Limerick clubs chase precious points as AII-Ireland League resumes

THE second half of the Energia All-Ireland League regular season kicks-off this Saturday afternoon.

Six senior Limerick clubs will return to action across three All-Ireland League Divisions. The weekend games are the reverse fixtures of the previous round of AIL matches.

In Division 1A, fifth-placed Young Munster will look to continue their fine run of form when travelling to Lakelands to face Terenure College. Munsters' produced one of their best performances of the season last time out when ending Terenure's unbeaten start to the season when recording an impressive 24-18 success at Clifford Park last month.

Gearoid Prendergast's Munsters' side trail fourth-placed Cork Constitution by just four points in the battle to secure a semi-final play-off spot.

This Saturday's game between Munsters' are Terenure College doubles up as a Bateman Cup semi-final fixture.

Meanwhile, also in Division 1A, Shannon, on the back of their impressive 41-31 victory over Lansdowne last time out, host the Dubliners in a crucial return fixture at Coonagh on Saturday, 2.30pm.

Shannon currently sit in eighth place in the Division 1A table, top points clear of the relegation play-off position. Saturday's visitors to Coonagh, Lansdowne, are just two points behind the Parish side in the table, so this is a key fixture in the relegation battle.

Following this Saturday's game. Shannon's next outing will be a Saturday, January 21 meeting with local rivals Young Munster at Clifford Park. Kick-off 5pm.

In the final game involving a Limerick club in Division 1A next weekend, relegation-threatened Garryowen, host second-placed Clontarf at Dooradoyle on saturday, 2pm.

Garryowen failed to win a single fixture through the opening half of the regular season. The Light Blues sit bottom of the 1A table, 13 points behind second-from-bottom placed Lansdowne and 15 points adrift of eighth-placed Shannon with nine games to go in the regular season.

Meanwhile, in Division 2A, Old Crescent will look to complete a home and away double over Dolphin in the league when hosting the Cork side at Takumi Park on Saturday, 2.30pm. Seventh-placed Crescent edged past Dolphin 31-28 in their first league meeting of the season at Musgrave Park last month.

Also in 2A, UL-Bohemian, fresh from their first win of the campaign against MU Barnhall on Saturday last, face the return fixture against the Co Kildare side at Parsonstown on Saturday at 2.30pm. UL-Bohs are bottom of the 2A table, but now just two points behind ninth-placed Dolphin.

In Division 2C, fifth-placed Bruff will also be looking to complete a league double when hosting Midleton at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday, 2.30pm. Promotion play-off chasing Bruff defeated Midleton 24-20 at Towns Park on Saturday last.