AIB Cup: Second Round Previews

There are plenty of local and inter-divisional rivalries being rekindled in this weekend’s AIB Cup second round, so make sure you get out and support your local club. Read on for full match previews.

2007/08 AIB CUP: SECOND ROUND

MATCH 1 – BRUFF v OLD CRESCENT, Kilballyowen Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Peter Ferguson (Ulster)

Status: Non-interprovinicial game (Munster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Two opposition.

Previous AIB League Fixtures: The two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

Bruff:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2004/05 season. They have had three seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 42nd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 3rd in AIB League Division Three last season. They beat Wanderers 18-12 in the play-off final at Templeville Road.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 6-5 at home to Highfield in the first round.

Current Season: They received a bye in the first round of the Limerick Charity Cup. Away to Young Munster, they won 27-18 in the semi-finals and beat UL-Bohemian 16-15 in the final at Dooradoyle to collect their first trophy this season. They met UL Bohemians again on September 29 in the Munster Senior Cup second round, but this time they lost 24-12.

Comment: Last season’s AIB League Division Three champions are one of the most up-and-coming senior clubs in the country and are presently odds-on to be promoted at the end of the season.

They have not played Saturday’s opponents since they entered senior ranks three seasons back. At home again in the second round, the boys from the country get the opportunity to put one over another city club from a higher AIB League division.

Old Crescent:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1992/93 season. They have spent three seasons in Division One and twelve seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 15th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 8th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 29-14 at home to Naas in the first round.

Current Season: In the first round of the Limerick Charity Cup, they were beaten 12-9 at home to Young Munster. They won 32-20 at home to Nenagh Ormond in the Munster Senior Cup’s second round and now face an away game against Sunday’s Well in the quarter-finals.

Comment: Old Crescent are 60-years-old this season and are the only established Munster club that have never won the Munster Senior Cup. Out-half Gareth James, a new recruit from Wales, has slotted in well – he scored 19 points (two tries, three conversions and a penalty) in the first round win over Naas. Tighthead prop James ‘Buffalo’ Cullinane captains the old boys this season.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Old Crescent to win.

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MATCH 2 – UCC v DOLPHIN, The Mardyke, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Olan Trevor (Munster)

Status: Non-interprovinicial game (Munster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division One opposition.

Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1996/97: Division Two: UCC 19 Dolphin 20; 1998/99: Division Two: UCC 14 Dolphin 29; 1999/00: Division Two: Dolphin 29 UCC 14; 2000/01: Division Two: UCC 6 Dolphin 12; 2001/02: Dolphin 12 UCC 23; 2002/03: Division Two: UCC 12 Dolphin 18; 2002/03: Division Two Semi-Final: Dolphin 20 UCC 18; 2003/04: Division Two: Dolphin 16 UCC 28; 2005/06: Division Two: Dolphin 22 UCC 18.

UCC:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent three seasons in Division Three and eleven seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 28th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 9th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 43-13 at home to Old Wesley in the first round.

Current Season: Took the decision not to enter the Cork Charity Cup this year as the competition arrived too early in the season for them. They entertained Highfield on September 29 in the second round of the Munster Senior Cup and lost 27-6.

Comment: Again have a very young squad this season and will have to use many of their 2006/07 All-Ireland Under-20 winning side which was coached by Conor Twomey, now the senior coach in the club. Munster and Ireland’s John Kelly is coaching the College backs.

They got the show on the road with six tries against Old Wesley last week. Gavin Dunne helped himself to 23 points (two tries, five conversions and a penalty) during the afternoon. They have won only one of their last four AIB League games with Dolphin and this includes losing all three Division Two fixtures at Saturday’s venue.

Dolphin:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1991/92 season. They have spent thirteen seasons in Division Two and three seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 17th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 14th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 33-7 at home to Garryowen in the first round; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: At home to Sunday’s Well, they won 20-13 in the first round of the Cork Charity Cup but lost 57-10 away to Cork Constitution in the semi-finals. In controversial circumstances (did a Dolphin conversion go over or not?) they beat Young Munster 20-19 in round one of the Munster Senior Cup and will travel the short distance to Highfield for their quarter-final tie.

Comment: Dolphin ave recruited a staggering 25 new players. Former Ireland international scrum half David O’Mahony continues as head coach while Welshman Steve Ford moves in from Highfield to look after the forwards.

They recruited no players of note from UCC over the summer but have still a number of former Mardyke students in their ranks. Olan Kelleher, club President a few years back, will be a proud spectator on Saturday as he watches his son Alex lead the UCC side out onto the pitch.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Dolphin to win.

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MATCH 3 – BELFAST HARLEQUINS v SHANNON, Deramore Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Eanna O’Dowd (Leinster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division One opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2000/01: Division One: Belfast Harlequins 13 Shannon 18; 2002/03: Division One: Belfast Harlequins 19 Shannon 24; 2003/04: Division One: Shannon 24 Belfast Harlequins 6; 2003/04: Division One: Semi-Final – Shannon 27 Belfast Harlequins 13; 2004/05: Division One: Belfast Harlequins 19 Shannon 18; 2004/05: Division One: Final – Shannon 25 Belfast Harlequins 20; 2005/06: Division One: Shannon 31 Belfast Harlequins 15; 2006/07: Division One: Belfast Harlequins 19 Shannon 17.

Belfast Harlequins:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1999/00 season. They have spent two seasons in Division Two and six seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 9th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 15th in AIB League Division One last season and were relegated.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 50-18 at home to Suttonians in the first round; Lost 41-13 away to Cork Constitution in the quarter-finals; 2006/07: Won 21-0 at home to Nenagh Ormond in the first round; Won 22-19 at home to Galwegians in the quarter-finals; Won 32-28 at home to Shannon in the semi-finals; Lost 20-7 to Garryowen in the final at Dubarry Park; 2007/08: Won 34-7 away to Thomond in the first round.

Current Season: Currently lie in second place in the Ulster Senior League. They have played five matches and won all five, with notable victories over Queen’s (25-16), Ards (32-3), Ballynahinch (24-12) and Rainey Old Boys (60-13). They have collected four bonus points for tries scored.

Comment: They scored five tries last weekend against Thomond in Limerick. Last season’s beaten finalists took care of Saturday’s opponents in Belfast at the semi-final stage of the 2006/07 AIB Cup.

Shannon:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent all seventeen seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 3rd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 5th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 20-17 at home to Cork Constitution in the first round; 2006/07: Won 22-13 at home to Clontarf in the first round; Won 34-24 away to UCD in the quarter-finals; Lost 32-28 away to Belfast Harlequins in the semi-finals.

Current Season: In the first round of the Limerick Charity Cup, they won 26-6 at home to Thomond, but lost 18-8 at home to UL Bohemians in the semi-finals. Travelled to Clonakilty in the Munster Senior Cup second round and won 53-10. They will now have Garryowen as visitors in the quarter-finals on October 20.

Comment: For the first time in three seasons, Shannon have not had a major exodus of players during the off season. In fact, the club welcomes back Fiach O’Loughlin from Clontarf and John O’Connor from Coventry. Twice-capped AIB Club international captain David Quinlan skippers the ‘Parish’ for the third time.

They have lost on their last three visits to Deramore Park – 19-18 in December 2004, 19-17 in January 2007 and 32-28 in March 2007 but they beat Harlequins 25-20 in the one that really mattered – the 2004/05 AIB League Division One final.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Shannon to win.

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MATCH 4 – ST. MARY’S COLLEGE v CORINTHIANS, Templeville Road, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Peter Roche (Munster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Leinster v Connacht) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division Three opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: The two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

St. Mary’s College:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent sixteen seasons in Division One and one season in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 4th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 10th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 39-14 at home to Greystones in the first round; Won 35-21 away to Terenure College in the quarter-finals; Won 23-14 away to Garryowen in the semi-finals; Lost 37-12 to Cork Constitution in the final at Lansdowne Road; 2006/07: Won 16-9 at home to Cork Constitution in the first round; Lost 16-13 (aet) away to Garryowen in the quarter-finals.

Current Season: St. Mary’s finished top of Pool Three in the Leinster Senior League Cup. They won 38-7 away to Skerries, won 46-19 away to UCD and won 33-6 at home to Bective. They qualified as number one seeds for the quarter-finals where they won 27-17 at home to UCD. They will face De La Salle Palmerston in the semi-finals on October 20.

Comment: Really hit the ground running this season and are unbeaten to date. Former Ireland Youths second row Gareth Logan is the captain while former Leinster centre Frank Kennedy takes his turn as president.

The coaching combination of Steven Hennessy and Peter Smyth, both former club captains, remains in situ for the fourth successive season. They will obviously be short of match practice on Saturday as they have had no fixture over the last two weekends, but will that make a difference to the result?

Corinthians:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent one season in Division Two, two seasons in the junior ranks, one season in Division Four and thirteen seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 40th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 11th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 20-13 at home to Barnhall in the first round.

Current Season: Finished third in the Connacht Senior League after a win (25-10) away to Connemara, a draw (17-17)
at home to Buccaneers and a loss (25-7) at home to Galwegians. They were beaten 25-11 at home to Buccaneers in the Connacht Senior Cup.

Comment: They are 75-years-old this season. At the moment, Saturday’s fixture is the only trip to Dublin this season.  Have recruited well and will be more competitive when the GAA club season in the west comes to a finish.

They scored three tries at home to Barnhall last weekend in round one. Donal White is again the President this season. His provincial full-back son Aidan spent a few seasons with St. Mary’s College in Dublin and won a Leinster Senior Cup medal with them in 1993.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: St. Mary’s College to win.

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MATCH 5 – MALONE v MIDLETON, Gibson Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Leinster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Three opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1999/00: Division Two: Midleton 6 Malone 5; 2000/01: Division Two: Malone 12 Midleton 12; 2002/03: Division Two: Midleton 23 Malone 14; 2003/04: Division Two: Malone 22 Midleton 12; 2004/05: Division Two: Midleton 3 Malone 0; 2005/06: Division Two: Malone 5 Midleton 17; 2006/07: Division Two: Midleton 16 Malone 7.

Malone:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have had one season in Division One, one season in the junior ranks and fifteen seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 23rd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 14th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 19-12 away to Terenure College in the first round; 2006/07: Lost 12-7 way to Terenure College in the first round; 2007/08: Won 50-5 at home to Ards in the first round.

Current Season: Malone currently lie in fourth place in the Ulster Senior League. They have played five games, won three and lost two after seven rounds, with victories over City of Derry, Queen’s and Ards. They collected a bonus point in their two defeats.

Comment: They are competing this season for the third time in the AIB Cup and recorded their first victory in the competition when they ran in seven tries in their first round demolition of Ards under the floodlights at Gibson Park on October 4.

They have bolstered their pack with a Pacific Islander in the second row. The players who left for Ballymena with Jacques Benade have returned and Jonny Burgess is getting amongst the tries once more. They have lost their last three AIB League Division Two fixtures with east Cork club Midleton.

Midleton:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1998/99 season. They have spent one season in Division Four, one season in Division Three and seven seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 32nd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 16th in AIB League Division Two last season and were relegated.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 16-13 (aet) away to County Carlow in the first round.

Current Season: Midleton, the holders, got a walkover from Cobh Pirates in the first round of this season’s Cork Charity Cup but then lost 23-10 away to Highfield in the semis. The club hosted Garryowen in a Munster Cup second round tie on Saturday September 29 and were beaten 13-7.

Comment: Former Munster favourite Jason Holland has arrived back from New Zealand to fill the role of player-coach at Towns Park and was responsible for 13 of the 16 points against County Carlow in the AIB Cup first round on October 6. They on 17-5 on their most recent visit to Gibson Park and since October 2000 have lost only one of their seven AIB League Division Two fixtures with Malone.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Malone to win.

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MATCH 6 – SUTTONIANS v CORK CONSTITUTION, JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Mark Hermin (Ulster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Leinster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division One opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: The two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

Suttonians:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1996/97 season. They have had three seasons in Division Four, seven seasons in Division Three and one season in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 43rd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 13th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 50-12 away to Belfast Harlequins in the first round; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 20-17 at home to Queen’s University in the first round.

Current Season: They finished top of Pool Four in the Leinster Senior League Cup after they collected two bonus points for the 16 tries they scored in beating Dublin University 34-17 at home, Terenure College 30-26 away and Naas 53-21 in Kildare. They were drawn at home in the quarters where they succumbed to a 27-17 defeat at the hands of De La Salle Palmerston.

Comment: Once more under the guidence of Robert Forbes, the Dublin northsiders have started the season with a bang. Former Leinster Under-19 full-back Frank Kearney, a brother of the captain Aidan and a son of former president Frank, scored one of their tries against Queen’s last week.

In recent times, they have won two and lost two games at home to clubs from Cork. They are hoping that they will give the former AIB Cup holders a good run for their money on Saturday.

Cork Constitution:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent all seventeen seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 1st.

2006/07 Finish: They were 1st in AIB League Division One last season but lost the play-off final 16-15 to Garryowen at Musgrave Park.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 20-17 away to Shannon the first round; Won 41-13 at home to Belfast Harlequins in the quarter-finals; Won 20-13 away to Buccaneers in the semi-finals; Won 37-12 against St. Mary’s College in the final at Lansdowne Road; 2006/07: Won 39-25 (aet) at home to Lansdowne in the preliminary round; Lost 16-9 away to St. Mary’s College in the first round.

Current Season: Con won the Cork Charity Cup with victories at home to Clonakilty (47-0), at home to Dolphin (57-10) and in the final at Musgrave Park, they scored a 14-12 win over Highfield. Received a walkover from Cobh Pirates in the second round of the Munster Senior Cup and are due to travel to UL Bohemians in the quarter-finals.

Comment: As usual, Con have recruited well and include four former UCC players new to their ranks this season. AIB Club international Merle O’Connell has been appointed captain while the coaching team of Brian ‘Squeaky’ Walsh and Terry Kingston remains from last season. Former club PRO Jack O’Sullivan has been elected club President.

The recent Cork Charity Cup winners have been idle over the past few weekends. At the moment, Saturday is the first of five visits to Leinster for them this season.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Cork Constitution to win.

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MATCH 7 – TERENURE COLLEGE v CLONTARF, Lakelands Park, 2.30pm (Match has been refixed; will now be played on Saturday, October 20)
Referee: Ger English (Munster)

Status: Non-interprovinicial game (Leinster v Leinster) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division One opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1992/93: Division Two: Terenure College 11 Clontarf 10; 1995/96: Division Two: Terenure College 0 Clontarf 3; 1997/98: Division One: Clontarf 36 Terenure College 17; 1998/99: Division One: Terenure College 18 Clontarf 32; 1999/00: Division One: Clontarf 24 Terenure College 36; 2000/01: Division One: Terenure College 46 Clontarf 13; 2001/02: Division One: Clontarf 35 Terenure College 0; 2002/03: Division One: Terenure College 3 Clontarf 16; 2006/07: Division One: Terenure College 27 Clontarf 39.

Terenure College:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have had nine seasons in Division Two and eight seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 12th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 8th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 19-12 at home to Malone in the first round; Lost 35-21 at home to St. Mary’s College in the quarter-finals; 2006/07: Won 12-7 at home to Malone in the first round; Lost 31-22 at home to Clonakilty in the quarter-finals.

Current Season: Terenure were very slow out of the blocks in Pool One of the Leinster Senior League Cup. They lost all three games – 19-17 away to Naas, 3-26 at home to Suttonians and 23-16 at home to Dublin University. They finished last in their pool and were seeded 15th of the 20 competing clubs.

Comment: During the summer, Terenure lost number eight Alex Dunlop to Rotherham but welcomed back out-half David McAllister from Italy. They have won only one of their last five AIB League fixtures at home to Clontarf and are facing a fourth consecutive defeat by the northsiders on Saturday week.

They are hoping that McAllister, who spent two seasons at Castle Avenue recently, will kick the points so that they can get their show on the road.

Clontarf:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1992/93 season. They have spent two seasons in Division Three, three seasons in Division Two and ten seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 10th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 2nd in AIB League Division One last season but lost 28-15 at home to Garryowen in the play-off semi-finals.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 30-20 at home to Dungannon the first round; Lost 15-14 at home to Garryowen in the quarter-finals; 2006/07: Lost 22-13 away to Shannon in the first round.

Current Season: Clontarf won all three games in Pool Two of the Leinster Senior League Cup – 20-8 away to junior club Seapoint, 50-19 at home to Wanderers and 53-0 at home to Barnhall. They scored the most tries (20) of all 20 clubs in the pool stages.

They won their pool and were seeded 3rd for the quarter-final draw. They won their quarter-final 26-21 at home to Old Belvedere and beat Lansdowne 26-6 in the semi-final and are awaiting the winners of St. Mary’s College v De La Salle Palmerston in the final.

Comment: Leinster’s most successful AIB League club over five of the past six seasons will not be daunted by this trip across the Liffey to a venue where they usually enjoy success.

The two UCD and Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam-winning half-backs, Ian Keatley and Paul O’Donohue, have been recruited but scrum half and last season’s captain Fiach O’Loughlin has returned to his Shannon roots after two seasons at Castle Avenue.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Clontarf to win.

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MATCH 8 – DE LA SALLE PALMERSTON v BECTIVE RANGERS, Kilternan, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Michael Black (Ulster)

Status: Non-interprovinicial game (Leinster v Leinster) – an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1993/94: Division Three: DLSP 7 Bective Rangers 23; 1996/97: Division Two: DLSP 23 Bective Rangers 13; 1997/98: Division Two: Bective Rangers 19 DLSP 18; 1998/99: Division Two: DLSP 41 Bective Rangers 21; 2002/03: Division Two: DLSP 25 Bective Rangers 18; 2003/04: Division Two: Bective Rangers 13 DLSP 16; 2004/05: Division Two: DLSP 24 Bective Rangers 18; 2005/06: Division Two: DLSP 7 Bective Rangers 15; 2006/07: Division Two: Bective Rangers 16 DLSP 34.

De La Salle Palmerston:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have had three seasons in Division Three, three seasons in Division One and eight seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 19th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 10th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 50-13 at home to Buccaneers in the first round; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 24-20 away to Rainey Old Boys in the first round.

Current Season: Topped Pool Two of the Leinster Senior League Cup ahead of Blackrock College and Greystones on points difference. They won 47-17 at home to Greystones, lost 18-10 away to Blackrrock and won 26-9 away to Old Wesley. They scored the most tries (12) in their pool and won their quarter-final 27-17 away to Suttonians. Got their semi-final away to St. Mary’s College postponed until October 20 due to food poisoning in the ranks.

Comment: They have recruited extensively and are in rare good form at this stage of the 2007/08 season. They ran in four tries away to Rainey Old Boys last week and have lost only one of their six most recent AIB League Division Two fixtures with Bective.

Bective Rangers:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent one season in Division Three and thirteen seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 20th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 11th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 22-7 away to Banbridge in the first round.

Current Season: Bective finished third in Pool Three of the Leinster Senior League Cup with a 50-0 win at home to Skerries and two defeats on the road – 21-5 at UCD and 33-6 at St. Mary’s College.

Comment: Have two former Irish internationals, Stephen McIvor and Gabriel Fulcher, fulfilling the coaching duties this season. They ran in four tries against Banbridge at Rifle Park last Saturday and won 15-7 on their most recent AIB League Division Two visit to Kilternan after four consecutive defeats at the venue. They must travel to the foothills once again on November 17 to play ‘Salmo in their Division Two fixture this season.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: De La Salle Palmerston to win.

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For Match Previews 9-16 – Click Here

**AIB League and Cup statistics courtesy of Des Daly**