Limerick clubs hoping for a change of All-Ireland League fortune

LIMERICK’S men’s All-Ireland League (AIL) teams are hoping for better fortunes when they line out in Round 6 this weekend.

The only Limerick team in Division 1A of the competition, Young Munster, are up in Dublin for a high-profile fixture against last season’s champions St Mary’s College.

Mary’s currently sit in fourth place in the table with three wins from their first five games and come into this fixture on the back of a win over Old Wesley last time out.

Ger Slattery’s Young Munster were beaten by 10 points at Tom Clifford Park against Lansdowne in Round 5 and will be hopeful of producing a shock that would move them up the table.

Brock Gallagher, Rob Carney, Oisin Minogue and Ben Whatley got the tries for Young Munster.

In Division 1B, Garryowen make the trip north where they play City of Armagh. The Light Blues come into the game with Armagh on the back of a 43-16 defeat to Blackrock.

Garryowen are currently in ninth place and could do with a win to boost their hopes of staying in the division. Alexander Wood kicked nine points in the defeat to ‘Rock and Eric Cantillon got their try.

In Division 2A, Shannon face a tough task when they play top of the table Cashel in Tipperary. The Parish come into the game after a 24-3 loss to Galway Corinthians. Aran Hehir’s first half penalty accounted for the Shannon points.

Shannon currently occupy eighth place in the table and will be underdogs against a Cashel side that have won four of their five games to date.

UL Bohemian sit one place behind Shannon in the 2A rankings and play the team that prop up the table, Galwegians in Crowley Park on Saturday.

Bohs fell to a 40-24 defeat against Queens University last week with their scores coming from Seamus Branagh, Paul Clancy and Liam O’Shanahan. Cian Casey kicked nine points for the Red Robins.

Bruff will be looking to back up their win over Enniscorthy last time out when they welcome leaders Clonmel to Kilballyowen Park in Division 2B South.

Clem McAuliffe scored twice alongside tries from Wiktor Wilczuk, Andrew O'Byrne and Paul Collins in the win over the Wexford side last time out.

The south Limerick club are fifth in the table after the victory which was their third of the campaign. However, they face a very different animal in a Clonmel outfit that maintain a 100% record heading into the fixture.

Old Crescent lost to the Tipperary side on a 16-5 scoreline last time out. Junior Okafor got the try for the Rosbrien side. The defeat dropped Crescent down to third place.

Crescent will be looking to get back on track when they welcome fellow Limerick side Thomond to Takumi Park on Saturday afternoon.

Thomond come into the Limerick derby on the back of a 29-12 defeat to Bective Rangers at Liam Fitzgerald Park. Colin Slater crossed for both Thomond tries with Evan Cusack adding one conversion.

The Blues are eighth in the Division and could do with a win over their Limerick neighbours to propel themselves up the table.

In Division 1A of the Women’s All-Ireland League, UL Bohs also have a trip to Galway where they play Galwegians.

Bohs sit one place off the top, four points behind leaders Old Belvedere, in the table heading into Round 4 of the competition.

The Annacotty side were comfortable victors last week with a 43-17 win over Wicklow.

Two tries from Ciara O’Dwyer and one each from Claire Bennett and Chisom Uguweru put them well on top in the first half.

Kate Flannery, Aoife Corey and Steph Nunan did the same in the second half. Flannery chipped in with eight points off the kicking tee to secure victory.

Bohs’ game with ‘Wegians is part of a double header with their men’s team in Galway. The women’s game has a 5pm kick-off.