The men's All-Ireland League campaign kicks off this weekend - here's a look ahead to the Ulster clubs in action on Saturday:
Division 1A
YOUNG MUNSTER V BALLYNAHINCH, Tom Clifford Park It has been a busy start for
Gearoid Prendergast’s Young Munster, who won the delayed 2021 Munster Senior Cup final in August before reaching this season’s last-four, most recently. Returning to Division 1A action, Prendergast said: “It’s been a long time waiting for it, we’re champing at the bit. We’ve had some challenging games – hopefully they’ll stand to us – but the AIL is a different beast. We’ve prepped accordingly.” Ballynahinch come in on the back of a 43-8 Ulster Premiership win over Banbridge. They have two sets of brothers in their pack,
John and
Thomas Donnan behind
Kyle and
Zack McCall, ‘Hinch’s 26-year-old captain, in the front row.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 7, 2019: Ballynahinch 24 Young Munster 26, Ballymacarn Park; Saturday, January 25, 2020: Young Munster 35 Ballynahinch 21, Tom Clifford Park
Division 1A Fixtures Clontarf v UCD, Castle Avenue, 2:30pm Dublin University v Garryowen, College Park, 2:30pm Lansdowne v Cork Constitution, Aviva Stadium Back Pitch, 2:30pm UCC v Terenure College, The Mardyke, 2:30pm Young Munster v Ballynahinch, Tom Clifford Park, 2:30pm
Division 1B
BANBRIDGE v CITY OF ARMAGH, Rifle Park It has been a testing early season spell for Banbridge, who have shipped some heavy defeats in Ulster. But the AIL brings a clean slate, and head coach
Mark McDowell feels they are now on an upward curve. “There’s a real excitement in camp about the league starting,” said McDowell, who rates new out-half
Harry Bird highly. “I know that we’re more prepared than we showed against Ballynahinch, and I think you’ll see that against Armagh.” Armagh welcomed back
Chris Colvin, Kyle Faloon and
Josh McKinley from injury last week, and
Chris Parker’s men are targeting a full 80-minute performance after being ‘well below their usual standards’ in the first half against Queen’s.
MALONE v NAVAN, Gibson Park Malone were pushing for a top-four finish 18 months ago, so they are understandably eager to get back on the horse – despite a lengthy injury list at the moment. South African back rower
Teigan Erasmus has joined the Cregagh Red Sox and could prove to be a key signing. Goal-kicking winger
Rory Campbell is a classy operator, as shown by his recent match-winning heroics against Queen’s.
The Harris-Wright brothers, assistant coach Jason and S&C coach Jonny, have been whipping Navan into shape. Refreshed and with most of the squad retained, Ray Moloney’s charges look in better fettle this time around.
Division 1B Fixtures Banbridge v City Of Armagh, Rifle Park, 2:30pm Highfield v St. Mary’s College, Woodleigh Park, 2:30pm Malone v Navan, Gibson Park, 2:30pm Old Wesley v Shannon, Energia Park, 2:30pm
Division 2A
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY v BALLYMENA, Dub Lane Queen’s have enjoyed some runaway wins in the Ulster Rugby Premiership, thumping both Banbridge and Rainey Old Boys with
Jamie McNeight and
Jonny Hunter scoring hat-tricks. The provincial derbies keep coming for
Derek Suffern’s young guns, as Ballymena pitch up at Dub Lane, on the back of victories over Bangor (51-17) and Harlequins (25-13). Centre
Sam Millar has quickly found form for the
John Nicholl-coached Braidmen, who have welcomed back
Azur Allison from Malone and fellow returning forward
JJ McKee.RAINEY OLD BOYS v OLD CRESCENT, Hatrick Park Moving from backs coach to head coach, former Leinster and Italy out-half
Ian McKinley begins his coaching rein at Rainey Old Boys in earnest. One of McKinley’s recent matchday selections had an average age of just 22, but they are making positive early strides. They overcame Malone 34-31 last week, with lock
Connor Smyth claiming two tries. Fresh from helping the Munster Women to win the Interpro title, Wigan native
Matt Brown is hoping to drive Old Crescent back to the top four – exactly where they were 18 months ago.
Division 2A Fixtures Buccaneers v Cashel, Dubarry Park, 2:30pm Nenagh Ormond v MU Barnhall, New Ormond Park, 2:30pm Queen’s University v Ballymena, Dub Lane, 2:30pm Rainey Old Boys v Old Crescent, Hatrick Park, 2:30pm UL Bohemian v Dolphin, UL North Campus, 2:30pm
Division 2B
BELFAST HARLEQUINS v MALAHIDE, Deramore Park Both of these clubs have assembled high-quality coaching teams for the new campaign, with
Neil Doak joined at Belfast Harlequins by
Paddy McAllister as player-assistant forwards coach. ‘Quins have recruited well in the off-season, their scrum-half ranks bolstered by
Luke Simms, Callum Davidson and
Lee Steenson,while versatile Ulster Under-19 prop
Jack Boal is another new addition.
GREYSTONES v DUNGANNON, Dr Hickey Park Greystones appear to have hit the ground running, already qualifying for the Leinster Senior League Division 2 final. Winger
Ferdia Kenny scored four tries during the pool stages.
Andy Hughes’ Dungannon, who won 22-14 on their last visit to the Co. Wicklow club, warmed up for the start of the league with a 31-21 success at Bangor.
Division 2B Fixtures Belfast Harlequins v Malahide, Deramore Park, 2:30pm Blackrock College v Galway Corinthians, Stradbrook, 2:30pm Galwegians v Ballina, Crowley Park, 2:30pm Greystones v Dungannon, Dr Hickey Park, 2:30pm Sligo v Wanderers, Hamilton Park, 2:30pm
Division 2C
BANGOR v BRUFF, Upritchard Park This Bangor’s first time to host Bruff since November 2018, wingers
Cian Clifford and
Liam Treacy both touching down that day in a 15-10 triumph for the Limerick side. Following some recent defeats in Ulster, Bangor director of rugby
Tom Rock is demanding a reaction. He wants his players to ‘deliver consistency in our basics and the small details’. The Seasiders are hoping for a cleaner bill of health, particularly in the forwards where Bruff are traditionally strong. The battle for set piece supremacy will be crucial.
SKERRIES v OMAGH ACADEMICALS, Holmpatrick With just one defeat in 13 games, Skerries were top of the table when Covid-19 unfortunately forced the cancellation of the 2019/20 season. Towards the end of last year,
Glenn Kyle took over as Omagh’s head coach. The Accies’ early season form has caught plenty of attention, with 15 tries scored in overcoming Dungannon, Ballymena and City of Derry.
TULLAMORE v CITY OF DERRY, Spollanstown Stepping up as Derry’s new head coach,
Richard McCarter is following in the footsteps of his dad
Gerald. Injuries have severely hampered their build-up, so they are taking a ‘back to basics, one game at a time’ approach.
Division 2C Fixtures Bangor v Bruff, Upritchard Park, 2:30pm Enniscorthy v Midleton, Alcast Park, 2:30pm Skerries v Omagh Academicals, Holmpatrick, 2:30pm Sundays Well v Clonmel, Musgrave Park, 2:30pm Tullamore v City Of Derry, Spollanstown, 2:30pm
