Weekend Preview

This week the Women’s All-Ireland League and Munster Junior League dominate the weekend’s action.

Unbeaten leaders and defending Women’s All-Ireland League champions UL Bohemian travel to County Carlow to take on bottom side Tullow. UL Bohemian go into the tie on the back of a maximum-point 36-0 home win over Ballincollig. Tullow are still without a win, but have two points to their credit. They lost their last game 38-10 away to Wicklow. UL Bohemian recorded a comprehensive 102-7 victory when these sides met in Limerick in early December.

Ennis, who are seventh, face a tough assignment as they travel to the Capital to take on last year’s beaten finalists Railway Union at Willow Lodge. Ennis were defeated 29-12 by Old Belvedere in Dublin last time out. Railway Union are fourth and they claimed all points on offer from their last game, where they ran out 36-7 away winners over Galwegians. Railway Union recorded a comprehensive 60-3 victory when they met Ennis in the Banner County.

Ballincollig, who are eighth, travel to the Garden County to take on sixth-placed Wicklow. Ballincollig were defeated 36-0 by UL Bohemian in Limerick, while Wicklow claimed maximum points from their 38-10 home win over Tullow. Wicklow ran out 41-21 bonus point winners when they met Ballincollig at Tanner Park.

There are full program of games in the Men’s Munster Junior League and the Munster Women’s Leage, together with a Cork Charity Cup semi-final.

On Saturday, there are two ties down for decision in Division 3 of the Men’s Munster League.

Joint leaders Tralee travel to West Waterford, to take on Dungarvan. The Kerry side ran out 22-17 winners over Bantry Bay in their last game in early December. Dungarvan, who are seventh, lost their last game 27-8 to Galbally-Mitchelstown in County Limerick at the end of November.

It is also derby day in the Kingdom, as Corca Dhuibhne lock horns with Killorglin. The West Kerry Gaeltacht side recorded a 20-14 victory over Douglas at Castletreasure in their last game in early November. Killorglin are tied on 14 points with Douglas and Scariff, 11 points behind joint leaders Tralee and Killarney. Killorglin ran out narrow 17-15 home winners over Doulgas in their last game in late November.

On Sunday, Division 1 leaders Kilfeacle make the relatively short trip to Thurles for their Premier County derby. Kilfeacle, who are unbeaten, go into the tie on the back of a 5-0 home win over Newcastle West. Thurles are hovering above the drop zone, two points adrift of safety. They were defeated 48-7 by Bandon at the West Cork venue in their last game.
Second-placed Clonakilty lock horns with near neighbours Bandon in a West Cork derby at The Vale. Clonakilty recorded a narrow 18-17 home win over Clanwilliam in their last game in late

November. Bandon have climbed up to seventh place, which they share with Newcastle West, following their maximum-point 48-7 home win over Thurles.
Sunday’s Well, who are third, are away to fifth-placed Kanturk, who are three points adrift of the top four. Sunday’s Well ran out 17-7 winners over Old Christians in their last game at Virgin Media Park. Kanturk were held to a 33-33 draw in a ten-try thriller at the Duhallow venue in their last game in late November against Skibbereen. Kanturk claimed three points, as they scored five tries.

Mallow, who are fourth entertain St Mary’s, who share sixth-place with Richmond, at the North Cork venue. Both sides go into the tie on the back of defeats. Mallow lost their last game 24-13 at home to Kilfeacle, while St Mary’s were defeated 24-15 by Richmond at Canal Bank in a Limerick City derby.

Richmond welcome Old Christians to Canal Bank, with both sides presently occupying the mid-table places. Richmond claimed all points on offer from their last game, where they ran out 24-15 winners over near neighbours St Mary’s. Old Christians were defeated 17-7 by Sunday’s Well at Virgin Media Park.

Newcastle West, who are share seventh place with Bandon, host Skibbereen, who are second from bottom. Newcastle West were defeated 5-0 away by Kilfeacle, but they returned with a losing bonus point. Skibbereen are two points adrift of safety and they lost their last game 24-14 to Sunday’s Well at Virgin Media Park.

Clanwilliam, who are hovering above the drop zone, welcome bottom side Muskerry to Tipperary Town. Clanwilliam, who are two points adrift of safety, were narrowly defeated 18-17 by Clonakilty in West Cork, but returned with a losing bonus point, in late November. Muskerry go into the tie on the back of their only win of the campaign to date, when they narrowly defeated Thurles 23-21 in the Premier County.

Crosshaven, who are unbeaten at the top of Division 2, travel to North Cork to take on Charleville, who are seventh. The Seasiders recorded a maximum-point 41-3 home win over Fermoy last time out. Charleville go into the tie on the back of a 36-12 defeat by Youghal in East Cork.

Second-placed Kinsale travel to West Limerick to take on bottom side Abbeyfeale. Kinsale claimed all points on offer from their last game where they defeated Carrick-on-Suir 38-29 in a ten-try thriller at the South Cork venue. Abbeyfeale lost their last game 23-10 at home to Fethard in late November.

Youghal, who are third, travel to the Banner County, to take on St Senan’s at Jimmy Slattery Park. The Seasiders go into the tie on the back of a bonus point 36-12 home win over Charleville. St Senan’s, who are fifth, defeated Cobh Pirates 31-14 in their last game at the Clare venue.

Fourth-placed Waterpark welcome Ballincollig, who are ninth, to Suirside. Waterpark put up 21 points without reply against Fethard in South Tipperary last time out. Ballincollig lost their last game 38-29 to Carrick-on-Suir at Tybroughney in late November. Ballincollig returned with a bonus point, as they scored four tries.

Cobh Pirates, who share tenth place with Fermoy, go head to head with Ennis at the Paddocks. The Pirates were defeated 31-14 by St Senan’s in their last game in the Banner County in late November. Ennis, who are sixth, lost their last game 26-19 to Charleville at the North Cork venue.

Castleisland, who are four points clear of the drop zone, welcome Carrick-on-Suir, who are eighth, to the Kingdom. The Kerry side were defeated 27-5 by Kinsale at the Kerry venue in their last game. Carrick-on-Suir also lost their last game 36-28 to Kinsale at the South Cork venue. Carrick-on-Suir claimed a bonus point as they scored four tries in a game which produced ten tries.

Fermoy share tenth place with Cobh Pirates and they go head to head with second from bottom Fethard at the Showgrounds. Fermoy go into the tie on the back of a heavy 47-3 defeat by leaders Crosshaven at the South Cork venue. Fethard were defeated 21-0 at home by Waterpark.

Unbeaten Leaders in Division 3 Killarney travel to Castletreasure, to take on Douglas. Killarney recorded a maximum-point 34-11 home win over Bantry Bay in late November in the Kingdom. Doulgas narrowly lost their last game 17-15 to Killorglin in Mid Kerry, but returned with a losing bonus point.

Bantry Bay, who are still without a win, but have two losing bonus points to their credit, welcome Galbally-Mitchelstown to West Cork. Bantry Bay were defeated 22-17 by Tralee in the Kingdom in their last game. Galbally-Mitchelstown recorded a 27-8 bonus point home win over Dungarvan.

Scariff welcome Waterford City to East Clare, with both sides going into the tie on the back of defeats. Scariff lost 24-12 to Tralee at the Kerry venue, while the Suirsiders were defeated 17-7 by Doulgas at Kilbarry in early November.

In Division 1 of the Munster Women’s League, unbeaten leaders Shannon entertain Tralee, who are third, at Coonagh. Both sides go into the tie on the back of draws. Shannon were held to a 12-12 draw by Clonakilty in West Cork. The Kerry side played out a 34-34 draw with Bruff in the Kingdom and finished with three points, as they scored six tries in a 12-try thriller. Shannon claimed maximum points as they defeated Tralee 25-17 at the Kerry venue in October.

Fourth-placed Bruff welcome bottom side Dolphin to County Limerick. Bruff go into the tie on the back 36-36 draw with Tralee in a 12-try thriller in the Kingdom, from which they returned with three points. Dolphin were defeated 37-22 by Clonakilty in their last game before the Festive Season at Virgin Media Park. Dolphin claimed a bonus point as they scored four tries. Bruff claimed maximum points, as they won October’s corresponding fixture against Dolphin at Virgin Media Park, 40-24. Dolphin also scored four tries on that occasion, to claim a bonus point.

Unbeaten leaders in Division 2 Mallow travel to Bantry to take on Roaring Water Bay. Mallow put up 31 points without reply against Ballincollig at the North Cork venue in their last game in early December, to claim maximum points. The West Cork side recorded their first win of the campaign and they defeated Midleton 31-7 at Towns Park, to claim all points on offer. Mallow ran out 54-0 home winners when these sides met in North Cork on the opening day of the campaign in November.

UL Bohemian, who are third, welcome second-placed Thurles to Annacotty. UL Bohemian defeated Ballincollig 61-24 in a 13-try thriller, to claim maximum points, at Tanner Park in November. The Tipperary side put up 53 points without reply last time out against Ballincollig at Tanner Park. UL Bohemian recorded a comprehensive 58-5 win when these sides met in the Premier County on the opening day of the campaign.