Weekend Preview

There is a full series of games this October Bank Holiday Weekend in the Men’s and Women’s All-Ireland Leagues, together with the opening round of games in the All-Ireland Junior Cup.

Locally, there are games in the Munster Women’s League and the Cork Charity Cup final is also down for decision.

SENIOR PREVIEW:

In Division 1 of the Men’s All-Ireland League, Cork Constitution will be looking to make the most of home advantage, as they go head to head with leaders Clontarf at Temple Hill. The Leesiders were defeated 27-10 by Lansdowne on the back pitch of the Aviva Stadium last time out. Clontarf go into the tie on the back of their first defeat of the campaign, going down 28-10 at home to Terenure College.

Young Munster entertain Lansdowne at Tom Clifford Park, with both sides presently occupying the mid-table places. Young Munster have slipped to sixth, following their narrow 26-25 home defeat to Ballynahinch, where they claimed a losing bonus point. Lansdowne have climbed up to fifth, following their 27-10 victory over Cork Constitution on the Back Pitch of the Aviva Stadium.

Garryowen, who are one point clear of the drop zone, face a tough assignment as they travel to County Down to take on Ballynahinch. The Ulster side recorded a narrow 26-25 away win over Young Munster in Limerick. The Sky Blues returned with a losing bonus point form their narrow 25-22 away defeat by St Mary’ College.

UCC, who have climbed up to second place in Division 1B, travel to County Kildare to take on Naas. The Leeside Students go in to the tie on the back of a comprehensive 42-7 home win over Shannon. Naas were defeated 22-10 at home by Old Wesley last time out.

Highfield, who are hovering above the drop zone, will have their work cut out, as they welcome Nenagh Ormond to Woodleigh Park. Highfield go into the tie on the back of three successive defeats as they lost 28-24 to Blackrock College in Dublin and claimed a losing bonus point. The Leesiders’ only win to date was when they narrowly ran out 19-17 home winners over Naas on the opening day of the campaign. The North Tipperary side have slipped to third following their narrow 32-32 home defeat by leaders Old Belvedere, which saw them finish with two points, as they scored four tries.

Shannon, who are now occupying one of the relegation places, lock horns with Dublin University at Thomond Park. Both of these sides were relegated last season.  Shannon will have their work cut out as they lost 42-7 to UCC on Leeside last time out. This result has left the Limerick side in ninth place. The Dublin Students have climbed up to seventh, as they won their last two games, including their 24-21 home win over Queen’s University last time out.

Cashel, who are third in Division 2A, with maximum points from their games to date, travel to County Wicklow, to take on Greystones. The Tipperary side claimed all points on offer from their 29-24 home win over Ballymena. Greystones were defeated 14-10 by MU Barnhall in County Kildare and claimed a losing bonus point.

Old Crescent, who have slipped to seventh, entertain Buccaneers, who are propping up the table on a single point. Old Crescent were defeated 43-21 away by Galway Corinthians. The Athlone side claimed their first point as they scored four tries in their 62-26 defeat by Banbridge in County Down.

UL Bohemian, who have slipped out of the promotion places in Division 2B, face a trick task, as they entertain unbeaten leaders Wanderers at Annacotty. UL Bohemian were defeated 44-12 by Clogher Valley in County Tyrone. The Dublin side recorded a narrow 21-20 home win over Galwegians.

Unbeaten Division 2C leaders Midleton, travel to the Faithful County to take on Tullamore, who are propping up the table on two points. Midleton go into the tie on the back of a 27-24 away win over Enniscorthy, where they claimed all points on offer. The County Offaly side were defeated 40-19 by Dolphin on Leeside last time out. Tullamore’s only points to date came from a 25-25 home draw with Enniscorthy.

Dolphin, who are also unbeaten in third place, welcome Monkstown to Virgin Media Park. The Leesiders ran out 40-19 home winners over Tullamore. Monkstown claimed a losing bonus point form their narrow 29-27 home defeat by Clonmel, which sees them slip to sixth place.

Clonmel will have their work cut out as they entertain unbeaten Belfast Harlequins, who are second, at the South Tipperary venue. Clonmel have climbed up to fifth place following their narrow 29-27 away win over Monkstown. The Belfast side go into the tie on the back of a 31-26 home win over Omagh Academicals in an Ulster derby.

Bruff, who have slipped to ninth, will have their work cut out, as they entertain Enniscorthy at Kilballyowen Park, with both sides still without a win. Bruff were defeated 66-0 by Clogher Valley in County Tyrone. Enniscorthy have climbed out of the drop zone as they scored four tires in their 27-24 home defeat by Midleton, to claim two points.

In the Women’s All-Ireland League, UL Bohemian, who have climbed up to third place, travel to Belfast, to take on Cooke. UL Bohemian ran out maximum-point 31-5 away winners over Old Belvedere last time out. The Belfast side have slipped to eighth and they go into the tie on the back of a heavy 59-22 away defeat by Galwegians.

Ballincollig, who have climbed up to fifth, entertain bottom side Old Belvedere at Tanner Park. Ballincollig claimed all points on offer from their 26-10 away win over Tullow. The Dublin side are propping up the table on zero points, following their 31-5 home defeat by UL Bohemian.

JUNIOR PREVIEW

The first round of the All Ireland Junior Cup are down for decision, with four Munster sides in action.

Thomond entertain Dromore at Liam Fitzgerald Park and Mallow welcome Bective Rangers to North Cork.

Kilfeacle are away to Cooke in Belfast, while Newcastle West travel to North Dublin, to take on Suttonians.

Proceedings get underway in Division 1 of the Munster Women’s League as Roaring Water Bay welcome Shannon-TUS to the Carbery Showgrounds in Skibbereen and Tralee go head to head with Ennis-Kilrush in the Kingdom.

In Division 2 Pool B, Mallow begin their campaign as they entertain Ballincollig, who won their opening game 20-19 away against Midleton.

The Cork Charity Cup is down for decision next Tuesday evening as Cork Constitution lock horns with Highfield at Temple Hill. The Lilywhites are looking to retain the trophy, while Highfield are aiming to bridge a 50-year gap.