Weekend Rugby Preview

The Ulster Bank All Ireland League decider between defending champions Clontarf and Cork Constitution at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday takes centre stage.

This is a repeat of last year’s decider which the Dublin side won on a 28-25 scoreline at the same venue to claim their second title. In addition to seeking their third title, Clontarf will be looking to become the second club other than Shannon to put AIL titles back to back.

The Leesiders, who last won the competition 2010, are aiming to make clean sweep to add their fifth AIL title to the Munster Senior Cup and Bateman Cup with an extremely talented squad delivering on the big occasions.

Both meetings between these sides this season produced home wins, with Cork Constitution defeating Clontarf 24-17 at Temple Hill in November, while the Dublin outfit ran out 22-13 winners at Castle Avenue in February.

Clontarf finished second in the table behind former champions Lansdowne and were rewarded with a home semi-final against Young Munster which they won 37-29.

The Temple Hill side have been hovering around the top of the All-Ireland League Division 1A again this year, and despite being unfortunate to find themselves in fourth place come the end of the regular season, dug deep to came out for the second time this season with a victory against league-leaders Lansdowne to set up yet another All-Ireland League final showdown.

A fitting event for a fine squad, amongst whom Max Abbott, Rob Jermyn and Ger Sweeney were given the honour of representing their country at their very own ground, with Temple Hill providing a fitting venue once more for the Irish Club International side.

However that’s but a fond memory for the Con boys now, and having last won the top division in 2010, they’ll be pushing hard to secure a fifth All-Ireland title for this famous old club.

Elsewhere, the North Munster Under 20 Cup decider is down for decision as Shannon and Garryowen go head to head at Richmond Park on Friday evening.

The Cyril Fitzgerald Plate semi-finals are down for decision on Saturday as Garryowen welcome Midleton to Dooradoyle and Sunday’s Well take on UL Bohemian at Irish Independent Park.