Weekend Preview

It is a busy weekend as the Men’s and Women’s All Ireland Leagues continue with a full programs of games.

The Munster Junior League continues following a three-week break and action also continues across all three Conferences of the Women’s Munster League.

In the Men’s All Ireland League, proceedings get underway on Friday evening under lights at Thomond Park as bottom side Shannon lock horns with Limerick neighbours Garryowen, who are one place above them. Shannon are still seeking their first points, following their 27-9 defeat by Clontarf in Dublin, where they led 9-0 at half time. Garryowen were defeated 33-16 by Cork Constitution on Leeside. Their only point to date was a losing bonus point from their 26-23 defeat by Young Munster at Tom Clifford Park.

On Saturday, Young Munster travel to County Down to take on Ballynahinch in a mid-table clash at Ballymacaran Park. Young Munster claimed a losing bonus point from their 20-13 defeat by Lansdowne at Tom Clifford Park, while the Ulster side lost 35-16 away to Dublin University.

Fourth-placed Cork Constitution travel to the Capital to take on UCD, who are hovering above the drop zone. The Leesiders recorded a 33-16 maximum-point home win over Garryowen last time out, while the Dublin Students go into the tie on the back of a heavy 58-5 defeat by Terenure College at Lakelands Park.

Division 1B leaders UCC travel to County Kildare to take on Naas, who are eighth, at Forenaughts. The Leeside Students claimed all points on offer from their 32-21 home win over Bainbridge, while Naas also claimed maximum point from their 38-24 victory over Malone.

Fourth-placed Highfield are away to City of Armagh at the Palace Grounds. They returned with a losing bonus point from their 6-5 defeat by Old Wesley, where they led 5-3 at half-time. The Ulster side, who are seventh, were defeated 39-22 by St Mary’s College at Templeville Road last time out.

In Division 2A, Cashel, who have slipped to fifth-place following their narrow 22-21 home defeat to MU Barnhall, from which they claimed a losing bonus point, welcome fourth-placed Ballymena to the Spafield. The County Antrim side recorded a narrow 16-12 home win over Nenagh Ormond last time out.

Seventh-placed Nenagh Ormond entertain Dolphin, who are eighth, at New Ormond Park. The North Tipperary side, who made a promising start to the campaign, as they won their first two games, returned from County Antrim with a losing bonus point from their 16-12 defeat by Ballymena at Eaton Park. The Leesiders are seeking their first win on the road, following their second successive home win over UL Bohemian.

UL Bohemian go head to head with Old Crescent at the UL Arena, with both sides occupying the relegation places. Both sides also go into the tie on the back of bonus point defeats against Dolphin and Navan respectively.

Midleton, who have slipped to sixth-place in Division 2C, following their 20-12 defeat by Tullamore in the Faithful County, face a tricky task as they entertain fourth-placed Skerries at Towns Park. The County Dublin side recorded a 43-21 maximum-point home win over Clonmel last time out.

Seventh-placed Bruff, who returned from Upritchard Park with a losing bonus point from their 17-11 defeat by Bangor, welcome bottom side Ballina, to Kilballyowen Park. The North Mayo go into the tie on the back of a 33-19 home defeat by Instonians. They also have a solitary losing bonus point to their credit, from their defeat 32-26 by Bangor at Upritchard Park.

Sunday’s Well, who are hovering above the drop zone, will have their work cut out as they welcome leaders Instonians to Musgrave Park. The Leesiders go into the tie on the back of a 19-10 away defeat by Omagh Academicals, while their only points to date came from their 27-9 bonus point home win over Ballina. The Belfast side have maximum points from all their games to date, including, their last game which they won 33-19 against Ballina at Heffernan Park.

Clonmel have slipped into the relegation zone following their 43-21 defeat by Skerries at Holmpatrick, and they face a tricky task as they entertain second-placed Bangor. The Ulster side go into tie on the back of a 17-11 home win over Bruff.

In the Women’s All Ireland League, UL Bohemian, who have climbed up to sixth place following their 19-7 away win over Ballincollig, entertain Suttonians, who have slipped to seventh, following their 27-10 away defeat by Wicklow.

Ballincollig face a tricky task as they travel to Dublin to face third-placed Blackrock College at Stradbrook. Blackrock College recorded a 19-10 away win over Old Belvedere last time out.

Junior Rugby

In Section A of the Munster Junior League, the meeting of Old Christians and Muskerry at Rathcooney also doubles up as a Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Cup quarter final. Old Christians are seeking their first League win, but have two losing bonus points to their credit. They were defeated 31-9 by Newcastle West in West Limerick last time out, while Muskerry lost 25-17 to Bandon at Ballyanly. The winners of this game will be rewarded with a home semi-final against Newcastle West or Bandon in the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Cup.

The game of the day is the meeting of Richmond and Newcastle West in a top of the table clash at Richmond Park. Richmond have played one game more, as their last game against Waterpark, which they won 23-20, doubled up as a Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Cup tie. Defending champions Newcastle West are joint second with Skibbereen following their 31-9 home win over Old Christians.

Bandon, welcome Waterpark, with whom they share fourth spot, to Old Chapel. Bandon recorded a 25-17 away win over Muskerry last time out while the Suirsiders claimed a losing bonus point from their 17-11 home defeat by Kilfeacle.

Mallow face a tricky task, following their County Cup success against Clonakilty, as they welcome Crosshaven to North Cork. Mallow defeated Thomond 26-5 at Liam Fitzgerald Park last time out, while Crosshaven claimed all points on offer from their 29-3 home win against Clonakilty.

Skibbereen face a tricky task in a bid to keep their unbeaten run intact as they travel to Grove Island to take on St Mary’s. St Mary’s put up 11 points without reply against Abbeyfeale in West Limerick while Skibbereen won 16-6 at home against Clanwilliam.

Clanwilliam and Thomond, who lost their last games against Skibbereen and Mallow respectively, go head to head in Tipperary Town.

Kilfeacle, following their 17-11 away win over Waterpark, welcome Abbeyfeale, who were defeated 11-0 by St Mary’s at Grove Island, to West Tipperary.

Clonakilty, who are propping up the table on a single losing bonus point face a tricky task as they go in search of their first win as they entertain Thurles, who claimed a losing bonus point against Richmond.

There is a top of the table clash in Section B in Galbally, as second-placed Galbally-Mitchelstown and leaders Fethard put their unbeaten runs on the line. Fethard, who have played a game more, defeated St Senan’s 27-3 in South Tipperary last time out, while Galbally-Mitchelstown recorded a 20-15 home win over Cobh Pirates.

Carrick-on-Suir welcome Cobh Pirates to Tybroughney. Carrick returned from their 29-28 defeat by Scariff in East Clare with two bonus points, as they scored four tries. The Pirates recorded their first win of the campaign as they defeated Dungarvan 17-6 at the Paddocks.

Fermoy, who claimed a losing bonus point from their 21-16 away defeat by Carrick-on-Suir, entertain Scariff, who claimed all points on offer from their 29-28 home win over Carrick-on-Suir.

St Senan’s, who were defeated 27-3 by Fethard in South Tipperary, welcome Youghal, who ran out 18-15 home winners over Ennis, to the Banner County.

In Section C, Kanturk and Tralee lock horns in their top of the table cash at the Duhallow venue. Tralee claimed maximum points from their two games to date against Douglas and Killarney, while Kanturk go in to the tie on the back of a narrow 7-3 away win over Castleisland.

O’Neill Cup winners Kinsale, who recorded bonus point wins over Bantry Bay and Killorglin welcome Killarney who are going in search of their first win in South Cork.

Charleville, who are also on maximum points from their games to date, following their 29-14 away win over Killarney entertain Douglas, who go into the tie on the back on a 26-10 home defeat by Tralee.

Ballincollig, who have recorded two wins, including their last game, where they claimed all points on offer as they defeated Bantry Bay 33-0 in West Cork, welcome Killorglin to Tanner Park. The Mid Kerry side claimed a losing bonus point from their 26-22 home defeat by Kinsale.

Castleisland, who claimed a losing bonus point from their 7-3 home defeat by Kanturk, welcome Bantry Bay, who are on zero points to the Kingdom.

In Conference A of the Munster Women’s League, leaders UL Bohemian, who have maximum points from their two games to date, entertain Skibbereen, who claimed a bonus point by scoring four tries in their 37-27 defeat by Kerry.

Shannon-LIT, following their 24-12 home defeat by UL Bohemian, face a tough assignment, as they welcome Kerry to Coonagh. The Kingdom claimed maximum points last time out as they defeated Skibbereen 37-27 in Tralee.

Conference B leaders Waterpark, who have maximum points from their games to date entertain Ennis-Kilrush at Ballinakill. The Clare side go into the tie on the back of a 12-10 away win over Ballincollig.

Ballincollig, who claimed a losing bonus point from their narrow 12-10 defeat by Ennis-Kilrush, face a tricky task as they entertain Thurles, who scored four tries against Waterpark at Ballinakill to return with a bonus point.

In Conference C, Dolphin go head to head with Bantry Bay in a top of the table clash, while Mallow and Midleton go in search of their first points at the North Cork venue.