The Adam Lamont-led Ballymena team are back on home soil this weekend as Division 2A leaders MU Barnhall pay them a visit ©Ballymena RFC
As the Energia All-Ireland League Men’s campaign reaches round 3, Divisions 2A, 2B and 2C are looking very competitive in the early stages, with the pacesetters eager to end the opening block on a high.
With four teams all tied on 10 points after the opening two rounds, who can end the opening block in Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A at the summit?
MU Barnhall currently sit top on scoring difference after a pair of high-scoring wins. This is the fourth year in succession they will face off against Ballymena on home soil in what was a tough fixture for them last season.
Adam Chester, Barnhall’s latest player to reach 100 All-Ireland League caps, has been a man in form in front of the posts so far this season, while winger Sean Sexton is one of the top try scorers in the division with four.
Ballymena won both of their matches against Barnhall last season, including a 22-19 victory at Parsonstown last January. Twelve months ago the Braidmen lost their two openers before getting back to winning ways in the third round. Will history repeat itself?
Aided by two hat-tricks so far from in-form centre Bevan Prinsloo, Instonians have continued their surge while moving up another division, and look on track to fight for yet another promotion.
The Belfast outfit are on the road to meet Greystones this weekend, for the clubs’ first All-Ireland League meeting in eleven years. Back in November 2013, Greystones left Shaw’s Bridge as one-point winners.
Times have changed, and Instonians’ current crop bring a massive attacking threat after already racking up 100 points across the first fortnight. Greystones are aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 40-10 defeat to Galway Corinthians.
Corinthians, like Instonians, look in fine fettle after coming up from the fourth tier, showing no signs of slowing down. Connacht Academy out-half Sean Naughton returned last weekend, kicking four conversions as they made it back-to-back bonus point wins.
The Galway side’s round 3 hosts, Navan, have consecutive home games to end the opening block and are still in search of their first win. It was so close last weekend as they shared the spoils with Old Crescent in an entertaining 22-all draw.
Crescent are also yet to open their 2024/25 win account but are fifth in the table due to that draw, and bagging two bonus points at home to Cashel in round 1. Casey Tanyi has brought impact off the bench with two tries so far.
Banbridge, who visit Crescent on Saturday, lost 36-14 on their most recent trip to Takumi Park. Despite not winning yet, their attack is going well with a brace of try-scoring bonus points, and two tries each from backs Xander Lowham and Jonny Scott.
Cashel complete the list of the currently unbeaten teams, sitting in fourth place with a six-point gap to Crescent in fifth. Ray Moloney’s charges are on the road to Buccaneers this weekend, hoping to continue their encouraging start to the new campaign.
It will be the first meeting of these sides since their promotion play-off semi-final back in 2022. Buccs prevailed that day at Spafield and did the same when they last entertained the Tipperary men at Dubarry Park just over three years ago.
However, Paul Byrne’s Pirates are now bottom of the table after the first two rounds. They are hoping to have out-half Gearoid McDonald back for his first taste of AIL action with Buccs. Tightening up their defence is top of the agenda.
Leinster clubs Wanderers and Skerries are the early frontrunners in Division 2B after the opening rounds, and both face away trips to close out this first block of fixtures.
Wanderers have a +44 lead on scoring difference ahead of Skerries, and with 12 tries tallied up in two games, Eoin Sheriff’s men have definitely hit the ground running. Winger Caomhán Brennan has weighed in with three tries.
For the first time since October 2008, Wanderers will come up against Malone in the All-Ireland League. The Chaps’ most recent trip to Gibson Park was the previous January.
Malone, who are now fifth overall, won both of those meetings. Coming off an impressive showing at Malahide last weekend, they are targeting a push for the top four. Out-half Matty Rae starred in the second round, scoring a try and kicking 15 points.
Skerries, meanwhile, have a difficult assignment away to third-placed Dungannon. The Goats drew 15-all on their last visit to Stevenson Park 11 months ago, but fell to a narrow two-point defeat when the pair met at Holmpatrick last February.
Dungannon are a point behind Skerries thanks to wins over Malahide and Sligo, with captain James McMahon scoring a crucial try from a tap penalty last week. Skerries were in free-scoring form against Galwegians and UL Bohemian, and Taidgh Keane Boylan and Kevin McGrath touched down during both games.
Completing the top four are UL Bohemian who return home looking to pick up their second win of the season. Hooker Darren Ferrar is the division’s joint-top try scorer with three, and his brace helped UL fight back for two bonus points at Skerries.
This is their first meeting with Rainey in Limerick since November 2021 when the Red Robins prevailed 32-24. Scott McLean’s right boot remains a big asset for the men from Magherafelt, who edged out Galwegians 17-15 last week to register their first victory.
After their home debut in the division did not go to plan, Clogher Valley travel to Galwegians for what could be a titanic tussle. These two sides fought tooth and nail for the Division 2C title last season, with Clogher claiming the silverware in the end.
Stephen Bothwell’s Valley outfit won by three points in a nail-biting encounter in Glenina last December. After losing out by 23 points to Wanderers, Bothwell said: “We can learn a lot from a game like this. There’s plenty to work on heading into this weekend against Galwegians.”
‘Wegians have started the new season with two tight losses, pipped by both Skerries and Rainey. If they can improve their decision-making and execution, Brendan Guilfoyle’s charges can finish on the right side of the result here.
The current bottom two renew rivalries at Estuary Road, as Malahide and Sligo both attempt to turn the tide in their favour. Sligo won on their last two visits to Malahide, while the last time the Dubliners prevailed in this match-up was at home in March 2022 (28-25).
Reversals at the hands of UL and Dungannon have Paddy Pearson’s Sligo at the wrong end of the table. They had seven AIL debutants in the first two rounds. A much-improved defensive display is a must for Malahide, who have leaked 93 points so far.
The top four clash of the early pacesetters Ballyclare and Midleton is set to be one of the games of the weekend in Division 2C. The Munster derby between Clonmel and Dolphin will also have top four implications for both teams.
Ballyclare have enjoyed their start to life in the All-Ireland League and are out to remain unbeaten in this first block. Topping the table by a single point, Mike Orchin-McKeever’s men travel to east Cork with confidence after bonus point wins over Tullamore and Enniscorthy.
Midleton have made Towns Park a tough place for opponents to get results, and their dogged defence earned them a draw on the road in Belfast last week. Hooker JB du Toit already has two tries to his name. Ballyclare’s only change is Josh Cowan’s inclusion on the right wing.
With a trip to Ardgaoithe on the agenda this week, second-placed Dolphin are aiming to keep the early momentum going. The Corkmen have had some tough seasons in recent memory but are looking in positive spirits of late.
Dolphin’s Kiwi full-back Jordan Soli has caught the eye, scoring three tries and kicking 18 points. Outside of meetings in Munster competitions, this is Clonmel’s first AIL match against Dolphin. Their bonus point success against Tullamore was a statement performance.
Bound for Limerick, this weekend, Belfast Harlequins meet Bruff for the first time since 2013. These two clubs were in Division 1B when last they squared off at Kilballyowen Park, and that was November 2012 when Bruff emerged as 21-17 winners.
Eighth-placed Bruff have not been far off it during the opening two rounds, and closed out the scoring against Dolphin and Monkstown for a losing bonus point on both occasions.
Harlequins, who occupy third spot, remained unbeaten after battling back for a share of the spoils against Midleton. With five tries between them, in-form ‘Quins duo Thomas Armstrong and Tane Felix-Hotham will be ‘finishers’ this week. Thomas Quigley and Tom Morris start instead.
Monkstown edged out Bruff by three points in their first home outing since returning to the league. Matt Stapleton delivered a try-scoring player-of-the-match performance from inside centre, and the Dubliners now face Omagh for the first time in their history.
The Accies received a big beating from Dolphin in round 2, and will want to right the wrongs of that performance. Their out-half Scott Elliott is the top points scorer in the division at present, tallying up 36 points from three tries and eight successful kicks.
Saturday’s Division 2C schedule is wrapped up a bottom-of-the-table clash at Spollanstown. Tullamore and Enniscorthy are yet to record a win and are both chasing their first league point of the campaign.
After one-sided defeats last weekend when they were curtailed to one try apiece and both fell away in the second half, these two teams will be itching to show what they can do on both sides of the ball.
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