Weekend Preview

Check out our preview of this weekend’s rugby across the province.

Senior Preview

It is another busy weekend with a full programme of games across the Men’s and Women’s All Ireland Leagues.

In Division 1A of the Men’s All Ireland League, Cork Constitution welcome Dublin University, who are second from bottom, to Temple Hill. The Lilywhites have climbed up to second place, following their maximum-point 43-24 victory over Shannon at Thomond Park. The Dublin Students claimed their second losing bonus point from last week’s 21-15 home defeat by Ballynahinch.

Shannon travel to the capital to take on Lansdowne at the Aviva Stadium. Both sides go into the tie on the back of defeats where they claimed a bonus point each. Lansdowne were narrowly defeated 24-23 by champions Terenure College at Lakelands Park. The Limerick side scored four tries in their 43-24 defeat by Cork Constitution at Thomond Park.

Young Munster, who remain second from bottom, face a tricky task as they entertain champions Terenure College at Tom Clifford Park. The Dublin side recoded a narrow 24-23 home win over Lansdowne last time out, while Young Munster claimed a losing bonus point from their 26-24 defeat by UCD at Belfield.

Garryowen, who are seventh in Division 1B, will have their work cut out as they welcome unbeaten leaders St Mary’s College, who have maximum points from their games to date, to Dooradoyle. The Sky Blues claimed two bonus points from their 41-38 defeat by Naas in County Kildare as they scored four tries. The Dublin side ran out 55-29 home winners over Highfield.

Highfield, who have slipped to fourth, but returned from their 55-29 defeat by St Mary’s College with a bonus point, face a tricky task as they entertain third-placed Old Belvedere at Woodleigh Park. The Dublin side ran out 34-29 home winners over UCC last time out.

UCC have climbed up to fifth following their narrow 34-29 defeat by Old Belvedere in Dublin, where they claimed two bonus points, as they scored four tries. They go head to head with Queen’s University at the Mardyke in what is also their Colours game. The Belfast Students have slipped to sixth following their 21-16 home defeat by Buccaneers, from which they claimed a losing bonus point.

Unbeaten Division 2A leaders Nenagh Ormond welcome fifth-placed Banbridge to North Tipperary. Nenagh Ormond ran out 23-7 away winners over Ballymena last time out, while the County Down side were narrowly defeated 28-27 at home by a last minute Old Crescent try.

Cashel, who are second, travel to County Kildare to take on third-placed MU Barnhall. The Tipperary side go into the tie on the back of a 31-7 home win over UL Bohemian, while MU Barnhall claimed all points on offer from their 48-29 away win over Greystones.

UL Bohemian entertain Ballymena at Annacotty, with both sides going into the tie on the back of defeats by Tipperary opposition. UL Bohemian have slipped to fourth following their 31-7 defeat by Cashel in the Premier County. The County Antrim side are now second from bottom following their 23-7 home defeat by Nenagh Ormond.

Old Crescent have climbed out of the drop zone following their last minute 28-27 away win over Banbridge, where they claimed all points on offer. This week they lock horns with bottom side Malone, who recorded their first win of the campaign, as they defeated Navan 26-25 at Gibson Park.

Dolphin, who are propping up Division 2B following their heavy 62-17 defeat by Rainey Old Boys in Magherafelt, welcome fourth-placed Sligo to Musgrave Park. The Yeats’ County side go into the tie on the back of a 31-12 maximum-point home win over Malahide.

Bruff have slipped to fourth place in Division 2C following their 36-20 away defeat by leaders Clogher Valley. They are at home to Omagh Academicals, who have slipped to seventh following their 37-21 away defeat by Clonmel.

Midleton have climbed up to fifth, following their maximum-point 32-13 home win over Ballina and they travel to the Faithful County to take on Tullamore, who are hovering above the drop zone, following their 52-19 away defeat by Enniscorthy.

Clonmel, who have climbed up the sixth following their 37-21 home win over Omagh Academicals, where they claimed all points on offer travel to North Mayo, to take on Ballina. The Mayo side remain ninth following their 32-13 away defeat by Midleton.

In the Women’s All Ireland League, runaway leaders UL Bohemian welcome fourth-placed Railway Union to Annacotty. UL Bohemian recorded a 69-5 comprehensive away win over Ballincollig last time out, while Railway Union claimed a losing bonus point from their low-scoring 6-3 home defeat by Old Belvedere.

Ballincollig, who are fifth, entertain Old Belvedere, who ran out 6-3 away winners over Railway Union, to Tanner Park. Ballincollig go into the tie on the back of three heavy defeats.

Provincial Preview

It is Cup action on the Junior front this weekend with two Munster sides involved in the quarter finals of the All Ireland Junior Cup as well as action in the opening rounds of the Junior Clubs Cup, Junior Clubs Challenge Shield, and Martin O’Sullivan Cup. Action continues in both Division 1 and 2 of the Women’s League.

In the All Ireland Junior Cup, 2020 winners Kilfeacle host Dromore in West Tipperary, while Newcastle West travel to Killiney, to take on Seapoint.

In the opening round of the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Cup, Thurles welcome Clonakilty to the Premier County and this game also doubles up as a Munster Junior League tie. The winners of this game will be away to Newcastle West in the quarter finals. A bonus point win would see Thurles leapfrog Mallow into pole position in the Junior League, while the West Cork side are on nine points.

Clanwilliam entertain Richmond and the winners will be rewarded with home advantage against Thomond in the quarter finals.

There are two Cork derbies as Muskerry go head to head with Charleville at Ballyanly, with Bandon awaiting the winners in West Cork.

Sunday’s Well host Kanturk at Musgrave Park and the winners will have a home quarter final with Kilfeacle.

Proceedings get underway in the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Shield on Suirside, as Waterpark lock horns with Fethard. The winners will be away to Youghal or Abbeyfeale, who meet in East Cork for the second weekend.

Kinsale go head to head with Cobh Pirates in South Cork and the winners will have home advantage against Crosshaven.

Fermoy entertain St Mary’s and the winners will be at home to Old Christians.

In Division 3 of the Munster Junior League, Waterford City who recorded their first win of the campaign against Chorca Dhuibhne last time out, welcome Ardscoil Old Boys, who defeated Dungarvan in Limerick, to Suirside.

There are three Martin O’Sullivan Cup ties down for decision.

Castleisland welcome Dungarvan to the Kingdom and the winners will be away to Ardscoil Old Boys in the quarter finals.

Ennis entertain Douglas in the Banner County, with Chorca Dhuibhne awaiting the winners in the West Kerry Gaeltacht.

Scariff take on Killorglin in East Clare and the winners will be away to Killarney.

In Division 1 of the Munster Women’s League, Ennis-Kilrush face a tough assignment as they go in search of their first win as they lock horns with leaders UL Bohemian in the Banner County. UL Bohemian have maximum points, while the Clare side are looking for their first win, with three points to their credit.

Unbeaten Tralee entertain Skibbereen, who were defeated 36-7 by UL Bohemian at the Carbery Showgrounds last time out. The Kerry side go into the tie on the back of a narrow 11-10 home win over Ennis-Kilrush.

Shannon-TUS, who have three points to their credit, lock horns with Dolphin, who are propping up the table on zero points at Coonagh.

In Division 2, unbeaten leaders Bruff entertain Clonakilty, who are on zero points at Kilballyowen Park. Bruff recorded a 33-24 home win over Thurles last time out, while Clonakilty were defeated 51-12 by Bantry Bay.

Ballincollig, who have a game in hand, lock horns with Midleton at Tanner Park, with both sides unbeaten. Ballincollig claimed all points on offer from their opening day 24-12 home win over Clonakilty, while the East Cork side ran out 21-17 home winners over Mallow.

Thurles, who were defeated 33-24 but claimed a bonus point, as they scored four tries against Bruff at Kilballyowen Park, are at home to Mallow, who claimed a losing bonus point from their 21-17 defeat by Midleton at Towns Park.