Weekend Preview | Senior Rugby

The All Ireland League continues this weekend with a full programme of games across all five divisions.

Proceedings get underway on Friday evening in Division 1A as second-placed Garryowen and fifth-placed Young Munster lock horns in a Limerick derby at Dooradoyle. Both sides go into the tie on the back of victories over Clontarf and Lansdowne respectively. The Sky Blues will be looking to make it two wins from two as they won November’s corresponding fixture 19-13.

Nenagh Ormond entertain UL Bohemian in Division 2A. The North Tipperary side will be looking to make the most of home advantage count following their maximum point 34-22 away win over Dolphin as they aim to climb out of the drop zone. The Limerick side have slipped to seventh place following their 31-17 home defeat by Buccaneers and they ran out 21-18 winners when they met Nenagh Ormond at UL 4G.

On Saturday, the two Cork sides in Division 1A are in action against Dublin opposition.

Unbeaten leaders Cork Constitution travel to the Capital to take on Dublin University, who have climbed out of the drop zone following a 40-26 away win over bottom side Ballynahinch. The Temple Hill side recorded a narrow 16-12 home win over UCC last time out and they defeated the Dublin Students 25-22 when they met on Leeside.

UCC have slipped into the drop zone following their tenth successive defeat in which they lost on a 16-12 score line against Cork Constitution at Temple Hill, but claimed their sixth losing bonus point. They entertain seventh-placed Terenure College by whom they were defeated 22-14 at Lakelands Park.

Division 1B leaders Highfield, who hold a ten-point lead over nearest challengers Shannon, are away to sixth-placed Old Belvedere. The Woodleigh Park side go into the tie on the back of a 38-12 maximum point home win over Navan and they won November’s corresponding fixture on a 14-10 score line.

Shannon have climbed into second place following their maximum point 50-10 home win over Naas. They travel north to take on seventh-placed City of Armagh against whom they ran out 26-14 winners in Limerick.

In Division 2A, second-placed Cashel travel to Magherafelt to take on Rainey Old Boys. The Tipperary side ran out 31-19 home winners over Ballymena last time out and they will be looking to avenge November’s narrow 18-15 defeat by the County Derry side at the Spafield.

Old Crescent have climbed up to fourth following their 29-17 home win over Rainey Old Boys and they travel to Belfast to take on third-placed Queen’s University against whom they ran out 37-19 winners at Rosbrien in November.

Dolphin are propping up the table following their 34-22 defeat by Nenagh at Irish Independent Park. They make the long trip north to County Antrim to take on Ballymena, who are hovering above the drop zone. Dolphin claimed their first points when these sides played out a 26-26 draw on Leeside.

Clonmel have climbed up to fourth place in Division 2C following their narrow 17-15 away win over Enniscorthy. They welcome City of Derry, who are hovering above the drop zone to South Tipperary and they will be looking to avenge November’s 12-5 defeat on Foyleside.

Sunday’s Well face a tough assignment as they welcome second-placed Enniscorthy to Irish Independent Park. The Leesiders were defeated 31-5 by Midleton in East Cork last time out and the County Wexford side won November’s corresponding fixture 24-5.

Bruff, who have climbed up to seventh following their 37-19 home win over Omagh Academicals, face a tricky task as they travel to North County Dublin to take on new leaders Skerries, by whom they were defeated 31-17 at Kilballyowen Park.

Bottom side Midleton travel to County Tyrone to take on fifth-placed Omagh Academicals. Midleton recorded a valuable maximum point 31-5 home win over Sunday’s Well last time out and the County Tyrone side won November’s corresponding fixture 33-19.

On Sunday in the Women’s All Ireland League, unbeaten leaders UL Bohemian will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run as they welcome seventh-placed Galwegians, against whom they ran out 65-20 winners in Galway, to the 4G at UL.