#EnergiaAIL Men’s Divisions 1A & 1B: Round 5 Previews

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE MEN’S DIVISION 1A – ROUND 5:

Saturday, October 26

Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –

BALLYNAHINCH (3rd) v GARRYOWEN (8th), Ballymacarn Park (live on irishrugby+)

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Ballynahinch: WLWW; Garryowen: WLLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ballynahinch: Points: Conor Rankin 20; Tries: Claytan Milligan 3; Garryowen: Points: Kelvin Langan 23; Tries: Gordon Wood 3

Preview: Four wins across the first five rounds would be quite the statement from Ballynahinch, who finished fifth in the table the last two years. Recent Emerging Ireland debutant Ward, an Ulster triallist, will start on the left wing, with flanker Declan Horrox their other change.

Returning from their respective shoulder and leg injuries, Munster duo Gleeson and Diarmuid Kilgallen will both start for Garryowen. For their first trip north to face ‘Hinch since January 2023, the Light Blues also bring in Jack Delaney, Jack Oliver, and prop Mikey Veale.

Claytan Milligan and Gordon Wood, Garryowen’s vice-captain tomorrow, both touched down during the last round to take their try tallies to three so far. Interestingly, both Ward and Cormac Izuchukwu were try scorers when ‘Hinch defeated Garryowen 24-7 in the sides’ last clash.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 3, 2022: Garryowen 10 Ballynahinch 28, Dooradoyle; Saturday, January 21, 2023: Ballynahinch 24 Garryowen 7, Newforge Sports Complex

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Ballynahinch to win

CORK CONSTITUTION (7th) v CLONTARF (1st), Temple Hill

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Cork Constitution: LWWL; Clontarf: WWWL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Cork Constitution: Points: James Taylor 29; Tries: Scott Buckley 3; Clontarf: Points: Conor Kelly 30; Tries: Dylan Donnellan 3

Preview: It is rare that Cork Constitution and Clontarf both lose in the same round. Now they have an immediate chance to right the wrongs of last Saturday afternoon, and 20-year-old Munster Academy hooker Danny Sheahan is one of three changes for defending champions Cork Con.

Killian Coghlan and Sean Duffy also step in for Billy Crowley and Eoin Quilter respectively. Con most recently played Clontarf in last April’s semi-final where Duffy’s second row partner, John Forde, was among the try scorers in a 40-34 success for Jonny Holland’s men.

Clontarf have been licking their wounds after losing 28-10 at home to Terenure College. Despite their first defeat of the season, ‘Tarf remain top of the table, and will be captained tomorrow by Conor Kelly, their leading points scorer, as Barry Gray takes over at hooker from regular skipper Dylan Donnellan.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, January 27, 2024: Cork Constitution 27 Clontarf 26, Temple Hill; Saturday, April 20, 2024: Semi-Final – Cork Constitution 40 Clontarf 34, Temple Hill

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Cork Constitution to win

TERENURE COLLEGE (2nd) v CITY OF ARMAGH (9th), Lakelands Park

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Terenure College: WLWW; City of Armagh: LLWL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Terenure College: Points: Chris Cosgrave 34; Tries: Henry McErlean 3; City of Armagh: Points: Kyle Faloon 30; Tries: Kyle Faloon 2

Preview: Terenure College did the double over City of Armagh last season, and will fancy their chances of maintaining their current winning form. They will want to limit the influence of goal-kicking full-back Kyle Faloon, who has been Armagh’s scoring star so far with 30 points (including two tries).

Armagh head coach Chris Parker has made some tweaks, with Evin Crummie leading the back-line from out-half, and Niall Carville and Barry Finn both selected up front. UCD pipped them 25-22 in a close finish last week, with a 74th-minute penalty try proving crucial.

Leinster Academy half-backs Caspar Gabriel (19) and Fintan Gunne (21) team up together for Terenure, who also give a start to Leinster-capped prop Marcus Hanan. Versatile back Chris Cosgrave, lining out at outside centre, starred against Clontarf with a try and 13 points via the tee.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 9, 2023: Terenure College 29 City of Armagh 17, Lakelands Park; Saturday, January 20, 2024: City of Armagh 13 Terenure College 37, Palace Grounds

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Terenure College to win

UCD (10th) v ST. MARY’S COLLEGE (4th), UCD Bowl

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: UCD: LLLW; St. Mary’s College: LWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UCD: Points: James Tarrant 15; Tries: Ruben Moloney 2; St. Mary’s College: Points: Mick O’Gara 28; Tries: Conor Dean, Leandro Ramirez 2 each

Preview: Diarmuid Mangan will be aiming to show his ball-carrying prowess off the base of the UCD scrum, as one of a number of Leinster Academy players on duty in Belfield tomorrow. The students’ only other change sees Evan Moynihan join Ben Brownlee in midfield.

Emmet MacMahon’s youngsters opened their win account in Armagh, and have the likes of Rory McGuire, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, and Alan Spicer starting again in the pack. St. Mary’s College are making a habit of being in games that go right down to the wire, and are certainly battle-hardened.

Mary’s returned to winning ways by edging out Garryowen in a six-try shootout last week, and for their first All-Ireland League tussle with UCD since 2018, they have captain Ronan Watters back from suspension. Jack Reidy Walsh starts at loosehead, with Tom O’Reilly shifting across to tighthead.

Recent League Meetings – Friday, October 6, 2017: UCD 22 St. Mary’s College 23, UCD Bowl; Monday, March 19, 2018: St. Mary’s College 7 UCD 23, Templeville Road

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: St. Mary’s College to win

YOUNG MUNSTER (6th) v LANSDOWNE (5th), Tom Clifford Park

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Young Munster: WWLL; Lansdowne: LWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Young Munster: Points: Julian Leszczynski 33; Tries: Shay McCarthy, Stephen McLoughlin 2 each; Lansdowne: Points: Charlie Tector 22; Tries: Andy Marks 3

Preview: Teenage scrum half Jack O’Riordan will start for Young Munster as they lock horns with Lansdowne for the first time since the final round of last season. The headquarters club won 29-22 in very windy conditions in Greenfields back then, outscoring the hosts by five tries to four.

Munster Academy youngster O’Riordan links up with Tony Butler at half-back for the Cookies, who also slot in Peter Meyer at loosehead prop. There are no Charlie Tector or Cormac Foley this week for Lansdowne, as both are on the bench for Leinster against the Emirates Lions.

Tector shone against Cork Con, racking up 22 points, and his place at out-half has gone to Steve McMahon who is partnered at half-back at James Kenny. Sean Galvin is back from injury to line out on the left wing, and Leinster Academy flanker Liam Molony (20) has been added to the bench.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, October 7, 2023: Lansdowne 29 Young Munster 14, Aviva Stadium back pitch; Saturday, April 6, 2024: Young Munster 22 Lansdowne 29, Tom Clifford Park

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Young Munster to win

The top four teams in Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1B are all on the road ahead of the Halloween break. After handing Nenagh Ormond their first defeat of the season, leaders Old Belvedere have the shortest journey of the lot to play neighbours Old Wesley.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE MEN’S DIVISION 1B – ROUND 5:

Saturday, October 26

Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –

HIGHFIELD (8th) v NENAGH ORMOND (3rd), Woodleigh Park

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Highfield: WLLL; Nenagh Ormond: WWDL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Highfield: Points: Shane O’Riordan 27; Tries: Travis Coomey 3; Nenagh Ormond: Points: Conor McMahon 41; Tries: Angus Blackmore 3

Preview: Highfield are back home for a big Munster derby, eager to banish memories of a trio of losing performances. They lost their grip on an eight-point lead during the final quarter against Dublin University, and three second half tries were not enough away to Blackrock College.

Captain and top try scorer Travis Coomey (3 tries) is a notable absentee for Highfield, with Rob Murphy replacing him at hooker. Dave O’Connell, Mark McLoughlin, and Richard Cassidy complete the Cork side’s changes in personnel.

Nenagh Ormond’s unbeaten start to life in the second tier was ended by Old Belvedere. as Sam Wisniewski denied them with a last-gasp penalty. Josh Rowland and Patrick Scully return to Nenagh’s back-three, Ben Pope switches to out-half, and John Brislane joins a beefy pack at number 8.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 8, 2018: Nenagh Ormond 17 Highfield 36, New Ormond Park; Saturday, January 26, 2019: Highfield 40 Nenagh Ormond 22, Woodleigh Park

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Nenagh Ormond to win

NAAS (5th) v UCC (2nd), Forenaughts

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Naas: LWWL; UCC: LWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Naas: Points: Peter Osborne 46; Tries: Charlie Sheridan, Cormac King, Jack Sheridan, Paddy Taylor 2 each; UCC: Points: Daniel Squires 51; Tries: Adam Wrona, Sean Condon 3 each

Preview: UCC are certainly on a roll, arriving at Forenaughts having put together an eye-catching hat-trick of bonus point victories. The latest of them was a six-try dismissal of Shannon, and Tomás O’Leary’s charges now rank as the second highest points scorers in the division.

Naas were held to just one second half try by Old Wesley last Saturday, and fell to fifth place as a result. This encounter brings together the two current top scorers, with UCC centre Daniel Squires (51 points) and Naas’ Peter Osborne (46) kicking 39 out of 43 place-kicks between them.

Props Conor Doyle and Kaleem Niazi, and number 8 Darragh Murphy, are added to the Naas pack for the visit of the Cork students. Rory O’Shaughnessy, a try scorer against Shannon last week, is UCC’s only change. Munster Academy back rower Sean Edogbo is also set to start.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 9, 2023: UCC 29 Naas 38, the Mardyke; Saturday, January 20, 2024: Naas 36 UCC 24, Forenaughts

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Naas to win

OLD WESLEY (6th) v OLD BELVEDERE (1st), Energia Park

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Old Wesley: WLDW; Old Belvedere: WWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Old Wesley: Points: Ian Cassidy 38; Tries: Cathal Kelly, Paidi Farrell 2 each; Old Belvedere: Points: Sam Wisniewski 45; Tries: Calum Dowling 5

Preview: The away team prevailed in both fixtures last season, with Old Belvedere winning the corresponding one by the minimum margin before Christmas. They came from nine points down to take the local derby spoils thanks to a closing penalty from out-half David Wilkinson.

Unbeaten in the last two rounds as they climbed back up to sixth in the table, Old Wesley have had two tries in as many games from Paidi Farrell, their new 19-year-old back-three flyer. Both of these sides have pace to burn in the outside channels.

Look no further than Old Belvedere wingers Jack Keating and Andre Ryan who have scored four tries each so far this season. The league leaders have certainly been piling on the points, averaging 38 points per match with hooker and captain Calum Dowling crossing five times already.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 16, 2023: Old Wesley 9 Old Belvedere 10, Energia Park; Saturday, January 13, 2024: Old Belvedere 3 Old Wesley 20, Ollie Campbell Park

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Old Belvedere to win

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY (10th) v BLACKROCK COLLEGE (4th), Dub Lane

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Queen’s University: WLLL; Blackrock College: LLWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Queen’s University: Points: Jack Murphy 20; Tries: Henry Walker, Jack Murphy, Ryan Street 2 each; Blackrock College: Points: Conor O’Shaughnessy 42; Tries: Ciaran Mangan 4

Preview: Ireland Under-20 international Wilhelm de Klerk is back to full fitness and ready to make his Queen’s University debut tomorrow. The Ulster Academy centre pairs up with Callum Florence in midfield, and there are also starts for Dan Green, Jack Boal, and Paddy McAlpine.

Jack Murphy, another of the Ulster Academy contingent, leads the students’ back-line again, alongside Ulster scrum half Michael McDonald. Queen’s are on a three-match losing run, and a repeat of last March’s 36-14 win over Blackrock College would come at an ideal time.

However, Blackrock seem in much better fettle of late, having beaten table toppers Old Belvedere and Highfield to move up to fourth place. Chris Rolland and Joe Byrne are promoted from the bench, while Ross Barron returns at half-back alongside talented teenager Conor O’Shaughnessy (42 points).

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, November 4, 2023: Blackrock College 17 Queen’s University 7, Stradbrook; Saturday, March 2, 2024: Queen’s University 36 Blackrock College 14, Dub Lane

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Blackrock College to win

SHANNON (9th) v DUBLIN UNIVERSITY (7th), Thomond Park back pitch

Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Shannon: LWLL; Dublin University: LLWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Shannon: Points: John O’Sullivan 23; Tries: Adam Moloney 2; Dublin University: Points: Oscar Cawley 15; Tries: Oscar Cawley 3

Preview: Evin Crowe’s reward for his try-scoring appearance against UCC is a start at scrum half, as Shannon bid to bounce back from successive defeats. It has not been the start that the Limerick men craved, but they are still only five points off Blackrock, in the last of the play-off positions.

Conor Glynn, their top try scorer Adam Moloney (2 tries), Ciaran Vaughan, and Luke Moylan all return to Shannon’s starting pack. Dublin University have found their way back to the winning trail in the last fortnight, overcoming Highfield and Queen’s by a combined nine points.

Canadian recruit Tom Davidson comes in at lock for Trinity, making his first All-Ireland League start. Cuan Doyle switches to blindside flanker and Kevin Jackson will pack down at number 8, as Tony Smeeth’s students look to reverse last December’s one-point loss on Shannonside.

Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 9, 2023: Shannon 14 Dublin University 13, Thomond Park back pitch; Saturday, January 20, 2024: Dublin University 38 Shannon 9, College Park

IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Dublin University to win

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