Weekend Preview

SENIOR

This weekend sees the second last series of games in the Men’s All-Ireland League taking place, as well as the opening games in the Frazer McMullen U20 Cup, together with the final series of group phase games in the Women’s All-Ireland League.

The three Munster sides in Division 1A of the Men’s All-Ireland League are in action against Dublin opposition.

Fifth-placed Cork Constitution travel to the Capital to take on Terenure College, who have slipped to fourth, at Lakelands Park. Both sides are tied on 48 points, but the Dublin side are ahead on scoring differences. The Lilywhites go into the tie on the back of a 42-19 maximum-point home win over Nenagh Ormond. Terenure College were defeated 22-3 at home by Lansdowne in a Dublin derby. Cork Constitution claimed all points on offer when they met Terenure College on Leeside in October as they ran out 42-14 winners.

Bottom side Nenagh Ormond, who have already been relegated to Division 1B, lock horns with UCD in a basement clash in North Tipperary. Nenagh Ormond were defeated 42-19 by Cork Constitution on Leeside last time out. The Dublin Students recorded a bonus point 28-21 home win over Ballynahinch. UCD claimed maximum points when they met Nenagh Ormond in Dublin, as they recorded a 45-22 victory.

Young Munster remain in sixth place and they are away to St Mary’s College, who have slipped to second. The Limerick side are seven points adrift of the promotion play-off places. Young Munster were defeated 50-33 by Clontarf in Limerick in a game which produced 13 tries. The Limerick side claimed a bonus point, as they scored five tries. St Mary’s College were defeated 21-14 at home by Lansdowne, but claimed a losing bonus point. St Mary’s College recorded a 15-8 victory when they met Young Munster in Limerick, resulting in a losing bonus point for Young Munster.

Garryowen have climbed into the promotion play-off places in Division 1B and they welcome bottom side Queen’s University to Dooradoyle. The Sky Blues recorded a narrow 36-33 victory over Instonians in a ten-try thriller in Belfast to claim maximum points and move up to fourth. The Belfast Students were defeated 29-21 by Blackrock College in Dublin. The corresponding fixture between these sides ended in a 17-17 stalemate in Belfast.

Highfield have slipped to sixth place and are two points adrift of the promotion play-off places. They are also behind fifth-place City of Armagh, by whom they were defeated 25-12 at the Ulster venue last time out, on scoring differences They go head to head with Blackrock College at Woodleigh Park. The Dublin side go into the tie on the back of a 29-21 bonus point home win over Queen’s University. The Leesiders claimed maximum points when they met Blackrock College in Dublin as they ran out 27-15 winners.

UCC, who are second from bottom, face a tough assignment as they travel to Belfast to take on third-placed Instonians. The Leeside Students are two points adrift of safety. UCC were narrowly defeated by Old Wesley at the Mardyke, but claimed two bonus points, as they scored five tries in a game which produced 11 tries. Instonians were narrowly defeated 36-33 by Garryowen in a 10 try-thriller in Belfast. Instonians also scored five tries, to claim two bonus points. The Belfast side claimed maximum points when they met UCC on Leeside in October, as they ran out 33-17 winners.

The game of the day in Division 2A is the meeting of second-placed Shannon and leaders MU Barnhall at Thomond Park. There are 20 points separating these sides. Shannon put up 38 points without reply against Banbridge in County Down last time out, to return with maximum points. MU Barnhall were defeated 40-35 at home by Cashel but finished with two bonus points, as they scored five tries. MU Barnhall recorded a 24-17 bonus point victory when they met Shannon in County Kildare, resulting in a losing bonus point for the Limerick side.

Cashel, who have climbed up to sixth, will be looking to maintain their very slim aspirations of making the promotion play-off places. They make the relatively short trip to Limerick to take on Old Crescent at Takumi Park. Old Crescent are six points adrift of safety in ninth place. Cashel will be looking to continue their recent good run as they go into the tie on the back of a narrow 40-35 away win over leaders MU Barnhall, where they claimed maximum points. Old Crescent defeated Greystones 13-10 at the County Wicklow venue. The Limerick side defeated Cashel 18-10 in October’s corresponding fixture in the Premier County.

UL Bohemian remain third in Division 2B and they travel to North County Dublin to take on Skerries, who have slipped to ninth. The Limerick side go into the tie on the back of a comprehensive 70-22 home win over Buccaneers, where they claimed maximum points. Skerries were defeated 52-19 by Enniscorthy in County Wexford. UL Bohemian claimed maximum points as they defeated Skerries 25-17 when these sides met in Limerick.

Division 2C leaders Clonmel welcome Dolphin, who have climbed up to fourth, to South Tipperary. Clonmel recorded a bonus point 42-36 away win over Malahide, who are propping up the table, in a game which produced 11 tries at the North County Dublin venue. Dolphin defeated Thomond 54-28 in a 14-try thriller on Leeside, to claim all points on offer. Dolphin also claimed maximum points from October’s corresponding fixture, as they defeated Clonmel 32-19 at Virgin Media Park.

Third-placed Thomond entertain Ballyclare, who are sixth. Thomond were defeated 45-28 by Dolphin at Virgin Media Park last time out. They returned with a bonus point, as they scored four tries. The County Antrim side, who are four points adrift of the top four, claimed all points on offer from their narrow 27-22 home win over Midleton. Thomond ran out 29-5 winners when they met Ballyclare at the Ulster venue.

Seventh-placed Bruff travel to the Capital to take on Monkstown, who have slipped to fifth. The County Limerick side go into the tie on the back of a 57-40 away defeat to Bective Rangers. Bruff claimed a bonus point as they scored four tries. Monkstown were defeated 29-21 by Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park. Bruff claimed all points on offer from October’s corresponding fixture, as they defeated Monkstown 28-19 at the County Limerick venue.

Midleton, who are two points clear of the drop zone in eighth place, will have their work cut out, as they entertain second-placed Bective Rangers. The East Cork side returned with a losing bonus point from their 27-22 defeat by Ballyclare in County Antrim. The Dublin side go into the tie on the back of a 57-40 home win over Bruff, where they claimed maximum points. Bective Rangers ran out 22-17 winners when they met Midleton in Dublin, resulting in a losing bonus point for the East Cork side.

In the Women’s AIL, defending champions UL Bohemian, who surrendered their unbeaten run last time out, entertain second-placed Blackrock College, with four points separating these sides. The Limerick side will be looking to bounce back from their 46-19 defeat by Railway Union in Dublin, if they are to earn themselves a home tie in the semi-finals. Blackrock College claimed maximum points from their 36-10 victory over Old Belvedere in a Dublin derby. UL Bohemian defeated Blackrock College 21-12 in Dublin on the opening day of the campaign.

Ennis welcome Tullow to the Banner County. The Clare side go into the tie on the back of a 44-15 away defeat by Ballincollig. Tullow defeated Cooke 12-7 at the County Carlow venue last time out. This was Tullow’s first victory in the two seasons that they have been playing in the Women’s AIL. Ennis ran out 29-26 maximum-point winners when these sides met in County Carlow. Tullow claimed two bonus points, as they scored four tries.

Ballincollig travel to Galway, to take on Galwegians at Crowley Park. Ballincollig recorded their fourth bonus point victory last time out, as they defeated Ennis 44-15 at Tanner Park. Galwegians were held to a 36-36 draw by Wicklow in the Garden County, where they returned with a bonus point, as they scored four tries. Galwegians claimed all points on offer when these sides met at Tanner Park, as they ran out 29-19 winners.

The opening round of the Frazer McMullen Cup is down for decision this weekend with holders Clontarf travelling to Garryowen on Saturday and the other three ties are scheduled for Sunday.

Nenagh Ormond travel to the Capital to take on UCD and UCC welcome Lansdowne to the Mardyke, as Shannon travel to County Kildare to take on MU Barnhall.

JUNIOR

The Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup continues with all the top sides entering in the third round. There is also one game in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate, together with the semi-finals of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Bowl. The Provincial League Championship begins this weekend, with the four Provincial League winners clashing and there are games in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup and Plate, together with the opening round of the Munster Women’s Bowl.

Both semi-finals of the AIL Qualifying Series are down for decision at Mullingar RFC.

Munster champions Kilfeacle take on their Leinster counterparts and former AIL side Boyne in the first semi-final. The winners will meet Connacht champions and former AIL side Creggs or Ulster champions Enniskillen in the decider.

There is one third round tie in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup. Kanturk entertain Sunday’s Well at the Duhallow venue and the winners will be rewarded with a home tie against Kilfeacle.

There is also a handful of games in Round 4.

St Mary’s, whose only triumph was in 1968, welcome Mallow to MultiFlow Park. The winners will be at home to 2024 winners UCC or Highfield, who won the trophy in 2019, in the quarter finals.

Newcastle West welcome Kinsale to West Limerick. The winners will have a home quarter final tie against holders Cork Constitution, or Muskerry, who meet at Temple Hill.

Old Christians, who won the trophy for the only time to date in 1965, entertain 2022 winners Young Munster. The winners will be away to Killarney or Nenagh Ormond in the quarter finals.

There are three quarter finals down for decision in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate.

Cobh Pirates, who won the trophy in 2003, welcome Ennis to the Paddocks. The winners will have home advantage in the semi-finals against 2024 winners Fethard or Tralee, who won the Trophy in 2019.

Youghal, whose only triumph was in 2002, lock horns with Fermoy at the East Cork venue.

In the opening round of games in the Munster Women’s Bowl, Clonakilty go head to head with Mallow at The Vale. The winners will be rewarded with home advantage against UL Bohemian in the semi-finals.

Roaring Water Bay welcome Sunday’s Well to Bantry. The winners will be rewarded with home advantage in the semi-finals against Midleton or Thurles, who meet in East Cork.