Top flight Limerick derby tops bill of fare in crunch All-Ireland League fixtures

A BIG Limerick derby in Division 1A on Easter Sunday at Thomond Park at 5pm is the highlight of the Round 17 fixtures in the energia All-Ireland League this weekend.

Ninth-placed Shannon will be hoping to boost their top flight survival hopes when squaring up to local rivals Young Munster on the main pitch at Thomond Park this Sunday afternoon.

Shannon's hopes of pulling clear of the relegation zone were dented with a 36-26 defeat to fellow strugglers City of Armagh at the Palace Grounds last weekend.

Shannon remain in the relegation play-off position in the table, four points behind eighth-placed Armagh, but six points clear of basement side Dublin University.

Sixth-placed Young Munster recorded a 26-10 bonus point victory over basement side Dublin University at Clifford Park on Saturday last. However, Munsters’ hopes of reaching the top four play-off places in Division 1A ended earlier in the season.

When Munsters' hosted their Limerick rivals at Clifford Park in October, the Parish side recorded a thumping 35-7 bonus point victory.

Meanwhile, the remaining four AIL games featuring Limerick sides this weekend all take place on Saturday afternoon.

In Division 1B, promotion play-off chasing Garryowen travel to Ollie Campbell Park to take on Old Belvedere.

Garryowen, the recently crowned Munster Senior Cup champions, moved up to third place in the 1B table after the Light Blues recorded an emphatic 55-26 bonus point victory over struggling Queens University Belfast at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

The Dooradoyle side racked up eight tries in all in scoring their emphatic victory over the students.

In Division 2A, promotion play-off chasing Old Crescent host Navan RFC at Takumi Park on Saturday, 2.30pm.

Old Crescent remain strongly in the promotion play-off picture after their precious 22-20 victory over Ballymena at Takumi Park on Saturday. Crescent are in fourth place in the table, two points clear of fifth-placed Banbridge with now just two rounds of regular season fixtures to go.

Also in Division 2 on Saturday, UL-Bohemian make the long trip to Rifle Park to face Banbridge.

UL-Bohemian dropped down to seventh-place in the table following their dramatic 15-17 defeat to Malone at Annacotty last weekend. 

The Red, Red Robins are eight points off the top four places in the battle to secure a promotion play-off spot.

In Division 2C this Saturday, promotion-chasing Bruff travel to Alcast Park to take on Enniscorthy.

Bruff remain in fourth place in the table after suffering a 21-6 defeat to Bangor at Upritchard Park last weekend.
The Kilballyowen side are six points clear of fifth-placed Tullamore in the table.