All Ireland League Preview

The All Ireland League continues this weekend with a full programme of games across all five divisions.

Proceedings get underway at New Ormond Park as Nenagh Ormond and Cashel lock horns in a Premier County derby on Friday evening. Cashel ran out 30-7 winners in the corresponding fixture in November and they go into the tie on the back of a comprehensive 56-19 home win over Blackrock College. The North Tipperary side will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in their battle against relegation following their 46-17 defeat by Dolphin on Leeside last time out.

On Saturday, leaders Cork Constitution travel to Limerick to take on Garryowen in Division 1A. The Lilywhites will be looking to bounce back from their narrow 22-27 defeat by UCD at Temple Hill, from which they claimed a losing bonus point. They ran out 27-3 home winners when these sides met at Temple Hill and they also defeated the Sky Blues 26-23 in the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Cup decider at Thomond Park in January. Garryowen are fifth and they go into the tie on the back of a narrow 12-10 defeat by Young Munster at Tom Clifford Park.

Young Munster, who are second from bottom, face a tough assignment as they travel to the Capital to take on defending champions Lansdowne, who are second, at the Aviva Stadium. Lansdowne ran out 23-12 winners when these sides met in Limerick and they go into the tie on the back of a shock defeat by bottom side Terenure College, while Young Munster recorded a narrow 12-10 over Limerick neighbours Garryowen.

The two promoted sides go head to head as UCC welcome Shannon to the Mardyke. The Students who have six losing bonus points to their credit were defeated 29-36 by Clontarf in Dublin and are hovering above the drop zone. Shannon, who won the corresponding fixture at Thomond Park on a 31-20 score line, are seventh following their narrow defeat by Dublin University at College Park, from which they claimed a losing bonus point.

In Division 2A, leaders Highfield will be looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat by Navan in County Meath as they entertain Old Crescent against whom they ran out comprehensive 61-14 winners at Rosbrien in November. The Limerick side go in to the tie on the back of a 35-22 home win over Galwegians.

Dolphin, who are battling against a second successive relegation are away to bottom side Galwegians against whom they ran out 22-17 winners at Irish Independent Park. The Leesiders will be looking to take another step closer to safety following their comprehensive 46-17 home win over Nenagh Ormond last time out.

Sixth-placed UL Bohemian face a tricky task as they welcome third-placed Navan to the 4G Pitch at the UL Arena. The Limerick side were defeated 35-3 by Queen’s University in Belfast last time out and they won the corresponding fixture in the Royal County 32-7. The County Meath side go into the tie on the back of a 17-12 home win over leaders Highfield.

Sunday’s Well, who are propping up Division 2B, entertain leaders MU Barnhall at Irish Independent Park. The County Kildare side ran out 27-7 winners in the corresponding fixture in November, which was the start of Sunday’s Well’s run of nine successive defeats. MU Barnhall enter the tie on the back of a comprehensive 41-10 home win over Corinthians, while Sunday’s Well claimed a losing bonus point against Wanderers at Merrion Road.

Midleton, who are second in Division 2C, travel to County Dublin to take on fifth-placed Malahide by whom they were defeated 14-6 when these sides met at Towns Park. Both sides go into the tie on the back of victories over Thomond and City of Derry respectively.

Bruff will be looking to maintain their challenge as they travel to Killiney to take on bottom side Seapoint. The County Limerick side ran out 20-5 winners when these sided met at Kilballyowen Park and they recorded a 25-11 home win over Bangor last time out, while Seapoint were defeated 29-22 by leaders Ballina in North Mayo.

Thomond, who are second from bottom, will have their work cut out as they welcome leaders Ballina to Liam Fitzgerald Park. The North Mayo side will be looking to make it two wins out of two and they go in to the tie on the back of a 28-22 home win over struggling Seapoint, while Thomond were defeated 23-17 by Midleton in East Cork.