Weekend Preview | Senior & Junior Rugby

The final series of games ahead of the Christmas break are down for decision in the All Ireland League.

In Division 1A, defending champions and unbeaten leaders Cork Constitution travel to Limerick to take on Young Munster, who are fourth following their narrow 26-24 away win over Ballynahinch. The Leesiders go into the tie on the back of a comprehensive 53-10 home win over UCD.

Cork Constitution and Young Munster are due to meet again six days later in the Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Cup final at Irish Independent Park.

Garryowen travel to the Capital to take on UCD at Belfield. The Limerick side are second following their 25-10 away win over UCC, while the Dublin Students, who are third, go into the tie on the back of that heavy defeat by Cork Constitution at Temple Hill.

UCC, who are hovering above the drop zone following a run of five successive defeats, face a tough assignment as they entertain Lansdowne, who ran out 46-17 home winners over Terenure College in a Dublin derby.

Division 1B leaders Highfield will be looking to get back to winning ways following their narrow 25-22 defeat by second-placed Old Wesley in Dublin, as they welcome fourth-placed Shannon to Woodleigh Park. The Limerick side go into the tie on the back of a 24-11 home win over St Mary’s College.

Cashel will be looking to maintain their promotion challenge from Division 2A as they welcome UL Bohemian to the Spafield. The Tipperary side claimed a losing bonus point from their 8-3 defeat by Buccaneers in Athlone, while UL Bohemian have climbed out of the drop zone following their comprehensive 50-24 home win over Dolphin.

Fourth–placed Old Crescent will be looking to make the most of home advantage count as they entertain sixth-placed Buccaneers following their 34-15 maximum-point away win over Nenagh Ormond.

Dolphin are propping up the table following their 50-24 defeat by UL Bohemian in Limerick from which they claimed a four-try bonus point. They face a tough assignment as they take on unbeaten leaders MU Barnhall at Irish Independent Park.

Nenagh Ormond have slipped into the drop zone following their 34-15 home defeat by Old Crescent and they travel to Belfast to take on fifth-placed Queen’s University.

In Division 2C, fourth-placed Clonmel travel to North County Dublin to take on second-placed Skerries, with both sides going into the tie on the back of narrow victories over Bruff and Sunday’s Well respectively.

Bruff welcome Tullamore to Kilballyowen Park for their mid-table clash. The County Limerick side clamed a losing bonus point against Clonmel in South Tipperary, while the Faithful County side ran out 29-17 home winners over Midleton last time out.

Sunday’s Well make the long trip to County Tyrone to take in third-placed Omagh Academicals at the Thomas Mellon Playing Fields. The Leesiders, who are seventh, have yet to record an away win and they surrendered their unbeaten home run last time out against Skerries.

Midleton and City of Derry lock horns in their basement clash at Towns Park. The East Cork side are rooted to the foot of the table following a run of five successive defeats, while the Foylesiders are second from bottom following their 43-17 home defeat by Enniscorthy.

In the Women’s All Ireland Cup, UL Bohemian travel to Belfast to take on Malone at Gibson Park.

There are a handful of games at Junior level, this weekend, including the semi-finals of the All Ireland Junior Cup, the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Shield and the Martin O’Sullivan Cup.

In the All Ireland Junior Cup semi-finals, Crosshaven, who were the only Munster side to win the trophy to date, entertain Dromore from County Down at Myrtleville Cross.

The other semi-final is a repeat of the 2018 decider as Kilfeacle entertain holders Ashbourne to West Tipperary.

Kanturk welcome Thurles to Duhallow for the first semi-final of the Munster Junior Clubs’ Challenge Shield on Saturday, with Kinsale and Muskerry contesting the second semi-final in South Cork on Sunday.

Martin O’Sullivan Cup holders Killarney lock horns with Ennis, who won the trophy two seasons ago in the Kingdom on Sunday.

Last season’s finalists Killorglin are at home to Waterford City in the other semi-final.

Scariff, who are fifth in Division 3 of the Muster Junior League, following their 28-17 away win over Chorca Dhuibhne, welcome ninth-placed Bantry Bay to East Clare. The West Cork side were defeated 17-10 by Killorglin in the Kingdom in their last game.