Limerick's senior rugby clubs target crucial All-Ireland League wins

THE second series of fixtures in the energia All-Ireland League take place this Saturday with Limerick sides looking to improve on their haul of three weeks from last weekend.

In Division 1A, both Young Munster and Garryowen will be looking to make it two wins from two following their opening weekend successes.

Young Munster began their campaign with an exciting 24-22 victory over UCD in Belfield. Winger Shay McCarthy secured two of Munsters' tries.

Ger Slattery's charges take on Terenure College at Tom Clifford Park in the top flight this Saturday, 2.30pm. ‘Nure scored an impressive 25-25 victory over All-Ireland League champions Cork Constitution at Lakelands on Saturday last.

Also in Division 1A of the AIL this Saturday, Garryowen will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins when travelling to Castle Avenue to face Clontarf.

The Light Blues marked their return to the league's top flight by scoring a 29-27 bonus point victory over Lansdowne at Dooradoyle.

A late try from Gordon Wood helped secure the win for the Limerick side, after Ronan Quinn, Colm Hogan and George Hadden had earlier dotted down.

In Division 1B, Shannon will be looking to record their first win of the campaign when hosting Old Wesley at Thomond Park.
Shannon, who were relegated from Division 1A at the end of last season, picked up a losing bonus point from their 13-19 defeat away at Queen's University Belast last weekend.

Ireland Under-20 internationals Emmet Calvey and Luke Murphy bookended Shannon’s starting pack, while 22-year-old Munster-capped prop Kieran Ryan also featured.

Old Wesley scored an impressive 29-13 victory over Blackrock College in their opening weekend fixture at Energia Park.
In Division 2A, Old Crescent, who secured two bonus points in their 34-38 defeat to Dolphin at Takumi Park on Saturday last, travel to Balreask Old to take on Navan RFC this weekend.

Timmy Duggan, Werner Hoffman, Casey Tanyi and Yasin Browne scored the Crescent tries on Saturday, while Ronan McKenna kicked 14 points on his 100th AIL appearance for Crescent.

In Division 2B, UL-Bohemian will be looking to make it two wins from two when taking on Skerries at Holmpatrick. The Red, Red Robins who were relegated from 2A at the end of last season, scored an impressive 34-25 bonus point win over Sligo at UL on Saturday, helped by tries from Matt Sheahan, Kean Sheehy, Darren Ferrar and Sean Quirke.

In Division 2C, Bruff, who lost out 15-20 to Dolphin in their opening fixture, travel to Sydney Parade to face Monkstown. Shane Duggan scored a try for Bruff, who were also awarded a penalty try in the Munster derby.

Meanwhile, in the Women's Division of the All-Ireland League, UL-Bohemian travel to Stradbrook to face Blackrock College on Saturday, 5pm, in their opening fixture of the new season.