Weekend Preview 16th January

Weather permitting it should be back to rugby action at all levels this weekend.

There is a full program of AIL league games scheduled to go ahead. In Division 1A leaders St. Mary’s College are at home to Garryowen. The Limerick side will be boosted by their win against Dolphin in the Cup before Christmas and a similar performance could see them at least get some thing from this tie.

Second placed Cork Constitution are at home to Blackrock College. The Dublin side were one of the early pace setters but have fallen away in recent weeks. Con’ should be at full strength and should pick up the points.

There is a Munster derby at Coonagh where Shannon entertain Dolphin. After a poor opening the defending champions have got themselves back into contention, while injuries has hit Dolphin’s challenge, so the odds must be on Shannon to repeat their recent win over the Cork side in the ODM Munster Senior Cup.

Two sides struggling at the foot of the table Clontarf and U.L. Bohemian meet at Castle Avenue, where a defeat will make it difficult for the losing side to hold their position in this Division.

In Division 1B the two top sides Old Belvedere and Young Munster meet at Anglesea Road. Both these sides have opened up a gap and a win for either side will make them firm favourites to book a place in the semi finals.

U.C.C. and Galwegians the two sides behind the leaders meet at the Mardyke in a game which is the students colours game. The points are vital to both sides and a defeat will probably end any promotion hopes.

In Division Two: Bruff face Thomond at Fitzgerald Park knowing that this is a game they must win to keep their promotion hopes alive. Thomond have slipped down the table in recent weeks and will certainly make it difficult for their visitors.

All the other Munster sides in this Division are battling against relegation. Highfield are the only side with home advantage when they play Terenure College. This is a tie that they must win to move up the table.

Old Crescent face a difficult trip to Dublin to face Trinity while Clonakilty will be looking to get something from their away game against bottom side Greystones.

Third Division leaders Midleton put their unbeaten record on the line when they face promotion challenging Wanderers at Merrion Road.

Sunday’s Well will hope to continue their recent good run with a home win over Banbridge while Nenagh Ormond should pick up the points at home to struggling Naas.

There are eleven first round and three second round ties down for decision in the Munster Junior Cup.

The big game in the second round is the meeting of Newport and Old Christians at the Tipperary venue. The Cork side had a narrow 15-11 win in the league earlier in the season and they now lead the Second Division, while Newport’s hopes of promotion have gone. It should be a close tie with the visitors experience expected to see them advance.

Kanturk host Newcastle West and the North Cork side will be anxious to make amends for their 14-9 defeat in the league.

The two bottom sides in the Second Division Youghal and St. Mary’s meet at the East Cork venue with both sides needing a win to boost moral.

In the First Round ties Division 3B leaders Charleville will fancy their chances of an upset away to Clonakilty.

Abbeyfeale also travel to an AIL club when they face Sunday’s Well and will have to show a big improvement in form if they are to advance.

Thomond should get the better of Fermoy at Fitzgerald Park and home advantage should also see Old Crescent see off the challenge of Killorglin.

Division 3A leaders Castleisland should continue their good run with a home win over Presentation.

The two newcomers to this competition have home draws. Corca Dhuibhne will fancy their chances at home to Kilrush, but Shandon face a difficult task against Mallow.

The Martin O’Sullivan Cup winners Carrick-on-Suir should prove too strong for Dungarvan and home advantage may not be enough for Douglas who host an in form Killarney side.

There is an all AIL clash at the Towns Park when Midleton play Nenagh Ormond and Waterford City should make their trip to Scariff a winning one.

There is also a full program of games in Division 1 of the Munster Junior League. Current leaders Tralee will have it all to do to keep top spot at home to Waterpark.

Richmond will be looking to pick up maximum points at home to bottom side Crosshaven, while defending champions Cashel face a tricky assignment away to an improving Clonmel side.

Ballincollig host Kilfeacle and a win would keep the Tanner Park side in the top four, while Skibbereen can move further up the table with an away win over Cobh Pirates.

In the other tie, two sides battling against relegation sees Thurles play St. Senan’s and home advantage could give Thurles the edge.

There is one game in the Second Division and it is a vital game in the promotion race as it involves the sides in second and third place. Galbally who are unbeaten travel to Clanwilliam and a victory will see the winners move into top place. This will be another big test for the County Limerick side as they bid to win promotion in successive seasons.

Elsewhere there is one game in the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup when Midleton College host Bandon Grammar with the winners to have a home tie against Glenstal Abbey next week. This game is scheduled to go ahead in Midleton on Saturday morning at 11.00.

Also starting this week is the Avonmore Milk Munster Under 19 and 17 Leagues.

FIXTURES:
SATURDAY 16th JANUARY
Heineken Cup:Benetton Triviso v Munster,Treviso,1.30;

AIB League Division 1A: Clontarf v U.L. Bohemian,Castle Avenue,2.30;
Cork Constitution v Blackrock College,Temple Hill,2.30;
Shannon v Dolphin,Coonagh,2.30;
St. Mary’s College v Garryowen,Templeville Road,2.30;

Division 1B:Ballynahinch v Dungannon,Ballymacarn Park,2.30;
Buccaneers v Ballymena,Dubarry Park,6.30;
Old Belvedere v Young Munster,Anglesea Road,2.30;
U.C.C. v Galwegians,Mardyke,2.30;

Division 2:D.L.S.P. v Bective Rangers,Kirwan Park,2.30;
Dublin University v Old Crescent,College Park,2.30;
Greystones v Clonakilty,Dr Hickey Park,2.30;
Highfield v Terenure College,Woodleigh Park,2.30;
Malone v Corinthians,Gibson Park,2.30;
Old Wesley v Belfast Harlequins,Donnybrook,2.30;
Thomond v Bruff,Fitzgerald Park,2.30;
U.C.D. v Lansdowne,Belfield,2.30;

Division 3:Ards v Co. Carlow,Hamilton Park,2.30;
Barnhall v Portadown,Parsonstown,2.30;
Instonians v Queens University,Shaws Bridge,2.30;
Nenagh Ormond v Naas,New Ormond Park,2.30;
Rainey Old Boys v Navan,Hatrick Park,2.30;
Sunday’s Well v Banbridge,Musgrave Park,2.30;
Suttonians v Connemara,Station Road,2.30;
Wanderers v Midleton,Merrion Road,2.30;

AIB Junior Cup Semi Finals:Armagh v Tullamore,Armagh,2.30;
City of Derry v Monivea,Judges Road,2.30;

Gleeson League: Clonmel v Old Crescent,Clonmel,2.30;
Richmond v Garryowen,Richmond Park,2.30;
Thomond v Bruff,Fitzgerald Park,2.30;
Young Munster v U.L. Bohemian,Derryknockane,2.30;

Under 21 South Western Conference Division 1 Section A:N.U.I.G. v Highfield,Galway,2.30;
U.C.C. v Garryowen,Curaheen Road,2.30;
Young Munster v Dolphin,Clifford Park,2.30;

Section B:Bruff v U.L. Bohemian,Bruff,2.30;
Shannon v Waterpark,Coonagh,2.30;
Sunday’s Well v Galwegians,Musgrave Park,2.30;

Division 2:Kilfeacle v Cashel,Kilfeacle,2.30;

Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup:Midleton College v Bandon Grammar,Midleton,11.00;

Schools Junior Friendly:Glenstal Abbey v Castletroy College,Glenstal,11.30;

Avonmore Milk Munster Under 19 League Group 1:Waterpark v Fermoy,Ballinakill,2.30;

Group 4:Castleisland v Sunday’s Well,Castleisland,1.00;

Avonmore Milk Munster Under 17 League Section A:Highfield v Castleisland,Woodleigh Park,12.00;

Section D:Tralee v Shannon,Tralee,12.00;

South Under 19 Development League:Bandon v Highfield B,Bandon,12.00;
Kinsale v Douglas,Kinsale,12.00;

South Under 17 League Quarter Finals:Bandon v Sunday’s Well,Bandon,2.00;
Charleville v Muskerry,Charleville,12.30;
Old Christians v Cobh Pirates,Rathcooney,12.00;

South Under 15 League Section A:Cork Constitution v Charleville,Temple Hill,12.00;

Section B:Dunmanway v Highfield,Dunmanway,11.00;
Kinsale v Clonakilty,Kinsale,11.30;

Munster Girls Under 19 League Semi Finals:Clonmel v Corca Dhuibhne,Clonmel,1.30;
Mallow v Shannon,Mallow,1.30;

SUNDAY 17th JANUARY
Munster Junior Cup First Round:Castleisland v Presentation,Castleisland,2.30;
Clonakilty v Charleville,The Vale,2.30;
Corca Dhuibhne v Kilrush,Ballydavid,2.30;
Douglas v Killarney,Moneygouney,2.30;
Dungarvan v Carrick-on-Suir,Dungarvan,2.30;
Kanturk v Newcastle West,Kanturk,2.30;
Midleton v Nenagh Ormond,Towns Park,2.30;
Newport v Old Christians,Newport,2.30;
Old Crescent v Killorglin,Rosbrien,2.30;
Scariff v Waterford City,Scariff,2.30;
Shandon v Mallow,Whitechurch,2.30;
Sunday’s Well v Abbeyfeale,Musgrave Park,2.30;
Thomond v Fermoy,Fitzgerald Park,2.30;
Youghal v St. Mary’s,Youghal,2.30;

Munster Junior League Division 1:Ballincollig v Kilfeacle,Tanner Park,2.30;
Clonmel v Cashel,Clonmel,2.30;
Cobh Pirates v Skibbereen,Cobh,2.30;
Richmond v Crosshaven,Richmond Park,2.30;
Thurles v St. Senan’s,Thurles,2.30;
Tralee v Waterpark,Tralee,2.30;

Division 2:Clanwilliam v Galbally,Clanwilliam Park,3.00;

Munster Seconds League North:Bruff v Garryowen,Bruff,2.30;
Young Munster v U.L. Bohemain,Clifford Park,2.30;

Munster Seconds League South:Dolphin v Cork Constitution,Musgrave Park,2.30;

Gleeson League Division 2 Section A:Clanwilliam v Waterpark,Clanwilliam Park,1.30;
Fethard v Thurles,Fethard,2.30;
Kilfeacle v Galbally,Kilfeacle,2.30;

Junior 2 League South Section A:Castleisland v Kanturk,Castleisland,12.00;
Listowel v Killarney,Listowel,2.30;

Section B:Bandon v Dunmanway,Bandon,12.00;
Clonakilty v Skibbereen,Clonakilty,12.00;

Section C:Muskerry v Ballincollig,Ballyanly,12,00;
Old Christians v U.C.C.,Rathcooney,12.00;

Section D:Cork Constitution v Carrigaline,Temple Hill,12.00;
Dolphin v Cobh Pirates,Musgrave Park,12.00;

Junior 3 League South Group A:Ballincollig v Youghal,Tanner Park,12.00;
Mallow v Bandon,Mallow,1.00;

Group B:Shandon v Cork Transport,Whitechurch,12.00;
U.C.C. v Dolphin,Curaheen Road,12.00;

Junior Friendly:Muskerry v Highfield,Muskerry,2.30;

Junior 2 Friendly:Dungarvan v Carrick-on-Suir,Dungarvan,12.45;

Avonmore Milk Munster Under 19 League Group 1:U.L. Bohemian v Ennis,Annacotty,12.00;

Group 2:Thomond v Clonmel,Fitzgerald Park,

Group 3:Highfield v Dungarvan,Woodleigh Park,12.00;

Group 4:Nenagh Ormond v Young Munster,Nenagh,12.00;

Avonmore Milk Munster Under 17 League Section A:Kilfeacle v U.L. Bohemain,Kilfeacle,11.00;

Section B:Thomond v Killarney,Fitzgerald Park,12.00;

Section C:Garryowen v Dungarvan,Dooradoyle,12.15;

East Under 19 Development League:Cashel v Thurles,Cashel,11.00;
Clanwilliam v Fethard,Clanwilliam Park,11.00;
Waterford City v Galbally,Waterford,11.00;

East Under 17 Development League:Carrick-on-Suir v Roscrea,Carrick-on-Suir,12.00;
Clonmel v Clanwilliam,Clonmel,11.00;
Galbally v Thurles,Galbally,11.00;
Nenagh Ormond v Fethard,Nenagh,11.00;

East Under 15 League Section A:Clonmel v Carrick-on-Suir,Clonmel,11.00;
Waterpark v Dungarvan,Ballinakill,11.00;

Section B:Clanwilliam v Cashel,Clanwilliam Park,11.00;
Galbally v Kilfeacle,Galbally,11.00;
Roscrea v Thurles,Roscrea,11.00;

East Under 13 League Section A:Cashel v Kilfeacle,Cashel,11.00;
Dungarvan v Clonmel,Dungarvan,11.00;
Fethard v Waterpark,Fethard,11.00;
Thurles v Nenagh Ormond,Thurles,11.00;

Section B:Waterford City v Carrick-on-Suir,Waterford,11.00;

North Under 16 League:Bruff v Young Munster,Derryknockane,11.00;
Ennis v St. Senan’s,lee’s Road,11.30;
Kilrush v U.L. Bohemian,Kilrush,12.00;
Newcastle West v Thomond,Newcastle West,12.00;

Womens AIL:
Division 1:Blackrock v St. Mary’s,Stradbrook,1.00;
Clonmel v Navan,Clonmel,1.00;
Cooke v U.L. Bohemain,Belfast,1.00;
Highfield v Galwegians,Woodleigh Park,1.00;

Division 2 South:Galbally v Youghal,Galbally,1.00;
Young Munster v Nenagh Ormond,Clifford Park,1.00;