AIB All Ireland League Resumes on Saturday

The AIB All Ireland League resumes on Saturday, with plenty of top quality club action on offer

Division One
Fifth position Dolphin host eighth place Clontarf in Musgrave Park, with Dolphin’s recent form seeing them with only one loss this season, despite it being their first season in Division One.  Clontarf however will be seeking some consistency as they have two wins out of their four league games.  At Dooradoyle, third placed Garryowen host bottom placed Belfast Harlequins, with the Limerick side in sparkling form, having secured their place in the final of the ODM Munster senior Challenge Cup recently, they will prove tough adversaries for the visitors.  Thomond Park plays host to what promises to be a cracking game between UL Bohemians and Cork Constitution.  The Cork side will be seeking their third league win in a row against UL Bohs having beaten them in the league for the past two seasons.  Cork Constitution also defeated UL Bohs in the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup earlier this season, however the Limerick side will be aiming to go top of the table with a win on Saturday, with a one point defeat away to Lansdowne in their last league outing being the only blot on their league form this season.   

Division Two
Eighth place Clonakilty welcome table toppers Barnhall to Shannon Vale for their Division Two league game on Saturday.  With Clonakilty having claimed two wins out of four in the league, their most recent being an away loss to Dublin University, Barnhall travel to Cork with only one loss.  Fifth placed Highfield travel to Kilternan to play De La Salle Palmerstown, with DLSP having secured the last three games in the league against Highfield.  However, Highfield have won their last four away games in the league, and have conceded only three tries so far in Division Two this season.  Towns Park is the venue for Midleton v Old Belvedere, with the East Cork side seeking their third win in a row after a rocky start to the season however, Old Belvedere having won all six previous meetings will not lack confidence coming to Cork.  Eleventh placed Thomond play second from the bottom Malone at Fitzgerald Park and the Limerick side will be aiming to improve their league position with a home win.  Fourth and sixth place respectively UCC and Old Crescent face off at the Mardyke in what promises to be a great contest.  In their previous seven league meetings, the sides have drawn twice, with UCC taking honours on two occasions and Old Crescent on three occasions.  The students are the top Munster club in the division this season, however, Old Crescent did have the edge in the first round of the ODM Munster Senior Challenge Cup when they defeated the students 31-30 in a classic game.  Twelfth placed Young Munster host bottom of the table Co. Carlow at Tom Clifford Park, and the Limerick side will be hoping to add to their one win in the league this season, having lost two and drawn one.  

Division 3
Thirteenth placed Sunday’s Well travel to top of the table Ballynahinch who have won all four of their league outings this year.  At Ormond Park, there is a mid table clash between seventh placed Nenagh Ormond and eighth placed Ards.  Last year’s league clash between the sides was a close affair with Ards coming out on top on a 26-22 scoreline.  Fourth placed Bruff travel to Merrion Road to play third placed Wanderers.  Bruff have won three of their four league outings this season, with their only loss away to Instonians.  Third from the bottom Waterpark host sixth placed Rainey Old Boys at Ballinakill, who joined the Senior ranks this season.  Waterpark have just one win behind them in the league this season, with Rainey Old Boys coming into this game on the back of three out of four wins.

FIXTURES
SATURDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2006
AIB League Division 1:
Blackrock College v Galwegians, Stradbrook, 2.30
Buccaneers v Dungannon, Dubarry Park, 2.30
Dolphin v Clontarf, Musgrave Park, 2.30
Garryowen v Belfast Harlequins, Dooradoyle, 2.30
Lansdowne v Ballymena, Lansdowne Road, 2.30
Terenure College v U.C.D., Lakelands, 2.30
U.L. Bohemian v Cork Constitution, Thomond Park, 2.30

AIB League Division 2:
Bective Rangers v Greystones, Donnybrook, 2.30
Clonakilty v Barnhall, Shannon Vale, 2.30
D.L.S.P. v Highfield, Kilternan, 2.30
Midleton v Old Belvedere, Towns Park, 2.30
Suttonians v Dublin University, Station Road, 2.30
Thomond v Malone, Fitzgerald Park, 2.30
U.C.C. v Old Crescent, Mardyke, 2.30
Young Munster v Co. Carlow, Clifford Park, 2.30

AIB League Division 3:
Ballynahinch v Sunday’s Well, Ballymacarn Park, 2.30
Banbridge v City of Derry, Rifle Park, 2.30
Corinthians v Connemara, Corinthian Park, 2.30
Nenagh Ormond v Ards, Nenagh, 2.30
Portadown v Instonians, Chambers Park, 2.30
Queens University v Old Wesley, Dub Lane, 2.30
Wanderers v Bruff, Merrion Road, 2.30
Waterpark v Rainey Old Boys, Ballinakill, 2.30