has also signed Argentine full-back/out-half Santiago Carreras from Gloucester and Exeter hooker Dan Frost. Leinster and La Rochelle will also be alongside two-times winners Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Bayonne and Stormers. The Blues will be using the Aviva for their home games next season as the RDS continues to be financial preference will be for La Rochelle in Dublin as it looks like a potential sell-out while Leo Cullen may be eying up the potential backlash from O'Gara who was not happy with his club's performance last have just sacked South African-born assistant coach Gurthro Steenkamp, first appointed four years ago, and who is credited with building their formidable multi-nation pack from almost removal comes following the 2022 and 2023 European champions losing tamely to Munster in last season's Last 16 and failing to make the Top 14 play-offs, losing to Pau in the final round to miss out on a place.A club statement noted tersely: 'La Rochelle would like to warmly thank Gurthrö for his dedication and hard work over the past four seasons. We wish him the best for the rest of his career, both on and off the pitch.'At the same time La Rochelle have been heavily involved in recruitment with stars such as France scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and Georgia's Davit Niniashvili coming in from Racing 92 and Lyon in terms of trying to get an edge Cullen might prefer the most difficult opponent on paper, his former club Leicster Tigers who were last season's English Premier runners-up, to make the trip to 1 comprises Toulouse, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors and Sale 4 is led by reigning champions Bordeaux Bègles, who will face a rematch of last season's final against Northampton Saints. Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Pau and Bulls complete the the pool stage, each club will play four matches against four different clubs which are not from the same league either home or Connacht and Ulster, both of whom failed to qualify for the Champions Cup will play in Challenge were drawn with Ospreys, US Montauban, who will return to the competition for the first time in 15 years, Zebre Parma, two-times Challenge Cup winners Montpellier and Georgian combination side Black Lion in Pool are in Pool 3 alongside two-time Challenge Cup winners Cardiff, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris and South African club Toyota Cheetahs who received a wildcard invite from 2 features the 2022 winners and last season's runners-up Lyon OU, Perpignan, Dragons, Benetton, Lions, along with the Gallagher Premiership's Newcastle Clubs will play four matches against four different opponents during the pool stage with same league matches kept to a minimum, and only impacting clubs from the URC. 2025/26 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUPPool 1: Stade Toulousain, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale SharksPool 2: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby, Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby Pool 3: Leinster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Stade Rochelais, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL StormersPool 4: Union Bordeaux Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Pau, Northampton Saints, Vodacom Bulls 2025/26 EPCR CHALLENGE CUPPool 1: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht RugbyPool 2: Lyon Olympique Universitaire, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAPPool 3: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby2025/26 weekendsRound 1 – 5/6/7 December 2025Round 2 – 12/13/14 December 2025Round 3 – 9/10/11 January 2026Round 4 – 16/17/18 January 2026 Round of 16 – 3/4/5 April 2026Quarter-finals – 10/11/12 April 2026Semi-finals – 1/2/3 May 2026EPCR Challenge Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Friday 22 MayInvestec Champions Cup Final – San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao; Saturday 23 May
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork v Dublin: What time, what channel and all you need to know about the All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Cork fans have been eagerly awaiting this fixture for what may feel like an eternity by now and after their incredible display against Limerick, Dublin fans may feel they have been waiting just as long. It's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final weekend this weekend in the capital. It's usually one of the best weekends in the sporting calendar. And this weekend may be no different as the day before Tipperary take on Kilkenny, there is the small matter of Cork against Dublin. The rivalry between the two counties is often saved for football or soccer but this weekend it is hurling where the two old foes will go head-to-head, just as they did in last year's quarter-finals, when Cork emerged victorious in Thurles. For Cork, they will be looking to move one step closer to ending a 20-year wait to get their hands back on the Liam MacCarthy Cup. As for Dublin, after defying all the odds last time out, they may feel they will hardly have a better opportunity to make history in hurling than this year. Revenge against the Rebels would also be nice, surely. So all that said, it promises to be another exciting watch and here is all you need to know ahead of throw-in. Where and when is it on? The game will take place on Saturday July 5 at Croke Park with a 5pm throw-in. Where can I watch the game? The match will be shown live on RTÉ2 with the coverage starting at 2.15pm as the match will be preceded by the Camogie quarter-final between Waterford and Clare. Who's the referee? Johnny Murphy will be the man in the middle for the game. Read More Johnny Murphy will referee Cork v Dublin semi-final What can I read about and listen to on Our reporters will be building up to the semi-final throughout the weekend and previewing the game ahead of Saturday's throw-in. But here is some early team news as Séamus Harnedy will miss Saturday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Dublin. Seánie McGrath believes that Dublin hurling rues their defeat to Cork in 2013, they that they are once again a dangerous beast. The statistic is Cork haven't won an All-Ireland semi-final as Munster champions on the last three occasions but Niall O'Leary is dismissing that record as the past. And finally Anthony Daly, TJ Ryan, Mark Landers and Brian Hogan preview the All-Ireland semi-finals on Dalo's Hurling show.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Leo Cullen and Ronan O'Gara to renew rivalry as Leinster pooled with La Rochelle in Champions Cup draw
Leinster have been drawn in the same Pool Three as French club La Rochelle for next season's Champions Cup continuing a growing rivalry between the sides that reaches back to the 2021 tournament. Since then, the two heavy hitters have faced each other six times with three wins each and Leinster coming out on top, 14-16, in the last meeting in January at Stade Marcel Deflandre. As well as La Rochelle, Leinster have two English Premiership clubs; Leicester Tigers, who last won the competition in 2002, and Harlequins, another French club Aviron Bayonnais, and South African side Stormers. Which Irish players have impressed for the Lions? Listen | 43:53 Because Leinster are in the URC with the Stormers, they will play only against the four other teams in the pool, either home or away. READ MORE Munster, who were knocked out last season by Bordeaux at the quarter-final stage, were drawn in Pool Two along with French clubs Toulon and Castres, English sides Bath and Gloucester, and Scotland's Edinburgh. Munster have carved out their own little bit of history with Castres and have played against them three times since 2021, the last meeting taking place in December 2024 at Stade Pierre-Fabre, where the home side edged out the province 16-14. Bath head coach Johann Van Graan. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Munster's players will also reacquaint themselves with former coach Johann van Graan, who has been head of rugby at Bath since 2022. He had been at Munster from 2017 before leading the English side to victory in this season's Premiership, ending a 29-year drought. Leinster, Toulouse, Bath and Bordeaux were separated for the draw as the four nominated Tier 1 sides. Bordeaux won the trophy this year and Toulouse beat Leinster in the final in 2024, while Leo Cullen's side won this year's URC and Bath the Premiership. The 2026 Champions Cup final is set to take place at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao on Saturday, May 23rd. In the Challenge Cup, Connacht, under new coach Stuart Lancaster, have been drawn in the same pool as Zebre Parma with Georgian side Black Lion also among their opponents. The Black Lion franchise was created in 2021 to participate in the Rugby Europe Super Cup and is owned by the Georgian Rugby Federation, which employs the players. Stuart Lancaster was named Connacht's new head coach last month. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Connacht played Zebre Parma last December at Dexcom Stadium, winning 43-12 before making a run to the quarter-finals and narrowly falling to Racing 92 in Galway. Ospreys, Montpellier and US Montauban completes Connacht's Pool One. Ulster have been drawn in Pool Three with some stiff opposition. The French Top 14 provides Racing 92 and Stade Francais, with Exeter, Cardiff and the South African Cheetahs completing the pool. The possibility is that coach Richie Murphy and his Ulster side could find themselves travelling to France twice to face the two heavyweight Parisian teams. Ulster are in the second-tier competition having finished 14th in last season's URC. Leo Cullen's ongoing jousting with La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara is the most eye-catching of the meetings across the two tiers. In their January meeting, the hosts dominated the first half before Leinster went in ahead at the break through a well-taken try from Joe McCarthy. Leinster outhalf Sam Prendergast kicked a few penalties to extend the lead but La Rochelle hit back through Dillyn Leyds to set up a fraught finale. It took a sturdy defensive effort for Leinster to hold on and secure a place in the last 16. La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara ahead of the Champions Cup game against Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre in January. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho With the pools now set, the fixture schedules for both tournaments, including dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage, will be announced later this month. Fixtures are determined following the input of individual club calendar and venue considerations, broadcast requirements, and league calendar restrictions. The season will again be played over eight weekends, with four rounds of matches in the pool stages followed by the knock-out stages, consisting of a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final in May. Meanwhile, Munster confirmed their preseason friendly against Biarritz Olympique, which had been due to take place on Friday, August 22nd, has been cancelled by the Basque club. Biarritz informed Munster this week that due to a delay to pitch renovations at the Stade Aguilera, they are unable to host the preseason fixture. Both clubs explored alternative venues in the hope the match could go ahead, but no viable and workable solutions were found. Munster will now make alternative arrangements regarding preseason preparations. Champions Cup 2025/26 pools: Pool One: Stade Toulousain, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks Pool Two: Bath Rugby, RC Toulon, Munster Rugby , Castres Olympique, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby Pool Three: Leinster Rugby , Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Stade Rochelais, Aviron Bayonnais, DHL Stormers Pool Four: Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Scarlets, Bristol Bears, Section Paloise, Northampton Saints, Vodacom Bulls Challenge Cup 2025/26 pools: Pool One: Ospreys, Zebre Parma, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, US Montauban, Black Lion, Connacht Rugby Pool Two: LOU Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Dragons RFC, Benetton Rugby, Lions, USAP Pool Three: Toyota Cheetahs, Cardiff Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92, Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby
