The provincial composition of the 16 clubs in AIB League Division Three this season is Leinster 5, Ulster 5, Munster 4 and Connacht 2. Three clubs have at some stage played in Division One – Old Wesley (six seasons), County Carlow (five seasons) and Sundays Well (one season).
Seven clubs – Banbridge, Ards, Queens, Rainey Old Boys, Connemara, Naas and Nenagh Ormond – have never been promoted during their AIB League existence.
Nine clubs – Suttonians (1996/97, County Carlow (1997/98), Banbridge and Midleton (1998/99), Barnhall (1999/00), Naas (2000/01), Connemara (2001/02), Nenagh Ormond (2005/06) and Rainey (2006/07) first entered the AIB League after qualifying from the junior clubs Round Robin tournament.
Corinthians are competing in Division Three for the 15th time, Banbridge, Waterpark, Queen’s and Old Wesley for the ninth time followed by Connemara and Portadown in their eighth season.
As Bruff have been promoted there is no Limerick club in the third division this season. Sundays Well are the only Cork city club in the third division this season.
Six clubs have to undertake two trips to Connacht while five clubs do not have to venture over the Shannon. Connemara, the most westerly senior club in Europe, and Corinthians both have eight home games during the new campaign – this arrangement begins on Saturday when two Munster clubs travel to Connacht.
Division Three clubs are known to travel very long distances for some games. Even though City of Derry have been demoted to junior ranks, this is still the situation.
A few clubs are hardest hit. Midleton and Waterpark must travel three times to Ulster, while Portadown are due in Munster on three occasions.
Rainey, playing at Banbridge this Saturday, have already this season won 23-0 at Rifle Park in the Ulster Senior League.
ROUND 1: DIVISION THREE FIXTURES – Saturday, October 4
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
Banbridge v Rainey Old Boys, Rifle Park
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 2; Banbridge Won: 2; Rainey Won: 0; Banbridge At Home – Played: 1; Banbridge Won: 1; Rainey Won: 0
Barnhall v Suttonians, Parstonstown
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 4; Barnhall Won: 2; Suttonians Won: 2; Barnhall At Home – Played: 2; Barnhall Won: 1; Suttonians Won: 1
County Carlow v Waterpark, Oak Park
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 2; County Carlow Won: 1; Waterpark Won: 1; County Carlow At Home – Played: 1; County Carlow Won: 1; Waterpark Won: 0
Connemara v Sundays Well, Monastery Field
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 4; Connemara Won: 1; Sundays Well Won: 3; Connemara At Home – Played: 2; Connemara Won: 0; Sundays Well Won: 2
Corinthians v Nenagh Ormond, Corinthian Park
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 3; Corinthians Won: 0; Nenagh Won: 3; Corinthians At Home – Played: 1; Corinthians Won: 0; Nenagh Won: 1
Midleton v Ards, Towns Park
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 2; Midleton Won: 2; Ards Won: 0; Midleton At Home – Played: 0
Naas v Queen’s University, Forenaughts
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 3; Naas Won: 0; Queen’s Won: 3; Naas At Home – Played: 1; Naas Won: 0; Queen’s Won: 1
Portadown v Old Wesley, Chambers Park
Previous AIB League Meetings – Played: 6; Portadown Won: 2; Drawn: 2; Old Wesley Won: 2; Portadown At Home – Played: 2; Portadown Won: 1; Old Wesley Won: 1
ROUND 1: FORM GUIDE –
Banbridge are on a hat-trick of wins over Rainey as are Midleton over Ards. Corinthians have lost all three games against Nenagh as have Naas against Queen’s University.
Connemara are on a hat-trick of defeats by Sundays Well. So too are Portadown by Old Wesley and Barnhall by Suttonians.
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