THE MARQUEE All-Ireland League fixture this weekend sees Young Munster take on top of the table Terenure in Greenfields. Fresh from their bonus point win over local rivals Shannon last time out, the cookies will be aiming to cut the gap to fourth-placed Cork Constitution with a victory over their visitors.
Terenure are in flying form with eight wins from their eight games thus far but will face a raucous crowd at Tom Clifford Park for a game that has a 4.45pm kick-off. It is the last round of fixtures ahead of the Christmas break.
Limerick’s Luke Clohessy was among the tries for Terenure in their 23-21 win over Dublin University last weekend. He will be looking for a better return to his hometown on Saturday after he was sin-binned during their last visit to Greenfields.
Young Munster should come into the game full of confidence after the 32-3 win over Shannon at Thomond Park last weekend. Munster’s led 17-3 thanks to scores from Dan Walsh and Conor Phillips. Walsh and Conor Hayes added further tries in the second half to seal the bonus point win.
Shannon drop to ninth place as a result of that heavy loss but could leapfrog Lansdowne in the table when the sides meet at the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch on Saturday. Pat O’Connor and his coaching staff will not have been happy with how things turned out against Munsters and he will be looking for a big response in Dublin.
Garryowen remain rooted to the bottom of AIL Division 1A following a 28-10 defeat against Ballynahinch in Dooradoyle. The Light Blues were 14-10 at the break with a Michael Veale try and five points from the boot of Jack Delaney keeping them in touch.
However, they were unable to add to their total in the second half and ended up losing for the eighth time this season. Things don’t get any easier for Garryowen as they make the trip to last season’s champions Clontarf.
In Division 2A, eighth placed Old Crescent got back to winning ways with an impressive 32-14 win over Ballymena at Rosbrien. Owen Murphy got Crescent going with a first minute try that was soon cancelled out by the away side. Further tries by Ruadhan Quinn and Cathal O’Reilly helped them to a 19-7 half time advantage.
Jack O’Mahony secured the bonus point late in the second half with their fourth try. Ronan McKenna also chipped in with 12 points from the kicking tee. Crescent make the trip to Cork to play ninth in the table Dolphin this weekend.
UL Bohs remain in deep trouble following their 15-0 defeat to Navan. Bohs have lost all eight games so far this season and they welcome fourth in the table MU Barnhall to UL on Saturday.
In 2C, Bruff lost out in a close game with Clonmel at Kilballyowen Park. The home side were edged 30-28 and remain in the playoff hunt in fifth. They make the trip to Midleton in their next game.
