Burke up against former colleagues

BRITISH AND IRISH CUP BEDFORD v LEINSTER A:BRENDAN BURKE is looking forward to catching up with some old friends after today's British Irish Cup quarter-final at Goldington Road (3.0). The 29-year-old missed Bedford's game last weekend after receiving 10 stitches to a head wound but is fit again to line out at outside centre.

Having played with the Irish province at Youths, U-19 and U-21 level and after spending three years with the senior squad, he has spent the last four seasons with Bedford Blues. The former Barnhall player is coaching in a school and also doing a degree in personal training and fitness as Bedford offer only part-time contracts.

An English RFU stipulation means that other clubs must wait until March to approach players and negotiate contracts; he is just beginning that process now.

Burke said: “I’m looking forward to catching up with Richie (Murphy) and Collie (McEntee) who I would have played against in the past. We’re unbeaten in the competition but this game will mean a little more to me.”

Unavailability due to senior International and U-20 commitments and last night’s Magners League game means several Leinster players will have to double up this weekend. The squad also contains a number of club players including ex-Connacht interprovincial Daniel Riordan. Leinster A coach, Colin McEntee said: “It has been a challenge this week with so many players away on Irish camp, Magners League and Ireland Under-20 commitments, but that merely serves to hone our focus.”

LEINSTER A:I Madigan; D Hudson, D Riordan, E Sheridan, M Keating; I McKinley, P O'Donohoe (capt); J McGrath, A Dundon, S Shawe, E O'Donoghue, C Ruddock; E Sheriff, P Ryan, L Auva'a. Replacements: Tom Sexton, S Maguire, M Kearney, J Murphy, J Cooney, N Reid, C O'Shea.

BEDFORD BLUES:J Pritchard (capt); H Schmidt, B Burke, T Bedford, O Dodge; M Dorrian, W Chudley; S Walsh, D Richmond, D Seal; M Howard, A Rae; G Gillanders, S Harding, P Tupai. Replacements: J Clark, R Boot, S Tomes, 1C Goodman, D Veenendaal, J Sharp, E Thrower.

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE

DIVISION 1B

Dungannon v Buccaneers

Stevenson Park (2.30).

This refixed match is the first of successive games between the sides with the teams meeting again at Dubarry Park on the penultimate weekend of the league. Buccaneers haven’t won since the start of last month and their second place looks increasingly tenuous while a win for the home side would see them edge away from Bruff at the other end of the table.

Verdict: Dungannon