Weekend Preview

The semi-finals of the Women’s All-Ireland League and the Women’s All-Ireland Conference are down for decision this weekend.

Defending champions UL Bohemian welcome Old Belvedere to 4GUL for their semi-final of the Women’s AIL. The Limerick side won both games against Old Belvedere during the group stages of the campaign. UL Bohemian put up 36 points without reply when they played Old Belvedere in Limerick in October, to claim maximum points. When these sides met in Dublin in March, UL Bohemian recorded a 41-22 victory, to claim all points on offer. Old Belvedere claimed a bonus point, as they scored four tries. The winners will meet last year’s beaten finalists Railway Union or Blackrock College in the decider.

In the semi-finals of the Women’s All-Ireland Conference, Ballincollig travel to Galway for the second time in a fortnight, to take on Galwegians at Crowley Park. The Galway side finished in fifth place, five points adrift of a top-four finish. On the opening day of the season, Galwegians recorded a 29-19 victory, when they met Ballincollig at Tanner Park. When these sides met in Galway, Galwegians claimed maximum points, as they ran out 43-5 winners. The winners will meet Wicklow or Ennis, who meet in the Garden County in the decider. When Wicklow and Ennis met in the Garden County in October, Wicklow claimed all points on offer as they ran out 33-12 winners. This result also ended the Clare side’s unbeaten start to the campaign. Ennis avenged this result when they recorded a narrow 38-36 bonus point win over Wicklow in a 12-try thriller in the Banner County, in March. Wicklow claimed two bonus points, as they scored six tries.

Three quarter finals and one tie in Round 4 of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup are down for decision this weekend.

Sunday’s Well entertain Kilfeacle, whose only triumph was in 2002, at Virgin Media Park in Round 4. The winners will be away to last year’s beaten finalists Old Crescent in the quarter finals.

Nenagh Ormond, who last won the trophy in 2004, welcome 1965 winners Old Christians to North Tipperary for their quarter final tie. The winners will be away to Old Crescent, Sunday’s Well or Kilfeacle in the semi-finals.

St Mary’s who won the trophy in 1968, go head to head with 2019 winners Highfield, at MultiFlow Park. Highfield eliminated near neighbours UCC 23-24 with a late converted try in their mid-week fourth round tie. The winners will be rewarded with a home semi-final tie against Newcastle West or holders Cork Constitution, who meet in West Limerick.

The second semi-final of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate is down for decision as Ennis welcome Tralee, who won the trophy in 2019, to the Banner County. Clonmel await the winners in the decider, following the South Tipperary side’s 43-30 home win over 2002 winners Youghal in the first semi-final.

There is nothing more than pride at stake as Ballincollig and Fermoy, who both occupy the mid-table places in División 2 of the Munster Junior League, wrap up their campaign at Tanner Park. Both sides claimed maximum points from their last games in March. Ballincollig put up 29 points without reply against Cobh Pirates at the Paddocks. Fermoy recorded a comprehensive 52-5 home win over bottom side Abbeyfeale.

On Sunday, Fermoy travel to West Waterford, to take on Dungarvan in their Ballyrandle Cup semi-final. Carrick-on-Suir await the winners in the decider.
The semi-finals of the Munster Women’s Open Cup are down for decision as Shannon and Bruff lock horns at Coonagh. The winners will meet Tralee or Dolphin, who go head to head in the Kingdom, in the decider.

Clonakilty host UL Bohemian in the semi-finals of the Munster Women’s Open Bowl. The winners will meet Roaring Water Bay or Thurles, who meet in Bantry, in the decider.