Weekend Preview

The All Ireland League resumes this weekend with a full programme across all five divisions, following a three-week break.

See details of all upcoming fixtures here.

In the Women’s All Ireland Cup Series, UL Bohemian, who are second, with a game in hand, welcome Wicklow, who are third to Annacotty. The Limerick side go into the tie on the back of a 43-11 maximum point win over Blackrock College, while Wicklow put up 34 points without reply against Ballincollig in the Garden County.

Ballincollig will have their work cut out as they welcome leaders Railway Union to Tanner Park, following their 34-0 away defeat by Wicklow. Railway Union ran out 48-10 winners over Suttonians at Park Avenue.

Cashel and Nenagh Ormond get the show on the road in the Men’s AIL on Friday as they lock horns in a Premier County derby at Spafield in Division 2A. Cashel are eight points adrift of fourth-placed MU Barnahll on 43 points, by whom they were defeated 21-17 and claimed a losing bonus point at the County Kildare venue. Their last win was January’s narrow 19-17 victory over Old Crescent at Takumi Park. The North Tipperary side are two points behind leaders Queen’s University following their 34-24 home win over Ballymena. Cashel won October’s corresponding fixture 36-20 at New Ormond Park.

On Saturday in Division 1A, third-placed Cork Constitution entertain Shannon, who are second from bottom, at Temple Hill. The Leesiders will be looking to make the most of home advantage in a bid to maintain their challenge for a top-four finish, following their 29-21 away win over Garryowen, which came after two successive bonus point defeats. Shannon are three points adrift of safety following their 33-3 defeat by Clontarf at Thomond Park last time out. The Lilywhites ran out 36-21 winners when these sides met in Limerick in October.

Young Munster go head to head with UCD at Tom Clifford Park and are looking to maintain their aspirations of a top-four finish following their 15-10 away win over Lansdowne. The Dublin Students are hovering above the drop zone and three points clear of Shannon following their 32-10 defeat by Terenure College in a Dublin derby at Belfield. The Limerick side ran out 23-10 winners when these sides met in Dublin.

Garryowen, who have been relegated, travel to the Capital to take on second-placed Terenure College at Lakelands Park. The Dublin side recorded a 32-10 away win over UCD, while the Sky Blues were defeated 29-21 by Cork Constitution at Dooradoyle last time out. Terenure College recorded a 38-25 victory when they met Garryowen in Limerick.

Highfield, who are fourth in Division 1B, travel to Athlone to take on third-placed Buccaneers at Dubarry Park. Highfield go into the tie on the back of a 21-16 home win over Old Wesley, while Buccaneers were defeated 34-7 by Old Belvedere at Ollie Campbell Park. The Athlone side recorded a narrow 17-14 win when these sides met at Woodleigh Park.

UCC, who are eight points clear of Banbridge, are hovering above the drop zone and they are away to sixth-placed St Mary’s College. The Leeside Students’ chances of survival received a welcome boost with their 46-34 maximum-point home win over Banbridge, following two successive defeats. St Mary’s College were narrowly defeated 23-20 by leaders City of Armagh last time out and they claimed a losing bonus point. UCC ran out 25-20 winners when these sides met at the Mardyke.

In Division 2A, UL Bohemian, who are second from bottom and five points adrift of safety, are enjoying a good run which saw them win their last three games including their 27-24 victory over Dolphin at Annacotty. They travel to County Antrim to take on Ballymena at Eaton Park. Ballymena have slipped to seventh place following their 34-24 defeat by second-placed Nenagh Ormond in North Tipperary. The County Antrim side also ran out 24-20 winners when these sides met at the UL Arena in October.

Bottom side Dolphin, who were defeated 47-14 by Nenagh Ormond at Musgrave Park last time out, welcome eighth-placed Navan to Leeside. Dolphin are without a win since their narrow 27-24 victory over UL Bohemian at Musgrave Park in late October, while the County Meath side were narrowly defeated 22-21 at home by Old Crescent. Navan ran out 29-12 when these sides met in the Royal County in October.

Old Crescent, who have climbed up to sixth following their 22-21 away win over Navan, face a tricky task as they entertain third-placed Blackrock College. The Dublin side were narrowly defeated 28-27 by Queen’s University at Stradbrook and they ran out 31-19 winners when they met Old Crescent in October.

The game of the day in Division 2C sees fourth-placed Clonmel travelling to the Faithful County, to take on Tullamore, who are third. Both sides claimed losing bonus points following narrow defeats to Midleton and Skerries respectively last time out. The County Offaly side ran out 21-18 winners when these sides met in South Tipperary, resulting in a losing bonus point for Clonmel.

Bruff, who are four points adrift of Clonmel, will have their work cut out as they welcome Skerries, who have climbed up to second, to Kilballyowen Park. Skerries ran out 18-10 winners over Clonmel in South Tipperary last time out, while the County Limerick side recorded a narrow 15-13 home win over Bangor.

At the foot of the table, bottom side Sunday’s Well, travel to North Mayo to take on Ballina, who are hovering above the drop zone, with five points separating these sides. The Leesiders ran out 49-15 maximum-point home winners over Omagh Academicals last time out, while Ballina were defeated 56-7 by runaway leaders Instonians.

Seventh-placed Midleton travel to County Tyrone to take on Omagh Academicals, who are second from bottom, with six points between these sides, at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields. Midleton will be looking to build on their home win against Tullamore as they aim to maintain their survival aspirations. Omagh Academicals go into the tie on the back of a heavy 49-15 defeat by Sunday’s Well on Leeside. Midleton recorded a narrow 28-26 win in October’s corresponding fixture in East Cork.

Junior Review

There is an assortment of Junior games down for decision this weekend in the Munster Junior and Women’s competitions.

In Round 4 of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup, Galbally-Mitchelstown are at home to Tralee and the winners will be away to holders Young Munster in the quarter finals.

Skibbereen welcome newly-crowned Munster Junior League champions Richmond to the Carbery Showgrounds and the winners will be rewarded with a home quarter-final against Kilfeacle.

There are two local derbies in the quarter-finals as Garryowen lock horns with Shannon at Dooradoyle and UCC go head the head with Highfield at the Mardyke.

The semi-finals of the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate are also down for decision.

There is a Clare derby which sees St Senan’s hosting Ennis at Jimmy Slattery Park. The winners will meet Cashel or Youghal who lock horns at the Spafield in the decider.

The Junior League Promotion Play-off series gets underway as Fethard welcome Kinsale to South Tipperary and the winners will be away to Kanturk.

Holders Newcastle West entertain Bandon in the quarter final of the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Cup, with Old Christians awaiting the winners in the semi-finals.

Waterford City welcome Castleisland, who recently won the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Bowl trophy to Suirside for the second semi-final of the Martin O’Sullivan Cup, with Youghal awaiting the winners in the decider.

The Munster Women’s Division 1 and Division 2 Cups continue this weekend.

In the Division 1 Cup, Dolphin take on Kerry at Musgrave Park and Thurles lock horns with UL Bohemian in the Premier County.

Midleton entertain Ballincollig in the Division 2 Cup and Ennis-Kilrush welcome Bantry Bay to the Banner County.