Weekend Preview And Fixtures

The Ulster Bank All Ireland League resumes after the festive season with a full program of games in Division 1A and Division 1B.

Early pacesetters Cork Constitution entertain Young Munster in a mid-table clash and Dolphin, who are hovering two places above the drop zone face a tricky task as they take on second-placed Old Belvedere at Musgrave Park.

Bottom side Garryowen who are still without a win take on fellow strugglers St Mary’s College at Dooradoyle.

In Division 1B fourth-placed UL Bohemian travel to the Capital to take on struggling Blackrock College at Stradbrook.

The three Munster Junior League divisional knock-out competitions also get underway this weekend.

In the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Cup, holders Kanturk begin their defence of the trophy with an away tie against Tralee. The Duhallow side recorded a narrow 27-22 away victory when these sides met in the League in November.

Newcastle West entertain former AIL side Clonakilty in West Limerick and these sides played out a 25-25 draw at the Vale at the start of December.

Early pacesetters St Mary’s are at home to struggling Galbally and will hope to get back to winning ways after their recent league defeat in Kanturk.

All Ireland Junior Cup semi finalists Skibbereen make the long trip to Ballinakill to take on Waterpark and Skibb’ won the corresponding League fixture between these sides on a 16-10 scoreline at the Carbery Showgrounds in early November.

There are local derbies in Cork and Tipperary, which see bottom side Mallow and Cobh Pirates going head to head at St Joseph’s Road and these sides are also due to meet at the same venue in the League at the end of January.

Kilfeacle entertain Clonmel and the home side will be looking to avenge October’s 19-7 home defeat in the League.

Munster Junior Club Challenge Shield holders Youghal begin the defence of their title with an away tie against third-placed Bandon and these sides are due to meet in the League at the same venue a month later.

Kinsale, who are in second place in the League are away to Castleisland and these sides renew rivalry again at the Kerry venue at the end of the month.

Leaders St Senan’s travel to Rathuard for the second time and they will be looking to make it two wins from two visits as they defeated Presentation 30-5 in the League in early November.

Waterford City make the long trip to the Banner County to take on struggling Ennis and the Suirsiders won the corresponding League fixture 31-26 at Kilbarry.

Bottom side Newport are at home to Killarney and these sides are due to meet at the Kerry venue in the League two weeks later.

Struggling Killorglin welcome Crosshaven to the Kingdom and the Kerry side are away to the South Cork side in early February.

Carrigaline make their debut in the Martin O’Sullivan Cup with an away tie against Charleville and they are also due to travel to Smith’s Road in the final round of the League in early March.

Fermoy and Scariff meet at the Clare venue for the second time and Fermoy will be looking to make it two wins from two as they defeated the Banner County side 30-7 in the League in November.

Dunmanway-Bantry Bay take on leaders Dungarvan in Dunmanway and the home side will have their work cut out as the West Waterford side began their League campaign with a 15-5 away win over the West Cork side.

FIXTURES:
FRIDAY 3rd JANUARY
RaboDirect Pro12: Ulster v Munster, Ravenhill, 7.05;

Schools Senior Friendly: Crescent College Comp. v St. Mary's, Dooradoyle, 1.00;

Schools Junior Friendly: Ardscoil Ris v Newbridge College, Coonagh, 12.00;
Ardscoil Ris B v Newbridge College B, Coonagh, 12.00;
Crescent College Comp. v C.U.S. Dublin, Dooradoyle, 1.00;

SATURDAY 4th JANUARY
Ulster Bank League Division 1A: Clontarf v Lansdowne, Castle Avenue, 2.30;
Cork Constitution v Young Munster, Temple Hill, 2.30;
Dolphin v Old Belvedere Musgrave Park, 2.30;
Garryowen v St. Mary's College, Dooradoyle, 2.30;
U.C.D. v Ballynahinch, Belfield, 2.30;

Division 1B: Blackrock College v U.L. Bohemian, Stradbrook, 2.30;
Dungannon v Belfast Harlequins, Stevenson Park, 2.30;
Galway Corinthians v Malone, Corinthian Park, 2.30;

Division 2A: Banbridge v Galwegians, Rifle Park, 2.30;

Billy Keating Cup: Highfield v Sunday's Well, Woodleigh Park, 2.30;

Gleeson League Section A: Newcastle West v Galbally, Newcastle West, 2.30;
Old Crescent v Shannon, Rosbrien, 2.30;
Thomond v Presentation, Fitzgerald Park, 2.30;

Section B: Ennis v Young Munster, Ennis, 2.30;
Garryowen v Clanwilliam, Dooradoyle, 12.00;
Kilfeacle v Richmond, Kilfeacle, 2.30;
U.L. Bohemian v Fethard, Annacotty, 2.30;

Under 20 South Western Conference: Shannon v Sunday's Well, Coonagh, 2.30;

Schools Senior Friendly: Castletroy College v Belvedere, Castletroy, 12.00;
Castletroy College B v Belvedere B, Castletroy, 12.00;
P.B.C. v St. Michael's, Wilton, 12.00;

Schools Junior Friendly: C.B.C. v CBC Monkstown, Lansdowne, 12.00;
Castletroy College v Belvedere, Castletroy, 12.00;
Castletroy College B v Belvedere B, Castletroy, 12.00;

South Under 18 League Section A: Cork Constitution v Sunday's Well, Mahon, 12.00;

South Under 16 League Section 4: Bantry Bay v Dolphin, Dunmanway, 12.30;

South Under 14 League Section 1: Bandon v Kinsale, Bandon, 11.00;

Section 2: Charleville v Kanturk, Charleville, 10.30;
Mallow v Fermoy, Mallow, 12.00;
Midleton v Old Christians, Towns Park, 11.00;

Under 18 Friendly: Highfield v Tralee, Woodleigh Park, 12.00;

Under 16 Friendly: Charleville v Kanturk, Charleville, 10.30;

SUNDAY 5th JANUARY
Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Cup: Kilfeacle v Clonmel, Kilfeacle, 2.30;
Mallow v Cobh Pirates, Mallow, 2.30;
Newcastle West v Clonakilty, Newcastle West, 2.30;
St. Mary's v Galbally, Corbally, 2.30;
Tralee v Kanturk, Tralee, 2.30;
Waterpark v Skibbereen, Ballinakill, 2.30;

Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Shield: Bandon v Youghal, Bandon, 2.30;
Castleisland v Kinsale, Castleisland, 2.30;
Ennis v Waterford City, Ennis, 2.30;
Killorglin v Crosshaven, Killorglin, 2.30;
Newport v Killarney, Newport, 2.30;
Presentation v St. Senan's, Rathuard, 2.30;

Martin O'Sullivan Cup: Charleville v Carrigaline, Charleville, 2.30;
Dunmanway-Bantry Bay v Dungarvan, Dunmanway, 2.30;
Scariff v Fermoy, Scariff, 2.30;

Munster Seconds League North: Bruff v Shannon, Kilballyowen Park, 2.30;
Garryowen v Old Crescent, Dooradoyle, 2.30;
Richmond v Young Munster, Richmond Park, 2.30;
Thomond v U.L. Bohemian, Fitzgerald Park, 2.30;

Munster Seconds League South: Cork Constitution v Highfield, Temple Hill, 2.30;
Midleton v Dolphin, Towns Park, 2.30;

Junior 2 League South Section A: Old Christians v Dolphin, Rathcooney, 12.00;
Mallow v Cobh Pirates, Mallow, 11.45;

Junior 3 League South: Charleville v Youghal, Charleville, 12.00;
Dunmanway-Bantry Bay v Cork Transport, Dunmanway, 12.30;
U.C.C. v Midleton, Curaheen Road, 12.00;

West Munster League: Iveragh v Tralee, Cahirciveen, 2.30;
Listowel v Corca Dhuibhne, Listowel, 2.30;

Junior Friendly: Douglas v Muskerry, Moneygourney, 2.30;

Junior 2 Friendly: Kanturk v Ballincollig, Kanturk, 12.00;

Under 20 Friendly: Midleton v Waterpark, Towns Park, 12.00;

East Under 18 League Final: Waterpark v Clanwilliam, Clonmel, 12.00;

East Under 18 Development League: Carrick-on-Suir v Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, 11.00;
Cashel v Dungarvan, Cashel, 11.00;
Thurles v Kilfeacle, Thurles, 11.00;
Waterford City v Fethard, Waterford City, 11.00;

East Under 16 Development League: Clanwilliam v Carrick-on-Suir, Clanwilliam Park, 11.00;
Clonmel v Waterford City, Clonmel, 11.00;
Thurles v Nenagh Ormond, Thurles, 11.00;

East Under 14 League Semi Finals: Fethard v Waterpark, Fethard, 11.00;
Kilfeacle v Nenagh Ormond, Kilfeacle, 11.00;

East Under 14 League 3/4 Play Offs: Clanwilliam v Thurles, Clanwilliam Park, 11.00;
Clonmel v Waterford City, Clonmel, 11.00;

MONDAY 6th JANUARY
Munster Seconds League South: U.C.C. v Sunday's Well, Mardyke, 7.30;

WEDNESDAY 8th JANUARY
Barry Cup: P.B.C. v Crescent College Comp., Wilton, 2.30;

Schools Senior Friendly: Glenstal Abbey v Villiers, Glenstal, 2.30;
Rockwell v Blackrock College, Rockwell, 2.30;
Rockwell B v Blackrock College B, Rockwell, 2.30;

Schools Junior Friendly: Crescent College Comp. v Glenstal Abbey, Dooradoyle, 2.30;
Rockwell v Blackrock College, Rockwell, 2.30;
Rockwell B v Blackrock College B, Rockwell, 2.30;

THURSDAY 9th JANUARY
Mungret Cup: Carrigaline C.S. v St. Anne's Killaloe, Moneygourney, 1.00;