Weekend Preview

The All Ireland League resumes this weekend with a handful of games that were postponed before Christmas.

The Voadfone Women’s Interprovincial Championship also kicks off with Munster welcoming Ulster to Musgrave Park on Saturday. Buy tickets here.

In Division 1A of the All Ireland League, fourth-placed Cork Constitution travel to the Capital to take on Dublin University, who are third, at College Park. Both sides claimed a losing bonus point each from their last games against Terenure College and Clontarf respectively.

Highfield, who are fifth in Division 1B following their 29-10 maximum point home win over near neighbours UCC, are away to St Mary’s College, who ran out 15-10 winners last time out against Old Wesley in a Dublin derby.

The two Tipperary sides are in action in Division 2A.

Cashel, who are third, following their 38-31 defeat by Queen’s University in Belfast, where they returned with two bonus points as they scored four tries, welcome table toppers Blackrock College to the Spafield.

Nenagh Ormond, who have slipped to seventh, following their narrow 17-14 defeat by Blackrock College at Stradbrook, from which they returned with a losing bonus point, welcome Navan to North Tipperary. The County Meath side put up 15 points without reply against bottom side UL Bohemian last time out.

Bottom side UL Bohemian are at home to fourth-placed MU Barnhall, and badly need a win to stay in touch with the sides above them.

In Division 2C, Midleton, who are seventh, following their heavy 47-13 defeat by leaders Instonians in Belfast, welcome Bruff, who were narrowly defeated 30-28 by Clonmel at Kilballyowen Park last time out, to East Cork.

Junior Rugby

It is a busy weekend across the Junior scene with action in the All Ireland Junior Cup semi-finals, the opening games in the First Round of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup and a full list of games in Section A of the Junior League, together with the first semi-final of the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Shield.

There is also a full program of games in the Munster Women’s League.

In the semi-finals of the All Ireland Junior Cup, Newcastle West, who are in the midst of a busy period with a backlog of games in the coming weeks, are at home to Clogher Valley from Fivemiletown in County Tyrone. The winners will meet Enniskillen or Monkstown, who lock horns in Fermanagh, in the decider.

Tralee, who won the Munster Junior Cup for the only time in their history in 1934, go head to head with Cobh Pirates, whose only triumph was in 2006, at O’Dowd Park. The winners will be away to Waterford City or Scariff, who meet on Suirside.

Killorglin welcome Sunday’s Well to the Kingdom. The winners will meet 1997 and 1998 winners Midleton or Killarney, who face off in East Cork.

Ennis entertain 2014 winners Clonmel and the winners will be away to Nenagh Ormond, whose last triumph was in 2004.

Castleisland are at home to Kinsale and the winners will have home advantage against Fethard in Round Two.

Carrick-on-Suir host Douglas at Tybroughney and the winners will be way to Kanturk in the next round.

Bruff welcome Youghal to Kilballyowen Park, and the winners will be rewarded with a home tie against Galbally-Mitchelstown.

The game of the day Section A of the Munster Junior League is the top of the table clash between Kilfeacle and leaders Bandon in West Tipperary. Kilfeacle recorded a comprehensive 36-6 maximum point away win over St Mary’s, while Bandon ran out 12-7 home winners, also against St Mary’s last time out.

Richmond, who share second spot with Kilfeacle and defending champions Newcastle West, make the relatively short trip to Tipperary Town, to meet struggling Clanwilliam. Richmond claimed maximum points from their comprehensive 45-29 away win over Abbeyfeale, while Clanwilliam were heavily defeated 32-3 at home by Bandon.

Muskerry, who have taken another step closer to safety following their 10-10 draw with Crosshaven, entrain struggling Thurles, who were defeated 31-22 by Newcastle West at the Tipperary venue last Monday.

St Mary’s who are in mid-table, welcome Old Christians, who are hovering above the drop zone to Grove Island. Both sides go into the tie on the back of bonus point defeats by Bandon and Skibbereen respectively.

There is a West Cork derby at the Carbery Showgrounds between fourth-placed Skibbereen and struggling Clonakilty. Skibbereen claimed all points on offer from their last game, where they defeated Old Christians 26-20 at home. Clonakilty returned from Suirside with a losing bonus point from their narrow 23-19 defeat by Waterpark.

Bottom side Abbeyfeale face a tough assignment as they welcome third-placed Mallow to West Limerick. Abbeyfeale claimed two losing bonus points from their 45-29 home defeat by Richmond as they scored five tries. Mallow go into the tie on the back of a 39-16 maximum point away win over Muskerry.

The first semi-final of the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Shield is down for decision as Fermoy entertain Dungarvan at the Showgrounds. The winners will meet Galbally-Mitchelstown or Cobh Pirates in the decider.

In the final round of group games in the Women’s Munster League, Conference A leaders UL Bohemian, who have maximum points from their games to date, will be looking to add another five points as they entertain thrird-placed Skibbereen. UL Bohemian go into the tie on the back of a 38-15 victory over Kerry in Tralee, while the West Cork side go into the tie on the back of a 42-0 away win over Shannon-LIT.

Second-placed Kerry will be looking to make the most of home advantage as they look to avenge November’s 17-12 defeat by Shannon-LIT at Coonagh, which resulted in a losing bonus point for the Kingdom.

Conference B leaders Thurles are at home to Ballincollig, who they defeated 52-7 at Tanner Park in November.

Second-placed Ennis-Kilrush welcome Waterpark to the Banner County and will be looking to make it two wins out of two as they defeated the Suirsiders 48-10 at Ballinakill in November.

Conference C leaders Dolphin travel to West Cork to take on Bantry Bay, who they defeated 17-7 when these sides met at Musgrave Park, and Mallow travel to East Cork to take on Midleton, against whom they put up 19 points without reply.