Weekend Preview

Action in the Men’s All Ireland League resumes this week after a weekend off, the All Ireland Junior Cup also gets underway and there are a handful of big games locally.

See the full list of fixtures at all levels this weekend here.

In the Men’s All Ireland League, Young Munster will be looking to make the most of home advantage in a bid to maintain their recent good run, as they entertain Lansdowne at Tom Clifford Park. The Limerick side go into the tie on the back of a 23-10 away win over UCD, while Lansdowne were defeated 27-17 by Dublin University at the Aviva Stadium.

Shannon, who are propping up the table on zero points, will have their work cut out as they travel to the capital to take on Clontarf at Castle Avenue. Clontarf are unbeaten with two bonus points from their three wins to date.

Cork Constitution, following their maximum-point 36-21 away win over Shannon, lock horns with Garryowen, who have one losing bonus point to their credit, at Temple Hill.

Division 1B leaders UCC, who are unbeaten following their 25-20 home win over St Mary’s College, face a tricky task as they make the long trip north to take on Banbridge, who are second from bottom. The County Down side won one game and they claimed two losing bonus points, including their narrow 27-24 defeat by Malone at Gibson Park last time out.

Highfield, who have slipped to fourth, following their narrow 17-14 defeat by Buccaneers at Woodleigh Park, travel to the Capital to take on Old Wesley, who are hovering above the drop zone. The Dublin side returned home from their 24-21 away defeat by City of Armagh with a losing bonus point.

Cashel, who are second in Division 2A, following their maximum-point 36-20 away win over Premier County neighbours Nenagh Ormond, entertain seventh-placed MU Barnhall. The County Kildare side claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 20-18 home defeat by Queen’s University last time out.

Ballymena and Nenagh Ormond go head to head in a mid-table clash at Eaton Park. The County Antrim side go into the tie on the back of a 24-20 away win over UL Bohemian, while Nenagh Ormond were defeated 36-20 by Tipperary neighbours Cashel.

Dolphin, who are hovering above the drop zone, lock horns with bottom side UL Bohemian at Musgrave Park. The Leesiders’ only points to date came in their 35-8 home win over Blackrock College, while UL Bohemian claimed a losing bonus point last time out against Ballymena.

Old Crescent, who are second from bottom, will have their work cut out as they entertain third-placed Navan at Takumi Park. The County Meath side are third, following their 29-12 home win over Dolphin, from which they claimed all points on offer. Old Crescent were defeated 31-19 by Blackrock College at Stradbrook, while their only point to date came when they scored four tries in their opening day defeat by MU Barnhall in County Kildare.

The game of the day in Division 2C is the meeting of fourth-placed Tullamore and Midleton, who are third, in the Faithful County. Midleton go into the tie on the back of a 28-26 home win over Omagh Academicals, while Tullamore ran out narrow 21-18 winners over Clonmel in South Tipperary.

Sunday’s Well, who are hovering above the drop zone following their 27-9 bonus point home win over Ballina, will have their work cut out as they travel to County Tyrone, to take on Omagh Academicals. The Ulster side returned home from East Cork with two points as they scored four tries in their narrow 28-26 defeat by Midleton.

Skerries entertain Clonmel in a mid-table clash at Holmpatrick. Skerries ran our 15-7 away winners over Bruff in County Limerick last time out while Clonmel claimed a losing bonus point from their 21-18 home defeat by Tullamore.

Bruff, who are second from bottom, face a tough assignment as they travel to County Down to take on Bangor, who are second. Bangor were defeated 26-20 by Instonians in Belfast and returned with a losing bonus point, while Bruff were defeated 15-7 by Skerries at Kilballyowen Park.

In the first round of the All Ireland Junior Cup Bandon welcome Cooke to Old Chapel and Munster Junior League Champions Newcastle West are at home to Connemara.

Seapoint welcome Kifeacle to Killiney and Thomond are away to Westport.

There are two local finals in South Munster on Sunday.

Clonakilty and Mallow lock horns in the Cork County Cup decider and Ballincollig go head to head with Kinsale for the O’Neill Cup.

In Conference A of the Munster Women’s League, Skibbereen begin their campaign away to Kerry in Tralee.

In Conference B, there is a top of the table clash, which sees Thurles locking horns with Waterpark in the Premier County. Both sides go into the tie on the back of maximum-point home wins over Ennis-Kilrush and Ballincollig respectively.