All Ireland League Preview Saturday 7th December 2013 by George Millar
With the Xmas break coming up after week eight of the AIL for Division 1A and 1B and week seven for 2A and 2B league programme this weekend. League action will resume for clubs in Division 1A and 1B on Saturday the 4th January 2014 with the clubs in Division 2A and 2B resuming their programme on the 11th January before a further break until the 25th January. Their was the opportunity to review the progress the twelve Ulster clubs had made this season. Ulster’s top club Ballynahinch are in nineth place in Division 1A . In Division 1B Belfast Harlequins are in fifth place along with Dungannon in eighth and Malone in nineth place. In Division 2A Derry are in first place with Ballymena in second and Queens Univ in third place. Rainey have slipped down to eighth and Banbridge are in fourteenth place. In Division 2B Armagh have slipped down to fifth with Ards in eighth and Instonians in twelfth place. With the All Ireland league inaugurated in 1991 how have the Ulster clubs performed. Seventeen All Ireland Division One titles have been won by Munster clubs out of twenty three titles. Ulster’s only title winners were Dungannon who won in 2000/1 and Ballymena in 2002/3. In recent seasons the last three titles have been won by Leinster clubs, Lansdowne, St Mary’s and Old Belvedere. In Division 1A the current league leaders are Leinster club Clontarf followed by Old Belvedere, UCD and Lansdowne who occupy the top four places. It is clear in Division 1A and 1B the release of contracted and Academy players in Leinster, Munster and Connacht has strengthened the club sides. Ulster sides Ballynahinch, Belfast Harlequins, Dungannon and Malone do not have the same playing resources in the Ulster squad and Academy available to them to compete with the Leinster clubs. Are the current structures in Ulster rugby supporting the second highest tier of rugby behind the Pro 12 in Ireland. Why are the indigenous players not coming through the current development structures to fill the Academy places in Ulster? We talk about the skills deficit in players. Yet we discuss the transferable skills the GAA players bring to rugby. Why are these same kicking and handling skills not being taught to the boys and girls playing Mini rugby in Ulster and Ireland. Players with good kicking skills are prized assets in club rugby. In Ulster we do not have the political will to promote and build sport into our school curriculum in primary schools. Are the Governing bodies of Sport in Northern Ireland doing enough to lobby our politicians. If the Primary Schools are not going to facilitate Sport. Where are the future rugby players going to come from? Despite the success of our Qualifying leagues neither Portadown or Clogher Valley have been successful in securing a place in the All Ireland league. Leinster currently have twenty clubs competing in the All Ireland league. Do we need to set up a committee to to review current playing club structures in Ulster. The Northern Ireland Football league have set up a committee chaired by Peter Dornan to review their current structures in Northern Ireland. I have noticed on my travels down South that referees and their assistants are ‘miked’ up with a microphone and earpiece at AIL matches. In Ulster I dont see referees and their assistants’miked’ up. With the officials’ miked’ up there is alot more communication between them during a game. In Ulster games the Ulster assistant referees use their flag to communicate with the referee. Should there not be a policy that all officials in the AIL are equipped with proper communications. With Heineken Cup and British & Irish Cup fixtures this weekend there will be fewer players released by the provinces to the clubs this week in the AIL.
Division 1A
Ballynahinch v Clontarf
Lansdowne v Dolphin
Old Belvedere v Garryowen
St Mary’s v Cork Constitution
Young Munster v UCD
Ballymacarn Park will welcome league leaders Clontarf to County Down for a fixture Derek Sufferin and his players will be looking forward to this weekend. Hinch Captain Stuart Morrow will have the opportunity to meet up with his Club Ireland xv centre partner Killian Lett from Clontarf. The Dublin side have provided the second rows for the Club xv in Simon Crawford and their Captain Ben Reilly in recent seasons along with scrum half Sean Cronin. In Leinster and Munster Academy players Colm O’Shea, Bryan Byrne, Tadhg Furlong and Barry O’Mahoney they have depth in their playing squad. With Paddy McAllister on the injured list the Hinch will be hoping they dont lose their front row of Kyle McCall, Jonny Murphy amd Michael Cromie to the Ulster Ravens along with David McIIwaine. With their seconds having a free weekend after qualifying for the Junior Cup final on the 17th December the 1st xv may call on some of their playing resources to strengthen the 1st xv squad this weekend. Hinch may sit second from the bottom of the league but have secured five losing bonus points from their seven games. A win this weekend will build momentum for their Senior Cup Final at Ravenhill on Wednesday the 11th December against Queens Univ.
Division 1B
Belfast Harlequins v Corinthians
Dublin Uni v Blackrock College
Malone v Shannon
Terenure v Dungannon
UL Bohemians v Buccaneers
Belfast Harlequins v Corinthians
Quins were unlucky not to secure a fourth win in a row against Shannon in Limerick last weekend: losing out to an fourth minute injury time try to lose 13 – 9. Coach Adam Larkin and Captain Neil Simpson will be pleased this performance was achieved without any of their Ulster players against a side that contained several Munster contracted and Academy players. Third place Corinthians will be looking to bounce back from 57 – 10 home defeat to league leaders Terenure College last weekend. Half Backs Josh Fullerton and Liam Cambridge along with centre Mark Best have key roles to play for the Deramore side on Saturday. Corinthians will have Connacht Academy players Marcus Walsh, David Panter,Eoghan Masterson, Ultan Dillane, James Connolly and Finlay Bealham to call on.
Malone v Shannon
The Cregagh road side welcome nine times All Ireland League champions Shannon to Gibson Park on Saturday for another crucial All Ireland league game. Coach Jacque Benade and Captain Neil Alcorn were left devastated by the narrow 22 – 20 lost at Trinity last Saturday. This was the fourth game in a row Malone led at half time and yet ended up losing. The young squad minus their Ulster players were left exhausted at the final whistle as they gave everything, only for a stubborn students defence to keep them out. The lost of Ulster under 20 number 8 Ben Alexander to a shoulder injury in the first minute was a big blow to the side. Ulster under 20 prop Ross Kane put in another impressive performance for the team along with young half backs Michael Rainey and Rob Haldane. The Shannon side have included Munster contract players Luke O’Dea and Duncan Casey along with Academy players Gearoid Lyons, Patrick kearns, Niall Horan, Comor Glynn, Aidan Butler and Sean McGee in their side this season. Ireland Club xv centre Richie Mullane again adds strength to the backline. Malone will need the same effort they put in against the students to win this game.
Terenure v Dungannon
The Stevenson Park side face the inform Dublin side who recorded an impressive 57 – 10 win away to third place Corinthians last weekend. With all the Ulster players Peter Nelson, Chris Cochrane, Chris Farrell, Stewart McCloskey and Sean Doyle likely to be involved with the two Ulster sides this week, Coach Paddy Johns has a difficult task ahead of him this weekend. He will be delighted that Michael Dunleavy has returned to playing after being out injured. Captain James Bates will need all his experience for the Tyrone side to get any points from this match.
Division 2A
Ballymena v Bruff
Banbridge v Rainey
Cashel v Seapoint
Galwegians v Old Crescent
Highfield v Barnhall
Naas v Bective
Queens v City of Derry
UCC v Old Wesley
Ballymena v Bruff
After their surprise home defeat to Banbridge two weeks ago, Ballymena had to dig deep to record a narrow 18 – 14 win at Naas last Saturday. They will not want to slip up against Munster side Bruff who sit bottom of the league with no wins. Rainey struggled to beat the Limerick side 10 – 9 at home in the AIL. Full back Timothy Small continues to kick crucial points for his side. Due to Ulster commitments Ballymena will not have Ricky Andrews or scrum half David Shanahan available.
Banbridge v Rainey.
Bann coach Daniel Soper will look for another strong performance from their forwards against the Magherfelt side. Their front row of James McCrum, Jonny Weir, and Stuart Cromie will come up against Neil O’Kane, George Fritz and Stephen Rutledge who have been ever present for Rainey this season. The battle between the out halfs Adam Doherty for Bann and Gavin Martin for Rainey will decide the outcome of this match. Rainey suffered a surprise home defeat to Cashel 19 – 15 last Saturday. After two successive defeats they will not want to lose this game. Banbridge need a win to move away from the relegation zone.
Queens v City of Derry
The students have two crucial games coming up in the next five days as they also contest the Senior Cup Final against Ballynahinch at Ravenhill on Wednesday the 11th December. Undefeated Derry will want to maintain their title challenge as they push for promotion to AIL 1B. The students after two successive defeats against Ballymena and Galwegians have secured two wins over Naas and Bective to move back into contention in third place. A win is also important for the Students if they are to maintain their push for promotion. Queens did record a 50 – 15 win over Derry in an Ulster Senior League game four weeks ago. Injuries have proved problematic for Derry coaches Mark Nicholl and Ashley Blair in recent weeks. Despite these set backs they have earned wins over Old Crescent and Bruff. Young out half Neil Burns has had to step in and replace the injured Richard McCarter in recent weeks and kicked nineteen points against Bruff. Queens have so much playing talent at their disposal with winger Damon Hall adding another two tries against Bective last Saturday. Fascinating contest.
Division 2B
DLSP v Suttonians. Played Friday 29.11.13. KO 7.30PM
Nenagh Ormond v Richmond. Played Friday 29.11.13 KO 7.30PM
Ards V Tullamore
Armagh v Sligo
Boyne v Navan
Greystones v Skerries
Midleton v Sundays Well
Thomond v Instonians
Ards V Tullamore
The Hamilton Park faithful will be asking questions, what has happened to a team that impressed with three wins from their opening four games. The wheels have come off with two successive defeats at home to Sligo 30 – 0 and away to Instonians 36 – 6 last Friday. Having watched the Instonians game Ards were totally out played by the Inst side who scored five tries. Coach Stewart Porter will know they need to start picking up points. After a bright start newly promoted Tullamore have slipped down the table. Ards have the experience in their playing personnel but failed to exploit their strength in the forwards.
Armagh v Sligo
It was a confident Armagh team that travelled to Navan last Saturday. Despite scoring four tries they conceded eight late points to lose by 32 – 24. Coach Andy Hughes will be disappointed with two consecutive defeats on the road. His team remain undefeated at home and will be stretched by a Sligo team coming off back to back wins.
Instonians v Thomond.
Thomond have moved into third place after an impressive 27 – 14 win at Boyne last Saturday. Twelfth place does not do justice to the Instonians side who have lost several games by one score. Their five try victory over Ards was built on a solid performanc by their forwards with No 8 Andy McKeen scoring two tries. Strong running winger Matthew Kilpatrick scored two tries last Friday and represents a real threat to opposing defences. Coach Wiliam Leacock looks to have found an exciting combination of Matthew Keane and Richard McCarthy at nine and ten. Thomond will be favourites but Inst pushed league leaders Nenagh all the way down in Munster two weeks ago.
