Limerick Derby Launches New Season Of Energia AIL Rugby

A keenly-contested Limerick derby between UL Bohemians and Old Crescent is the opening fixture of the new Energia All-Ireland League season. The sides meet tonight on the University of Limerick’s 4G pitch.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 2A: Friday, October 4

UL BOHEMIANS v OLD CRESCENT, University of Limerick 4G pitch, 8pm

These Limerick rivals finished fifth and sixth respectively in Division 2A last season, Old Crescent undoubtedly the happier of the two given they had just come up as champions of the fourth tier. Both will be looking big improvements as fourth-placed Queen’s University finished a dozen points clear of UL.

It was all change at Bohemians this summer with the coaching reins handed to George Murray, Munster’s head performance analyst, and Tom Hayes who moves across from Shannon. Recent senior debutant Alan Kiely and Harry Byrne, the former Garryowen out-half, combine as a new half-back pairing.

With the prospect of wet and windy conditions on the back of Storm Lorenzo, Old Crescent head coach Matt Brown said: “It’s a really good leveller, it affects both teams. It’s about who manages the ball the best and who makes the least mistakes. You might not get to try as much stuff as you would probably have liked to.”