ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: Kick-off, Saturday 2.30pm unless stated.
DIVISION 1A:
SHANNON (9th) v TERENURE COLLEGE (10th), Thomond Park back pitch, 1.30pm
An earlier kick-off due to Munster’s PRO14 clash with Zebre sees the bottom two go head-to-head as Shannon, who are without their Under-20 Grand Slam-winning half-backs Jake Flannery and Craig Casey, take on a rejuvenated Terenure College side.
Hosting Terenure for the first time in five years, Shannon need to recapture the form they showed in October’s 41-14 victory at Lakelands Park as five defeats on the bounce have sent them down to ninth place. ‘Nure trail them by four points following three recent bonus point wins, albeit all of them were at home.
Former Ireland U-20 international Matthew Byrne was back on the scoresheet for ‘Nure against UCC, bagging a brace to take his try haul to eight. His match-up at full-back against Shannon’s Jamie McGarry will be one to watch, as will the battle between captains Jade Kriel and Michael Melia in the engine room.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 22, 2014: Shannon 5 Terenure College 24, Thomond Park back pitch; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Terenure College 14 Shannon 41, Lakelands Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Shannon: LWWLWLLLWWLLLLL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Shannon: Points: Jake Flannery 69; Tries: Jake Flannery, Eathon Moloney, Pa Ryan 4 each; Terenure College: Points: James Thornton 68; Tries: Matthew Byrne 8
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY (4th) v CORK CONSTITUTION (1st), College Park
Holding onto that final play-off place, Dublin University have Garryowen breathing down their necks again. Teenage winger Ronan Quinn has grasped his opportunity for Trinity with two tries in three outings, while U-20 Grand Slam winners Rob Russell and Ryan Baird are set to start tomorrow on the right wing and in the second row respectively.
The biggest test of all comes in the form of Cork Constitution, who could wrap up top spot and a home semi-final with another winning performance in the capital. They fired a big warning shot with their seven-try dismissal of Lansdowne and make just two changes for tomorrow’s game, adding Dylan Murphy and Sean Duffy to the tight five.
Worryingly for the chasing pack, Con’s senior coach Paul Barr only rated the performance as an eight-out-of-ten. Ever the driver of high standards, he said it ‘was the best we’ve seen this season’ performance-wise, praising the collective work-rate as ‘the scores came from exciting rugby but it’s all underpinned by very hard work from everyone, one to 15′.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 3, 2018: Cork Constitution 41 Dublin University 6, Temple Hill; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Cork Constitution 24 Dublin University 13, Temple Hill
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Dublin University: LDLWWWLWLLWWWWL; C
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Dublin University: Points: James Fennelly 99; Tries: Colm Hogan, Giuseppe Coyne 4 each; Cork Constitution: Points: Aidan Moynihan 122; Tries: JJ O’Neill 7
GARRYOWEN (5th) v CLONTARF (2nd), Dooradoyle
The Cara Cup will impact on both coaches’ selections here. Clontarf’s Sean O’Brien and Declan Adamson both lined out for Connacht Eagles in Weymouth in the last week, and while O’Brien is marked absent tomorrow, the Light Blues will need to keep close tabs on centres Michael Courtney and Matt D’Arcy who have scored three tries each in as many games.
With their penalty try-winning scrum turning the screw and scrum half Rob Guerin impressing, Garryowen came good in the second half against UCD to win for the first time in three rounds. It is almost twelve months to the day of their 35-30 bonus point success at ‘Tarf, during which versatile young forward Diarmuid Barron touched down twice.
Clontarf have fared well against Limerick opposition in the top flight this season, winning five out of five against Young Munster, Garryowen and Shannon so far.
However, Conan Doyle’s side are sure to have a few things up their sleeve as they look to banish memories of October’s disappointing 28-10 defeat to ‘Tarf.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 24, 2018: Clontarf 30 Garryowen 35, Castle Avenue; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Clontarf 28 Garryowen 10, Castle Avenue
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Garryowen: WWLLLWWWWLWWL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Garryowen: Points: Peadar Collins 71; Tries: Diarmuid Barron 7; Clontarf: Points: David Joyce 91; Tries: Matt D’Arcy 8
LANSDOWNE (3rd) v UCD (6th), Aviva Stadium back pitch
It is neck-and-neck between Lansdowne and Clontarf in the battle for a home semi-final, with the headquarters club slipping to third place after leaking seven tries to Cork Con. For the visit of mid-table UCD, Leinster’s Ronan Kelleher returns at hooker with Tom Murphy and Willie Fay added to the back row.
Centre Conor Murphy and scrum half James Kenny complete the five personnel changes to the side that lost 49-17 on Leeside. Mike Ruddock’s men won the corresponding fixture with the students last season, triumphing 46-30 with scrum half Alan Bennie helping himself to a hat-trick of tries.
UCD are in a dangerous spot as successive home losses leave them 10 points outside of the top four and just five above the relegation zone. Andy Skehan’s charges faltered at crucial stages against Garryowen last time out, although young flanker Jonny Guy caught the eye with a cracking try and an abrasive all-round display.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 9, 2017: Lansdowne 46 UCD 30, Aviva Stadium back pitch; Friday, October 19, 2018: UCD 6 Lansdowne 20, Belfield Bowl
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Lansdowne: LLWWWWWWWWLWL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Lansdowne: Points: Scott Deasy 80; Tries: Peter Sullivan 10; UCD: Points: Conall Doherty 48; Tries: Andy Marks 7
UCC (8th) v YOUNG MUNSTER (7th), the Mardyke
Young Munster climbed above UCC a fortnight ago and aim to put further distance between the teams tomorrow. However, the Cork students have played most of their best rugby this season at home and are determined to add the Cookies to the scalps of Trinity, Lansdowne and Shannon.
UCC are boosted by the return of Munster Academy talent Jack O’Sullivan, who makes his first start since a cruciate knee ligament injury sidelined him for last summer’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship. He features at number 8 and Brian Walsh also brings in Mark Bissessar at blindside flanker.
As the end of the regular season comes into view, there is a furious scrap for points with Munsters gunning for their maiden away victory after going very close recently at both UCD and Lansdowne. Their powerful scrum and maul provided the platform for October’s three-try 23-17 success against UCC in Greenfields.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 6, 2010: UCC 12 Young Munster 14, the Mardyke; Friday, October 19, 2018: Young Munster 23 UCC 17, Tom Clifford Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: UCC: LLLLLLWLLWWLLWL; Yo
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UCC: Points: James Taylor 125; Tries: Ryan Murphy 7; Young Munster: Points: Clayton Stewart 49; Tries: Darragh O’Neill 5
DIVISION 1B:
BALLYNAHINCH (2nd) v OLD BELVEDERE (7th), Ballymacarn Park
Ballynahinch are one of the clubs hardest hit by the Ulster ‘A’ team’s involvement in the Cara Cup, losing seven players to the Stateside tournament as well as prop Tom O’Toole who is on the Ulster bench tomorrow. ‘Hinch’s strength-in-depth will certainly be tested as they aim for a fourth straight win.
Seventh-placed Old Belvedere are looking for a quick-fire Ulster double after edging out Malone 15-12 last time out. Full-back Joe White, centre David Butler and hooker Ed Rossiter are the three changes in personnel, with Toby Robinson reverting to the left wing. Jack Keating, the division’s top try scorer with 11 tries, completes the back-three.
‘Belvo won 16-13 on their most recent visit to Ballymacarn Park last April, but they were second best when the sides met in the capital in October when ‘Hinch locks James Simpson and Bradley Luney, who is one of the players away in Boston, both crossed for tries in a 32-17 bonus point triumph.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, April 14, 2018: Ballynahinch 13 Old Belvedere 16, Ballymacarn Park; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Old Belvedere 17 Ballynahinch 32, Anglesea Road
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Ballynahinch: LDWWLWWLWL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ballynahinch: Points: Johnny McPhillips 39; Tries: Rhys O’Donnell 6; Old Belvedere: Points: Steve Crosbie 110; Tries: Jack Keating 11
BANBRIDGE (6th) v NAAS (5th), Rifle Park
It will be a proud moment for centre Johnny Little tomorrow as he makes his 150th All-Ireland League appearance for Banbridge, who had a strong second half to thank for their 31-27 derby defeat of Ballymena. Provincial commitments, including the absence of U-20 Grand Slam winners Callum Reid and David McCann, mean there will be a number of changes.
Out-half Josh Cromie has recovered from an ankle injury and could line out against Naas play-maker Peter Hastie, who helped the Cobras overcome Old Wesley 7-5 in a gripping encounter. That result moved Johne Murphy’s men back into the top half of the table, leaving them just a point outside of the top four with Banbridge only a further point back.
Bann Chairman Robert Ervine said: “We need to win this next game to get out of the dogfight (with only two points separating us from the bottom two). Our final three fixtures are against teams in the same position as ourselves so we’ll focus now on the Naas game – it’s most definitely another ‘must-win’ for us.”
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 24, 2018: Naas 31 Banbridge 40, Forenaughts; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Naas 16 Banbridge 20, Forenaughts
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Banbridge: LWWWLLWLLWWLL
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Banbridge: Points: Adam Doherty 78; Tries: Peter Cromie 7; Naas: Points: Peter Osborne 117; Tries: Andy Ellis 8
OLD WESLEY (1st) v BUCCANEERS (9th), Energia Park, Donnybrook
Two of the losing clubs from the last round will be looking to make amends tomorrow. Reinforcing a defence which conceded seven tries to Ballynahinch is top of Buccaneers’ agenda, and the Pirates will draw confidence from their October meeting with Old Wesley which resulted in a dominant 41-14 win.
However, Wesley have won eight of their 12 games since then and are currently leading the promotion race on scoring difference. Their spread of try scorers between backs and forwards shows the potency and variety of their attack, with Cork-born number 8 Paul Derham stepping up with two tries in the last three matches.
The Cara Cup has cut Buccs’ selection options but they should be able to field a similar side to the one that went down 43-24 to ‘Hinch, with Connacht’s Eoghan Masterson leading a combative back row. Nonetheless, Wesley should have too much firepower for the midlanders on their fast track in Donnybrook.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 11, 2017: Buccaneers 36 Old Wesley 14, Dubarry Park; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Buccaneers 41 Old Wesley 14, Dubarry Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Old Wesley: WDLWLWLWWWLWWWL; Bucca
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Old Wesley: Points: Rory Stynes 133; Tries: Paul Harte 5; Buccaneers: Points: Luke Carty 106; Tries: Shane Layden 5
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MALONE (4th) v CITY OF ARMAGH (3rd), Gibson Park
Malone want a performance and result to match the positivity surrounding the news that former Ulster and Ireland back rower Chris Henry will coach the Cregagh Red Sox next season. It will be fascinating to see what division they will be in when Henry takes the reins from the popular Paddy Armstrong.
Three successive defeats have moved Malone down to fourth spot, with only a four-point gap to the relegation zone. With the Cara Cup impacting on his selection, Armstrong has added the fit-again Rory Campbell, their top scorer with 75 points, and Shane Kelly to the back-line and promoting forwards Dan Kerr and Ryan Clarke from the bench.
With a cleaner bill of health than most of their rivals, City of Armagh boss Willie Faloon is unlikely to make many changes to the team that put five tries and 39 points on St. Mary’s College. Competition for places is seriously high with Andrew Willis, Daryl Morton, Robert Whitten, Oisin Kiernan and Andrew Smyth all back in contention this week.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 3, 2018: City of Armagh 18 Malone 34, Palace Grounds; Saturday, October 20, 2018: City of Armagh 32 Malone 3, Palace Grounds
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Malone: WWLWWWLLLWWWLLL;
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Malone: Points: Rory Campbell 75; Tries: Rory Campbell, Peter Cooper 4 each; City of Armagh: Points: Cormac Fox 68; Tries: Neil Faloon 5
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE (8th) v BALLYMENA (10th), Templeville Road
Bottom side Ballymena have really struggled for continuity this season and they are hit injuries and unavailability again this week. As an example, four of their starting forwards from the last round are absent tomorrow, including Ulster call-up Clive Ross and the Ulster ‘A’-tied JJ McKee and Marcus Rea, the club captain.
Rodger McBurney is back to full fitness to start at full-back for the Braidmen, who have Phil Campbell packing down at number 8 and Eoin Ritson and Sam Miller filling the wing berths. It is win or bust for Andy Graham’s men with second-from-bottom Buccs 14 points ahead of them.
Like many of their divisional rivals, St. Mary’s are in the limbo area between challenging for the promotion play-offs and staving off relegation. Steven Hennessy’s charges have followed a defeat with a win on the last two occasions, and the Templeville Road factor certainly tips this one in their favour.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 6, 2016: Ballymena 12 St. Mary’s College 15, Eaton Park; Saturday, October 20, 2018: Ballymena 40 St. Mary’s College 22, Eaton Park
All-Ireland League Season’s Form: St. Mary’s College: WLLWLWWWLLLWLWL; Ball
All-Ireland League Top Scorers – St. Mary’s College: Points: Conor Dean 69; Tries: Hugo Conway 4; Ballymena: Points: Tim Small 113; Tries: Connor Smyth 5
Division 2A
Blackrock College v Navan (Tonight, 8pm)
Nenagh Ormond v UL Bohemians (Tonight, 8pm)
Galwegians v Queen’s University
Highfield v Cashel RFC
Old Crescent v Dolphin
Division 2B
Skerries v Wanderers (Tonight, 8pm)
Belfast Harlequins v Dungannon
Rainey OB v Greystones
Sundays Well v Galway Corinthians
Sligo MU Barnhall
Division 2C
Bangor v Midleton
Bruff v Tullamore
Malahide v Ballina
Omagh v Thomond
Seapoint v City of Derry
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