Weekend Preview

There are a full programme of games across all divisions of the All Ireland League.

Proceedings get underway in Division 1A on Friday evening as Young Munster and Garryowen lock horns under lights in a Limerick City derby at Tom Clifford Park. Young Munster, who are second from bottom, will be looking to make the most of home advantage count in a bid to record their first win, following their 9-9 draw against UCD at Belfield. They have also claimed three losing bonus points from three narrow defeats. Garryowen have climbed up to sixth following their 25-5 away win over bottom side Ballynahinch.

UL Bohemian entertain Nenagh Ormond in a basement clash at 4GUL in Division 2A. Ninth-placed UL Bohemian are seeking their first win of the campaign after having returned with their second losing bonus point from their narrow 24-21 defeat by Ballymena in County Antrim. The North Tipperary side have slipped to eighth and are hovering above the drop zone following their narrow 22-21 home defeat by Buccaneers, from which they also claimed a losing bonus point.

The game of the day in Division 1A on Saturday is the meeting of second-placed UCC and third-placed Terenure College in Dublin. Both sides go into the tie on the back of defeats as the Leeside Students surrendered their unbeaten run against Clontarf last time out. The Dublin side claimed a losing bonus point from their 13-10 defeat by Cork Constitution at Lakelands Park.

Defending champions and new leaders Cork Constitution are the only unbeaten side in the division and they have moved into pole position following their narrow 13-10 away win over Terenure College. This weekend they welcome Dublin University, who are fifth following their narrow 13-11 away win over Lansdowne, to Temple Hill. This is also the first meeting of the sides since last season’s AIL semi-final, which the Lilywhites won on a 23-3 score line at the same venue.

In Division 1B, Highfield will be looking to make it five wins from five as they entertain Old Belvedere at Woodleigh Park. Highfield ran out 16-11 away winners over St Mary’s College last time out, while Old Belvedere have slipped to fourth following a narrow 11-10 defeat by Old Wesley at Ollie Campbell Park.

Shannon, who are fifth following their 34-14 away defeat by Banbridge, welcome City of Armagh, who are eighth following their 19-0 away win over Navan, to Thomond Park.

Fourth-placed Cashel, who ended Queen’s University’s reign as Division 2A leaders by running out 17-15 away winners over the Belfast Students last time out, welcome Rainey Old Boys to the Premier County. The Magherafelt side, who are second, go into the tie on the back of a 27-9 home win over Dolphin.

Old Crescent, who are fifth, face a tough assignment as they welcome third-placed Queen’s University to Rosbrien, with both sides going into the tie on the back of home defeats against MU Barnhall and Cashel respectively.

Dolphin remain rooted to the foot of the table on zero points following their 27-9 defeat By Rainey Old Boys in County Derry. They take on Ballymena, who have climbed up to sixth following their 24-21 home win over UL Bohemian, at Irish Independent Park.

The stand-out tie in Division 2C is the meeting of second-placed Bruff and third-placed Skerries at Kilballyowen Park, with both sides going in to the tie on the back of home wins over Bangor and Midleton respectively.

Sunday’s Well, who have climbed up to fourth following their maximum-point home win over City of Derry, face a tricky task as they travel to County Wexford to take on leaders Enniscorthy at Alcast Park.

Fifth-placed Clonmel, who drew 13-13 with Tullamore in South Tipperary last time out, travel to Foyleside to take on City of Derry, who are hovering above the drop zone following their 27-13 defeat by Sunday’s Well.

Midleton have slipped to seventh following their 27-3 away defeat by Skerries and they entertain Omagh Academicals, who were defeated 27-7 by Enniscorthy in County Tyrone last time out.

In the Women’s AIL, leaders UL Bohemian will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run following their comprehensive away win over Galwegians as they host sixth-placed Suttonians.

There is also a full programme of games across all three divisions of the Munster Junior League.

Joint leaders of Division 1 Newcastle West, who maintained their unbeaten run with an 11-7 home win over Mallow last time out, travel to West Cork to take on Clonakilty, who defeated bottom side St Senan’s in the Banner County.

Fellow table toppers Kilfeacle should prove too strong for St Senan’s as these sides meet in West Tipperary. The Clare side’s solitary point was claimed from their opening day defeat by Skibbereen in West Cork.

Mallow, who surrendered their unbeaten run against Newcastle West in West Limerick, will be looking to get back to winning ways as they entertain Crosshaven, whose last game was their maximum-point home win over Skibbereen in mid-October.

Richmond and Abbeyfeale lock horns at Richmond Park with both sides tied on nine points apiece. Richmond should prove too strong for the West Limerick side following their narrow 25-23 away win over Clanwilliam, while Abbeyfeale were defeated on home soil by Kilfeacle.

Bandon, who claimed a losing bonus pit against Thomond, welcome Waterpark to Old Chapel, with the Suirsiders having claimed their first points as they ran out 34-0 home winners over Skibbereen.

Thomond, who are fourth, should prove too strong for Clanwilliam who are second from bottom and still without a win following their narrow 25-23 home defeat by Richmond.

Two sides hovering above the drop zone go head to head as Galbally welcome Skibbereen to County Limerick. Galbally, who have a game in hand, will be looking to make the most of home advantage count as they aim to build on their 29-17 maximum point away win over St Senan’s over the October Bank Holiday weekend. Skibbereen’s only points came courtesy of their 19-18 home win over St Senan’s on the opening day of the campaign.

There are three Rebel County derbies in Division 2.

Kanturk, who surrendered their unbeaten run against Dungarvan in West Waterford, will be looking to get back to winning ways as they entertain Kinsale, who were held to a 27-27 draw by St Mary’s.

Ballincollig are at home to Cobh Pirates in a basement clash. The Mid Cork side are hovering above the drop zone on five points following their 35-21 defeat by Old Christians at Irish Independent Park, while Cobh remain rooted to the foot of the table on zero points.

Muskerry, who recorded their second maximum-point win of the campaign against Cobh Pirates in East Cork, entertain Charleville, who ran out 17-10 home winners over Thurles.

Joint leaders Dungarvan make the relatively short trip to Fermoy, with both sides going into the tie on the back of victories over Kanturk and Fethard respectively.

Old Christians, who share pole position with Dungarvan following their 35-10 win over Ballincollig face a tricky task as they travel to Limerick to take on St Mary’s, who scored four tries in their 27-27 draw with Kinsale in South Cork.

The two Kerry sides are in action against Tipperary opposition.

Tralee, who claimed maximum pints from their first win of the campaign against Castleisland in the Kingdom derby, travel to the Premier County to take on Thurles, who returned from Charleville with a losing bonus point.

Castleisland are still seeking their first points and they entertain Fethard who are hovering above the drop zone with two bonus points to their credit.

With new Division 3 leaders Killorglin not playing this weekend, unbeaten Ennis, will be looking to reclaim pole position if they claim maximum points from their home meeting with Dunmanway. Both sides go into the tie on the back of victories over Chorca Dhuibhne in their last games.

Waterford City, who are joint second with Ennis, take on Kingdom opposition for the third successive weekend as they make the long trip to the West Kerry Gaeltacht to take on Chorca Dhuibhne. The Suirsiders will also be seeking maximum points, following their narrow 14-12 home win over Killarney last time out.

Bantry Bay welcome Youghal to West Cork and both sides have a game in hand. This is Bantry’s first game since their narrow 9-7 home defeat by Mitchelstown in mid-October, from which they claimed a losing bonus point. Youghal go into the tie on the back of 28-8 home defeat by Killorglin.

Killarney entertain Mitchelstown. The Kerry side returned from their narrow 14-12 defeat by Waterford City on Suirside with a losing bonus point, while Mitchelstown recorded a 17-8 home win over Douglas-Carrigaline.

Douglas-Carrigaline are the only side on zero points and they are at home to Scariff. The East Clare side have two games in hand and their last game was a 25-5 defeat by Killorglin in Kerry in mid-October.