Weekend Preview

The Men’s All Ireland League resumes this weekend after a two-week break and the Women’s All Ireland League continues.

The game of the day in Division 1A of the Men’s All Ireland League is the meeting of unbeaten leaders Clontarf and second-placed Cork Constitution at Castle Avenue. The Lilywhites ran out 33-5 home winners over Dublin University last time out, while Clontarf were held to a 24-24 draw by Ballynahinch in County Down.

Young Munster, who have climbed out of the relegation zone following heir 13-6 home win over champions Terenure College, welcome City of Armagh, who are seventh, to Tom Clifford Park. The Ulster side go into the tie on the back of a 25-18 defeat by UCD at the Palace Grounds, where they claimed a losing bonus point.

Shannon have slipped into the drop zone following their heavy 42-12 defeat by Lansdowne on the Back Pitch of the Aviva Stadium. They travel to the Capital to take on Terenure College, at Lakelands Park. The Dublin side returned from their 13-6 defeat by Young Munster in Limerick with a losing bonus point.

In the Women’s All Ireland League, unbeaten leaders UL Bohemian are away to third-placed Old Belvedere. The Limerick side defeated Railway Union 10-7 at Annacotty, while the Dublin side put up 50 points without reply against Ballincollig at Tanner Park.

Back to the Men’s All Ireland League and UCC, who have climbed up to fourth place in Division 1B, following their narrow 29-27 home win over Queen’s University, where they claimed all points on offer, travel to Dublin to take on Old Wesley at Energia Park. Old Wesley were defeated 9-3 by Buccaneers in Athlone, where they claimed a losing bonus point.

Highfield face a tough assignment as they travel to Belfast to take on Queen’s University. The Woodleigh Park side have slipped to fifth following their 29-14 defeat by Old Belvedere on Leeside. The Belfast Students returned from their narrow 29-27 defeat by UCC at the Mardyke, as they scored four tries.

Garryowen, who are hovering above the drop zone, will have their work cut out, as they lock horns with second-placed Blackrock College at Dooradoyle. The Sky Blues go into the tie on the back of a 31-22 defeat by St Mary’s College at Templeville Road, while the Dublin side recorded a maximum point 32-29 home win over Naas at Stradbrook.

Unbeaten leaders in Division 2A Nenagh Ormond travel to Belfast, to take on bottom side Malone, at Gibson Park. The North Tipperary side ran out 39-3 home winners over Banbridge last time out, while Malone were defeated 33-15 by Old Crescent in Limerick.

Cashel, who are second, welcome Navan, who have climbed up to sixth, to the Premier County. Cashel ran out 24-19 away winners over MU Barnhall last time out, while the Royal County side go into the tie on the back of a narrow 20-17 home win over Greystones.

Fourth-placed UL Bohemian entertain MU Barnhall, who are third at Annacotty. UL Bohemian go into the tie on the back of as 16-12 home win over Ballymena, while the County Kildare side claimed a losing bonus point from their 24-19 home defeat by Cashel.

Old Crescent, who have climbed up to fifth , following their bonus point 33-15 home win over Malone, travel to County Wicklow to take on Greystones, who are hovering above the drop zone. Greystones claimed a losing bonus point from their 20-17 away defeat by Navan last time out.

In Division 2B, bottom side Dolphin travel to the Capital to take on Wanderers at Merrion Road. The Dublin side are third following their 30-20 away win over Malahide. Dolphin recorded their second win of the campaign as they narrowly defeated Sligo 25-24 at Musgrave Park in their last game.

Bruff, who are fourth in Division 2C, welcome Ballina to Kilballyowen Park. Bruff go into the tie on the back of a 20-15 away win over Omagh Academicals, while the North Mayo side claimed a losing bonus point from their 27-23 home defeat by Clonmel.

Clonmel, who recorded a bonus point 27-23 away win over Ballina, host Tullamore in South Tipperary. The County Offaly side claimed all point son offer from their 32-26 home win over Midleton.

Midleton travel to the Model County to take on third-placed Enniscorthy. Midleton returned with two losing bonus points, as they scored four tries, in their 32-26 defeat by Tullamore in the Faithful County. Enniscorthy go into the tie on the back of a 22-13 defeat by Galwegians at Crowley Park.

Junior Preview

The Munster Junior League and the Women’s Munster League dominate the local scene again this weekend.

On Saturday in Division 2 of the Munster Junior League, Ballincollig, who are three points clear of the drop zone, lock horns with unbeaten leaders Kinsale in a Cork derby at Tanner Park. The Seasiders claimed all points on offer from their 38-14 home win over Fethard, while Ballincollig claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 16-14 defeat by Galbally-Mitchelstown in County Limerick.

There is a top of the table cash in Division 3 between the top two sides, with leaders Ennis entertaining Scariff in a Clare derby. Ennis are unbeaten with a game in hand and they ran out 33-17 bonus point winners over Dungarvan in West Waterford last time out. Scariff ran out 9-0 home winners over Ardscoil Old Boys.

There is also a derby in the Kingdom as Chorca Dhiubhne welcome Castleisland to the West Kerry Gaeltacht. Castleisland go into tie on the back of a 17-5 home win over Waterford City, while Chorca Dhuibhne are still seeking their first win, as they were defeated 22-10 by Waterford City on Suirside.

In Division 1 on Sunday, Bandon, who are hovering above the drop zone, welcome unbeaten leaders Mallow to Old Chapel. The North Cork side ran out 19-6 home winners over Muskerry last time out, while Bandon recorded their first win of the campaign as they defeated Kanturk 17-12 in Duhallow.

Second-placed Thomond make the long trip to West Cork, to take on Skibbereen, who are seventh, at the Carbery Showgrounds. The Limerick side, who are one point behind leaders Mallow, claimed all points on offer from their 31-11 home win over Kilfeacle, while Skibbereen were defeated 27-15 by Sunday’s Well at Musgrave Park.

Sunday’s Well, following their maximum-point 27-15 home win over Skibbereen at Musgrave Park, travel to Tipperary Town, to take on Clanwilliam. The Premier County side, who have two games in hand are second from bottom and they were defeated 24-13 by Richmond in Limerick last time out.

Thurles, who are fourth, take on bottom side Charleville at Smith’s Road. Thurles recorded a maximum-point 31-24 home win over Clonakilty last time out, while Charleville were defeated 24-7 by Newcastle West in West Limerick.

Defending champions Richmond travel to West Cork, to take on Clonakilty at the Vale. The Limerick side claimed all points on offer to record their first win of the camping, running out 24-13 winners over Clanwilliam at 4GUL. The West Cork side claimed two bonus points from their 31-24 defeat by Thurles in the Premier County, as they scored four tries.

Kilfeacle, who are fifth, welcome Kanturk, who are one point clear of the drop zone, to West Tipperary. Kilfeacle were defeated 31-11 by Thomond at Liam Fitzgerald Park, while the Duhallow side claimed a losing bonus point from their 17-12 home defeat by Bandon.

Muskerry, who are joint-second from bottom with Clanwilliam, welcome Newcastle West to Ballyanly. The West Limerick side claimed all points on offer from their 24-7 home victory over Charleville, to record their first win of the campaign. The Sky Blues were defeated 19-6 by Mallow in North Cork.

Crosshaven make the relatively short trip the Paddocks, to take on Cobh Pirates in Division 2. The South Cork side surrendered their unbeaten run as they were narrowly defeated 30-29 at home by St Senan’s, but finished with two losing bonus points, as they scored four tries. The Pirates ran out 25-20 away winners over Fermoy.

St Mary’s, who are unbeaten in second place, travel to South Tipperary, to take on Fethard. The Limerick side recorded 24-10 bonus point victory over Tralee at Grove Island last time out, while Fethard were defeated 38-14 by Kinsale in South Cork.

Fourth-placed Tralee, who were defeated by 24-10 by St Mary’s in Limerick last time out, entertain Abbeyfeale, who are seventh and go into the tie on the back of a 24-15 maximum-point win over Old Christians.

St Senan’s, who are fifth following their narrow 30-29 victory over Crosshaven in South Cork, entertain Galbally-Mitchelstown, who go into the tie on the back of a 16-14 home win over Ballincollig.

Old Christians welcome Waterpark to Rathcooney. Old Christians fell to their third successive defeat, losing 24-15 to Abbeyfeale in West Limerick, following a promising start, which yield two bonus point victories. The Suirsiders ran out 13-8 home winners over Youghal last time out.

Youghal and Fermoy lock horns in their basement clash in East Cork. Both sides go into the tie on the back of defeats by Waterpark and Cobh Pirates respectively, where they claimed a losing bonus point each.

Carrick-on-Suir welcome Killarney to Tybroughney in Division 3. The South Tipperary side were defeated 13-0 by Scariff in East Clare last time out, while the Kerry side claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 17-12 defeat by near neighbours Killorglin.

Ardscoil Old Boys will be looking to bounce back from their 9-0 defeat by Scariff in the Banner County as they go head to head with Douglas, who were defeated 49-0 by Killorglin in the Kingdom, at 4GUL.

Waterford City lock horns with Dungarvan at Kilbarry with both sides going into the tie on the back of defeats by Ennis and Castleisland respectively.

The game of the day in Division 1 of the Women’s Munster League is the meeting of UL Bohemian and unbeaten leaders Tralee on the Back Pitch at Thomond Park. The Limerick side go into the tie on the back of their first defeat of the campaign, where they lost 27-19 to Ennis-Kilrush in Ennis. The Kerry side recoded a narrow 31-29 home win over Skibbereen, where they claimed all points on offer.

Skibbereen, who were narrowly defeated 31-29 by Tralee in the Kingdom last time out, but claimed two bonus points, as they scored four tries, welcome Shannon-TUS to West Cork. Shannon-TUS recorded their first win of the camping last time out as they defeated Dolphin 41-5 at Coonagh.

Dolphin go in search of their first points as they go head to head with Ennis-Kilrush at Musgrave Park.

Midleton, who are second in Division 2, welcome fourth-placed Bantry Bay to East Cork, where a win will see them overtake leaders Bruff in pole position. Midleton ran out 17-7 winners over Ballincollig at Tanner Park, while Bantry Bay recorded a comprehensive 51-12 away win over West Cork neighbours Clonakilty.

Clonakilty will have their work cut out as they entertain Thurles, who are third, at the Vale. The Tipperary side recorded a 27-7 bonus point home win over Mallow, while Clonakilty, who are rooted to the foot of the table, were defeated 24-0 by Bruff at Kilballyowen Park.

Mallow, who are fifth, welcome fourth-placed Ballincollig to North Cork.