Former Ulster forward Greg Jones is pictured in action for St. Mary's College in the Energia All-Ireland League's top flight ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
It is tight at both ends of the Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1A table, and Saturday’s first round of the New Year has newly-crowned Bateman Cup champions Lansdowne visiting leaders St. Mary’s College.
Saturday, January 11
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Garryowen: WLLLLLLLL; Young Munster: WWLLWLLLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Garryowen: Points: Kelvin Langan 31; Tries: Brian Gleeson, Donnacha Byrne, Gordon Wood 3 each; Young Munster: Julian Leszczynski 67; Tries: Stephen McLoughlin 6
Preview: Young Munster snapped a three-match losing run thanks to Argentinian goal-kicker Julian Leszczynski’s late penalty at Greenfields before Christmas. Garryowen also lost a tight Munster Senior Cup tussle earlier in the season, so they will feel they owe the Cookies on.
Apart from the local bragging rights, Garryowen know that a derby victory could be huge for them in their bid to manoeuvre themselves out of relegation trouble. Des Fitzgerald and Donnacha Byrne are two of the division’s top defenders with 225 successful tackles between them.
With Ger Slattery recently appointed as assistant coach with the Ireland Club XV, his Young Munster side know that there could be big things on the horizon for both club and country. Kicking off 2025 with a winning performance at Dooradoyle would certainly be a statement of intent.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, April 1, 2023: Garryowen 28 Young Munster 22, Dooradoyle; Saturday, December 14, 2024: Young Munster 25 Garryowen 24, Tom Clifford Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Young Munster to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Ballynahinch: WLWWWWWLL; Terenure College: WLWWLLWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ballynahinch: Points: Conor Rankin 42; Tries: Claytan Milligan 6; Terenure College: Chris Cosgrave 63; Tries: Craig Adams, Henry McErlean 5 each
Preview: After taking a bit of a hit heading into the festive season with losses to Clontarf and Terenure College, Ballynahinch have revenge on their minds here. Adam Craig’s charges are still nicely positioned in fourth place, but need to quickly regain the form of those earlier rounds.
‘Hinch are boosted by Ulster duo James Humphreys and Jake Flannery, who start at full-back and out-half respectively, and the return of captain Bradley Luney to the second row. Third-place Terenure have won the sides’ last three meetings, including a 34-15 away success last April.
However, last season’s beaten finalists have suffered a big blow with the news that former captain Harrison Brewer has returned to Japan to join Division 3 club Kurita Water Gush Akishima. Aran Egan, Conor Phillips, Mark Nicholson, and Mikey O’Reilly all come into their starting XV for Saturday.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, April 6, 2024: Ballynahinch 15 Terenure College 34, Ballymacarn Park; Saturday, December 14, 2024: Terenure College 24 Ballynahinch 3, Lakelands Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Terenure College to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: City of Armagh: LLWLWLWLL; Clontarf: WWWLWWLWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – City of Armagh: Points: Kyle Faloon 78; Tries: Sam Cunningham 4; Clontarf: Conor Kelly 95; Tries: Tadhg Bird 7
Preview: City of Armagh absorbed plenty of lessons from their 35-25 defeat at the hands of Clontarf in the last round. Having officially launched their 150th anniversary celebrations, they will want to put their best foot forward as they look to exact revenge at the Palace Grounds.
While they are lying eighth overall, Armagh currently have the division’s fourth best defensive record with brothers John and Sam Glasgow landing 216 tackles between them. They restricted Clontarf to two tries when they last visited them last February, but lost out 15-12 in the end.
Versatile Clontarf back Tadhg Bird has emerged as the top flight’s joint-leading try scorer with seven so far, scoring in each of the last five rounds. Portlaoise man Conor Kelly continues to wield plenty of influence from out-half, and is just five short of the 100-point mark for this season.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 17, 2024: City of Armagh 12 Clontarf 15, Palace Grounds; Saturday, December 14, 2024: Clontarf 35 City of Armagh 25, Castle Avenue
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Clontarf to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: St. Mary’s College: LWLWWWDWW; Lansdowne: LWLWLLWWL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – St. Mary’s College: Points: Conor Hayes 57; Tries: Mark Fogarty, Myles Carey 5 each; Lansdowne: Andy Marks, Stephen Madigan 35 each; Tries: Andy Marks 7
Preview: 2024 was one of the best for St. Mary’s College in recent times, earning promotion back to Division 1A and putting together a six-match unbeaten run before Christmas to sit at the top of the table. The last of those results was a well-judged 32-26 victory away to Lansdowne.
Seventh-placed Lansdowne have since lifting the Energia Bateman Cup, with their captain Jack Cooke saying: “It was a solid performance against Instonians last week. Probably parts where we weren’t as good as we wanted to be, but winning any silverware is always a confidence booster.”
Former Ulster forward Greg Jones is a key lineout operator for St. Mary’s with 54 lineout takes so far, and a division-high nine steals. Leinster’s Charlie Tector and Cormac Foley lead the Lansdowne back-line, with Academy flanker Liam Molony making a return in the back row.
Recent League Meetings – Friday, February 16, 2018: Lansdowne 16 St. Mary’s College 9, Aviva Stadium back pitch; Friday, December 13, 2024: Lansdowne 26 St. Mary’s College 32, Aviva Stadium back pitch
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: St. Mary’s College to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: UCD: LLLWLWLLL; Cork Constitution: LWWLLWDWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UCD: Points: James Tarrant 48; Tries: Bobby Sheehan, Ruben Moloney 4 each; Cork Constitution: James Taylor 54; Tries: Scott Buckley 5
Preview: UCD welcome back Michael Moloney from a lengthy injury for the visit of reigning champions Cork Constitution. Only five points separated the teams on Leeside four weeks ago, so Moloney’s inclusion at out-half could prove vital for the second-from-bottom students.
Diarmuid Mangan, a try scorer from number 8 the last day, is joined in the UCD starting XV by his Leinster Academy colleagues, Ben Brownlee, Rory McGuire, and Conor O’Tighearnaigh. Young prop Andrew Sparrow is on the bench.
Sean French switches to a centre role for Cork Con, lining out alongside Ireland Under-20 prospect Eoghan Smyth. George Coomber and Aidan Moynihan are the other back-line changes, while Charlie Connolly and Munster Academy hooker Danny Sheahan, who bagged the brace during the last round, come into the front row.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, January 20, 2024: UCD 24 Cork Constitution 34, UCD Bowl; Saturday, December 14, 2024: Cork Constitution 38 UCD 33, Temple Hill
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Cork Constitution to win
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