Ireland Club XV scrum half Lewis Finlay will start for City of Armagh against Ulster rivals Ballynahinch ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
The Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1A regular season comes to a fascinating climax with a top of the table clash, a repeat of last year’s final, and the last twists and turns in the battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot.
Saturday, April 5
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: City of Armagh: LLWLWLWLLLWLWLLLL; Ballynahinch: WLWWWWWLLDLWLWWLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – City of Armagh: Points: Kyle Faloon 93; Tries: Sam Cunningham 8; Ballynahinch: Points: Conor Rankin 96; Tries: Claytan Milligan 8
Preview: Well beaten by St. Mary’s College last week, City of Armagh still have their destiny in their own hands as they aim to finish out of the bottom two for the second year running. They hold a two-point advantage over UCD ahead of this final round Ulster derby against Ballynahinch.
Evin Crummie makes a welcome return for Armagh at out-half, winning his 100th All-Ireland League cap after a lengthy injury-enforced absence. A rejigged back-line sees Rocky Olsen revert to full-back, and the versatile Andrew Willis switches to openside flanker in the only change up front.
Fifth place finishers the last two seasons, Ballynahinch could end up occupying that position again after their play-off hopes were ended by Cork Constitution last Saturday. Young winger Rory Fulton will start for ‘Hinch, with forwards John Dickson, Ronan McCusker, and Zack McCall completing the changes.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, January 13, 2024: Ballynahinch 36 City of Armagh 12, Ballymacarn Park; Saturday, September 21, 2024: Ballynahinch 7 City of Armagh 0, Ballymacarn Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: City of Armagh to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Clontarf: WWWLWWLWWWWLWWWWL; St. Mary’s College: LWLWWWDWWLWLLWWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Clontarf: Points: Conor Kelly 180; Tries: Dylan Donnellan 13; St. Mary’s College: Points: Conor Hayes 152; Tries: Mark Fogarty 14
Preview: Clontarf need a result here to be certain of home advantage in the semi-finals in two weeks’ time. Ivan Soroka and Hugh Cooney return from Leinster’s South Africa tour, starting in the front row and at centre respectively, while winger Seni Reilly Ashiru also slots back in.
Clontarf out-half Conor Kelly (180 points) is well out in front as the top flight’s leading points scorer so far this season. His closest rival is his Ireland Club XV team-mate, St. Mary’s College full-back Conor Hayes (152), who will not be involved in this match.
St. Mary’s, who are assured of a top two finish, are resting a number of players, including the division’s top try scorer Mark Fogarty (14 tries), for this final round trip across the River Liffey. The table toppers make seven changes in personnel, and hand a start to Connacht scrum half Colm Reilly.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, April 7, 2018: St. Mary’s College 30 Clontarf 45, Templeville Road; Saturday, September 21, 2024: St. Mary’s College 27 Clontarf 31, Templeville Road
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Clontarf to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Cork Constitution: LWWLLWDWWWWWWLLWW; Terenure College: WLWWLLWWWDWWWLLLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Cork Constitution: Points: James Taylor 114; Tries: Sean French, Jack Kelleher 7 each; Terenure College: Points: Chris Cosgrave 83; Tries: Jordan Coghlan 8
Preview: Terenure College dropped out of the title race through a combination of loss of form and players, including former captain Harrison Brewer and top scorer Chris Cosgrave who are both now playing in Japan. Four defeats in a row mean the highest they can finish is fifth.
Youngsters Caspar Gabriel and Chris O’Connor lead a Terenure back-line which has Henry McErlean, a try scorer for Leinster in Durban last week, in the back-three. Defending champions Cork Constitution could yet finish in second place or fourth in the play-off shake-up.
Centre Bruce Matthews and flanker Ronán O’Sullivan are Con’s two personnel changes to the team that won 28-5 at Ballynahinch. Sean Duffy switches to the second row, and Eoin Quilter drops back to a bench which also features former Ireland Under-20 flanker Jacob Sheahan.
Recent League Meetings – Sunday, April 28, 2024: Final – Terenure College 22 Cork Constitution 33, Aviva Stadium; Saturday, September 21, 2024: Terenure College 25 Cork Constitution 15, Lakelands Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Cork Constitution to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Lansdowne: LWLWLLWWLWWLWWWWW; Garryowen: WLLLLLLLLLLLLLLWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Lansdowne: Points: Stephen Madigan 98; Tries: Andy Marks 11; Garryowen: Points: Dylan Hicks 53; Tries: Gordon Wood 5
Preview: Garryowen’s race is run despite putting together back-to-back wins in their last two outings. They erased an 18-7 deficit against Clontarf last week, prevailing by a single point in the end thanks to Gordon Wood’s second try, and a crucial late effort from replacement Mikey Veale.
Provincial players Oisin McCormack and Brian Gleeson are set to start in the back row for the Light Blues, who will be back playing Division 1B rugby next season. Their final round hosts, Lansdowne, have qualified for the semi-finals for the third time in four years.
As things stand, Lansdowne, who lost 29-27 to Garryowen back in September’s opening round, would be away to St. Mary’s in the play-offs. They could yet finish higher up the table though, and Leinster scrum half Cormac Foley comes in as one of 11 personnel changes made by head coach Declan Fassbender.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, January 28, 2023: Garryowen 21 Lansdowne 17, Dooradoyle; Saturday, September 21, 2024: Garryowen 29 Lansdowne 27, Dooradoyle
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Lansdowne to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Young Munster: WWLLWLLLWWLLWLLLW; UCD: LLLWLWLLLLLLWLWLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Young Munster: Points: Julian Leszczynski 117; Tries: Stephen McLoughlin 8; UCD: Points: James Tarrant 64; Tries: Bobby Sheehan 10
Preview: UCD will field a strong starting XV in Greenfields as they try to squeeze themselves out of relegation trouble. They will have to navigate their way through the play-offs with Division 1B opposition, unless they can beat Young Munster and pip Armagh to an eighth place finish.
Alan Spicer, a Leinster debutant last week against the Hollywoodbets Sharks, is one of eight personnel changes for UCD. Andrew Osborne, Diarmuid Mangan, and Rory McGuire, who all played in Durban too, are back on duty with the students, along with provincial colleague James Culhane.
Young Munster are out of the running for the play-offs but will want to finish the campaign with a win on home turf. Donnchadh O’Callaghan and James Horrigan will both start, along with the Munster contingent of Patrick Campbell, Fionn Gibbons, Shay McCarthy, and Evan O’Connell.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 17, 2024: Young Munster 31 UCD 24, Tom Clifford Park; Saturday, September 21, 2024: UCD 22 Young Munster 24, UCD Bowl
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: UCD to win
It is a massive day for relegation-threatened Shannon as they bid to hold onto their Division 1B status ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
The top two finishers in Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1B are confirmed, so the focus is on the three teams just below them who are hoping to book a play-off place. At the other end, Shannon have taken their fight against relegation to the final day.
Saturday, April 5
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Blackrock College:LLWWLWWWLWLWWWLWL; Old Wesley: WLDWLWWWLWWLWLLLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Blackrock College: Points: Conor O’Shaughnessy 134; Tries: Barry Galvin 10; Old Wesley: Points: Ian Cassidy 150; Tries: Paidi Farrell 10
Preview: Third place is up for grabs as south Dublin rivals Blackrock College and Old Wesley face off at Stradbrook. Blackrock have won four of their last six matches to sit third in the table, but Wesley, who beat today’s opponents 29-13 back in September, only trail them by a single point.
UCC, in fifth spot on 48 points, are still hoping to pounce on any slip-ups. Home advantage could tip things in Blackrock’s favour, and they bring Ireland Under-20 international Ciarán Mangan, recent Leinster debutant Oliver Coffey, and Stephen Judge into their starting line-up.
Old Wesley returned to winning ways against bottom side Shannon, running out 34-5 winners at home. Leinster Academy forwards Stephen Smyth and Billy Corrigan will both start for Morgan Lennon’s men, while Andrew Vincent covers the absence of Paidi Farrell on the right wing.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 17, 2024: Blackrock College 7 Old Wesley 40, Stradbrook; Friday, September 20, 2024: Old Wesley 29 Blackrock College 13, Energia Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Blackrock College to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Dublin University: LLWWLWLLWLLWLWLLL; Nenagh Ormond: WWDLWWWWWWLWLWLWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Dublin University: Points: Matty Lynch 83; Tries: Oscar Cawley 7; Nenagh Ormond: Points: Conor McMahon 163; Tries: Dylan Murphy 8
Preview: It all comes down to this game for Dublin University, who are eighth in the standings but could still finish ninth or bottom depending on how results go at College Park, Naas, and Shannon. Trinity have drawn the short straw in having to play high-flying Nenagh Ormond.
Second-placed Nenagh are already through to the play-offs, but all the students can do is focus on themselves. Callum O’Reilly comes in on the left wing for Tony Smeeth’s young side, who suffered relegation from the top flight last year. Davy Colbert, an Ireland U-20 international in 2024, moves to full-back.
Nenagh beat Blackrock last week to seal second place for themselves, and there are some notable changes ahead of the April 19 play-offs. Player-coach Derek Corcoran steps in at out-half, with Ben Pope switching to full-back, and the pack contains Sean Frawley, Rob Buckley, and Evan Murphy.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, September 21, 2024: Nenagh Ormond 27 Dublin University 3, New Ormond Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Dublin University to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Naas: LWWLWLLLLLWLWLWLL; Highfield: WLLLLLLLWWLWLLWWL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Naas: Points: Peter Osborne 125; Tries: Jack Sheridan 10; Highfield: Points: Shane O’Riordan 104; Tries: Travis Coomey 7
Preview: A season that started so strongly for Naas, with three wins in their first five outings, has unfortunately petered out. Losing to Shannon and Queen’s University in the last two rounds has left the Cobras out of the promotion race, but visitors Highfield have everything to play for.
The Corkmen are second-from-bottom coming into the final round, and are targeting are third victory in four games. Heavily beaten by UCC last Saturday, Ben Murphy, Niall Downing, and Miah Cronin are bumped up from the Highfield bench for this all-important trip to Forenaughts.
Charlie Sheridan will make his 50th All-Ireland League appearance for Naas, who have added Derry Lenehan to their back-three, and Conor Doyle, Eoin Walsh, and Muiris Cleary to their pack. Ever-reliable full-back Peter Osborne is their top scorer this season with 125 points.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, January 13, 2024: Highfield 50 Naas 12, Woodleigh Park; Saturday, September 21, 2024: Highfield 19 Naas 17, Woodleigh Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Naas to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Shannon: LWLLWLLLLLLLLLWWL; Queen’s University: WLLLWLLWWLWLWLWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Shannon: Points: John O’Sullivan 67; Tries: Oisin Minogue 4; Queen’s University: Points: Jack Murphy 65; Tries: Josh Stevens 8
Preview: It is D-day in Division 1B’s race for survival, and Shannon, the team closest to the relegation trap door, need to do the business at home to Queen’s University, and hope that it is enough to overhaul either or both of Highfield and Dublin University. Five points is the difference ahead of kick-off.
Shannon have been boosted by the timely return from injury of Ireland U-20 international Luke Murphy for these closing rounds. Kelvin Brown features in the back row to face Queen’s, while Cillian Corkery, Luke Doyle, and loosehead prop Conor Glynn also get the nod to start.
Queen’s are set for a mid-table finish but have been motoring well in the spring with three wins in the last five rounds. The students will be without a number of players for this trip to Limerick, so their squad depth will be tested as they look to complete a season’s double over Shannon.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, September 21, 2024: Queen’s University 19 Shannon 13, Dub Lane
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Shannon to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: UCC: LWWWLLWLLLWLLWLWW; Old Belvedere: WWLWWWWWWWWWWWWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UCC: Points: Daniel Squires 114; Tries: Sean Condon 12; Old Belvedere: Points: Sam Wisniewski 115; Tries: Calum Dowling 16
Preview: UCC’s play-off ambitions rest on this final round encounter with newly-crowned champions Old Belvedere. They are hoping to leapfrog their way into the top four with a third win on the trot, having edged out Queen’s before handing Highfield a big beating last Saturday.
Munster Academy full-back Ben O’Connor comes in as UCC’s only change, while Sean Edogbo and Michael Foy, a current Ireland U-20 international, featuring in a high-quality back row. None of those three players were involved in the students’ 43-17 September defeat to Old Belvedere.
There are some notable names missing from the Belvedere team, including their captain and top try scorer Calum Dowling. Jack Dunne, Barry Dooley, David Dowse, and Will McDonald are all promoted from the bench, and there are starts in the back-three for Josh O’Connor and Ariel Robles.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 17, 2024: UCC 22 Old Belvedere 21, the Mardyke; Saturday, September 21, 2024: Old Belvedere 43 UCC 17, Ollie Campbell Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: UCC to win
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