Weekend Club Preview

On the opening weekend of the RBS 6 Nations Championship, there is a full program of games across all five Divisions of the Ulster Bank All Ireland League, together with several rescheduled games at Junior level.

In Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League, Cork Constitution make the long trip north to take on Ballynahinch at Ballymacarn Park. The Temple Hill side will be expected to bounce back from their narrow home defeat last time out against Young Munster and claim all points on offer.

Third-placed Garryowen welcome Lansdowne to Dooradoyle. The Light Blues will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in their bid to avenge October’s 17-10 defeat by the Dublin side at the Aviva Stadium.

Young Munster travel to the Capital to take on Old Belvedere at Anglesea Road and the Limerick side will be looking to build on their narrow away win over Cork Constitution in a bid to keep their challenge for a top four finish on track.

Dolphin face a tricky task in their bid to avoid a second successive relegation as they travel to Athlone to take on fifth-placed Buccaneers. The Irish Independent Park side, who are hovering above the drop zone, recorded a narrow 24-23 victory when these Clubs met on Leeside in October.

Sixth-placed Shannon face a tricky task as they travel to Dublin to take on Old Wesley, who are fourth. Shannon are coming off the back of a 40-0 home win over Belfast Harlequins and they ran out 25-17 winners when these sides met at Thomond Park.

Struggling UL Bohemian entertain Blackrock College at Thomond Park and the Limerick side will be looking to grind out a valuable home win in their bid to avoid the drop as they defeated ‘Rock on a 21-14 scoreline at Stradbrook in October.

Fifth-placed Cashel lock horns with third-placed UCC in Division 2A at the Spafield. The Premier County side, who recorded narrow 17-15 victory when these sides met at the Mardyke, face a tricky assignment in a bid to keep their outside chances of a top four finish intact.

Nenagh Ormond travel to Galway to take on bottom side Corinthians and the North Tipperary side will be aiming to avenge October’s 20-12 home defeat.

Struggling Thomond will have their work cut out in their battle against the drop as they take on fourth-placed Malone at Liam Fitzgerald Park. The Limerick side will be aiming to make life difficult in a bid to record a valuable home win and avenge October’s 31-27 defeat in Belfast.

Second-placed Highfield are at home to fourth-placed Greystones in Division 2B and ‘Field will be looking to make it two wins out of two over the County Wicklow side.

Third-placed Sunday’s Well are going for their tenth straight win as they travel to County Kildare to take on sixth-placed MU Barnhall, who they defeated 17-14 on Leeside.

Division 2C leaders Old Crescent will be expected to bounce back from their 31-24 defeat by Wanderers as they entertain Midleton. The Limerick side ran out 25-16 winners at Towns Park in October.

Fourth-placed Bruff entertain Boyne who they defeated 23-12 when theses sides met in Drogheda and the County Limerick side will be looking to keep their aspirations of a top four finish intact.

Kanturk face a tricky task as they travel to the Faithful County to take on second-placed Tullamore who ran out 44-21 winners when these sides met in Duhallow.

The weekend’s Junior programme gets underway on Friday evening as Fermoy entertain Crosshaven under lights at the Showgrounds in the second semi-final of the Martin O’Sullivan Cup. The winners will meet Youghal in the decider.

On Saturday, Junior League leaders Clonmel will be looking to get back to winning ways after their recent 14-14 draw against Old Christians as they lock horns with Clanwilliam in a Tipperary derby.

Richmond will be expected to record their first win of the campaign since they defeated Waterpark at Ballinakill in November as they host bottom side St Mary’s in a Limerick City derby.

Kilfeacle will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in their bid for a top four finish as they entertain St Senan’s.

Muskerry will be looking to take another step closer to safety as they take on Waterpark at Ballyanly.

Dungarvan, who are propping up Division 2, will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in a bid to record their first win of the campaign as they travel to Ballincollig following last week’s Cup win over Midleton.

Mallow and Charleville lock horns in a North Cork derby at St Joseph’s Road, with both sides hovering above the drop zone.

In Division 3, Killarney will be expected to claim the points from their home meeting with Carrick-on-Suir.

Douglas-Carrigaline, whose last victory was at home against Scariff in November, entertain Chorca Dhuibhne, who are without a win since they defeated Carrick-on-Suir in South Tipperary in October.