Weekend Preview

The penultimate series of games across all five divisions of the All Ireland League takes place this weekend and there are also a handful of Junior finals also down for decision.

Proceedings get underway on Friday evening in Division 1A as leaders Cork Constitution and UCC lock horns at Temple Hill. The Lilywhites will be looking to bounce back from their 37-13 defeat by Dublin University and make it two wins out of two over their Leeside neighbours, who recorded a valuable 13-10 home win over Young Munster last time out.

Young Munster, who are hovering just two points above the drop zone, welcome fellow strugglers Shannon to Tom Clifford Park with both sides going into the tie on the back of away defeats by UCC and Terenure College respectively. Shannon, who currently occupy the relegation play-off place ahead of bottom side Terenure College on points difference, won the corresponding fixture 23-10 at Thomond Park in October.

In Division 2A, second-placed Cashel welcome Old Crescent, whose play-off aspirations were ended with a narrow 15-14 home defeat by Dolphin, to the Premier County. The Tipperary side will be looking to maintain their quest for a place in the play-offs following their 27-24 defeat against Highfield from which they claimed a losing bonus point. Cashel ran out 30-24 winners when these sides met at Rosbrien.

On Saturday in Division 1A, fifth-placed Garryowen travel to the Capital to take on defending champions Lansdowne, who are third. The Limerick side, who were defeated 29-12 by Clontarf last time out, are six points adrift of a play-off place and they ran out 17-14 winners in the corresponding fixture. Lansdowne go into the tie on the back of a comprehensive 57-31 home win over UCD.

Highfield who won the Division 2A title and promotion to Division 1B following their 27-24 home win over Cashel travel to Belfast to take on fourth-placed Queen’s University. The Belfast students ran out 73-7 home winners over Galwegians last time out and they won the corresponding fixture at Woodleigh Park on a 43-41 scoreline.

Dolphin face a tricky task as they travel to the Royal County to take on third-placed Navan, by whom they were defeated 23-3 on Leeside in October. Dolphin have moved up to seventh and are now 12 points clear of the drop zone following their 15-14 away win over Old Crescent. The County Meath side will be looking to maintain their challenge for a play-off place as they ran out 39-14 away winners over Blackrock College.

Nenagh Ormond, who are six points clear of the drop zone, are away to Blackrock College in a basement clash. The Dublin side ran out 31-23 winners when these sides met in North Tipperary, while Nenagh Ormond will be looking to take another step closer to safety following their 10-5 home win over UL Bohemian. The Dublin side were defeated 39-14 by Navan at Stradbrook last time out.

Fifth-placed UL Bohemian entertain bottom side Galwegians on the 4G Pitch at the UL Arena and they will be looking to make it two wins out of two as they ran out 27-15 winners when these sides met in Galway. The Limerick side will be looking to bounce back from their 10-5 defeat by Nenagh Ormond in North Tipperary, while Galwegians were defeated 73-7 by Queen’s University in Belfast.

Sunday’s Well entertain Belfast Halrequins in a basement clash in Division 2B at Irish Independent Park. The Leesiders ended a run of 11 successive defeats stretching back to November as they recorded a comprehensive 55-13 victory over Corinthians last time out and they won the corresponding fixture in October on a 15-12 score line. The Belfast side go into the tie on the back of a narrow 10-8 home defeat by Dungannon.

Midleton, who are second in Division 2C will be looking to make it two wins out of two over Seapoint as they welcome the Killiney side who they defeated 26-22 in October to East Cork. Both sides go into the tie on the back of victories over Bangor and City of Derry respectively.

Bruff are away to City of Derry against whom they ran out 45-15 winners when these sides met in County Limerick. Bruff ran out 31-5 home winners over Tullamore last time out while the Foylesiders go in the tie on the back of a 33-13 away defeat by Seapoint.

Thomond, who are propping up the table are at home to Bangor in a basement clash. The Limerick side go into the tie on the back of five successive defeats with their last win coming against Tullamore in County Offaly in January. The Ulster side ran out 33-22 winners when these sides met in County Down in October. Both sides go into the tie on the back of defeats by Omagh and Midleton respectively.

The AIL Round-Robin Series continues with leaders and Munster Junior League champions Clonmel travelling to County Wexford to take on Leinster champions Enniscorthy, who are second.

A new name will be inscribed on the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Plate as Old Crescent and Tralee go head to head in the decider at Newcastle West on Saturday evening. Tralee will be looking to add to their Munster Junior League Division 3 title and become the second Kerry side to win the trophy since Killarney won it in 2011 and 2013.

There are two finals down for decision at Irish Independent Park on Sunday.

First up is the O’Neill Cup decider between Charleville and Kinsale, which also doubles up as a Munster Junior League Division 2 encounter, with the South Cork side looking to regain the trophy they last won two years ago.

This is followed by the County Cup decider between Bandon and Mallow.