This coming week sees the phoney war of pre-season ratchet up a notch or two as the Munster Senior cup enters it’s quarter-final stage.

It offers the League’s three Munster sides their first competitive outings of the 2012 season with Premier Division Cork City first over the top as they face Rockmount on Tuesday night.

Tommy Dunne’s men have performed well in their two friendlies to date, beating Wexford Youths 3-1 in Youghal last week and overcoming Waterford United 3-0 at the RSC last Friday night.

Wednesday night sees Pat Scully’s highly fancied Limerick FC enter the fray as they take on Blarney United at O’Shea Park with a 7.30 pm kick-off. Limerick came close to winning promotion last season and are hot favourites to top the First Division this time out with a host of squad that includes the experience and quality of players such as Joe Gamble, Denis Behan and Stephen Bradley.

Waterford United complete the quarter-final fixtures next Friday night when they welcome Cork side Castleview FC to the RSC, kick-off there at 7.45 pm. Paul O’Brien’s side have had a difficult start to their pre-season campaign with heavy defeats to Cork City and Bray Wanderers.

The Blues went down 3-0 to Cork at the RSC last FRiday night and suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Bray on Sunday afternoon. But with the addition of Gary Dempsey to their midfield and the signing of attacking midfielder Ben Ryan from Wexford Youths, they will be hoping for a competitive campaign in this season’s First Division.

Munster Senior League side Fermoy will make up the semi-final foursome having already beaten Leeds in their quarter-final last week

Munster Senior Cup Quarter-Finals

Tuesday 7th February

Rockmount v Cork City (ko - 7.30pm)

Wednesday 8th February

Blarney United v Limerick FC  (ko - 7.30pm)

Friday 10th February

Waterford United v Castleview FC  (ko - 7.45pm)