Rarely if ever have six teams still been in the hunt for play-off places entering the penultimate round of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A, but seldom has there been such an unpredictable and competitive top flight.
Nowhere are the stakes higher than at Ballymacarn Park where the champions Cork Con go into the last two rounds in third place on 52 points but sit only six points ahead of Ballynahinch in sixth.
The home side have Ireland club internationals Conor Rankin, George Pringle, Mark Best and captain Bradley Luney all available, while Conor McKee has been released by Ulster, with Luney moving from 8 to lock.
After three successive defeats and a spate of departures, injuries and Leinster absentees, Terenure, in fifth on 48 points and also in must-win mode, host a dangerous Young Munster side at Lakelands Park.
The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times
Record crowd to see Connacht face Munster a sign of what a little outside-the-box thinking can do
Leinster flip a switch and move away from Six Nations dip
‘We can’t keep trying to dig ourselves out of these holes’: Connacht setting aside URC hurt to focus on Challenge Cup
After losing outhalf Conor McKeon to a broken leg in last week’s defeat on the Aviva back pitch, Aran Egan shifts to 10 and Adam La Grue to 15, and Terenure do welcome back tow familiar faces in centre Peter Sylvester and winger Caolan Dooley for their first appearances of the season.
Sylvester has been living in Miami this season, while Dooley, man of the match when ‘Nure won the final two seasons ago, also went to the US last season and has recovered from a neck injury which required an operation.
Lansdowne, the form team in 1A since winning the Bateman Cup in early January, sit fourth on 51 points ahead of their trek to relegation threatened UCD, who are in the relegation play-off spot and trail City of Armagh by two points.
Lansdowne are unchanged, while UCD are far from loaded with their Leinster academy players, albeit they do welcome back centre Ben Brownlee, are fighting for their 1A lives and have been something of a bogey side for Lansdowne over the years.
Clontarf and St Mary’s, in first and second place on 60 and 58 points, are sitting comparatively pretty. After a highly effective rebuilding job over the last two seasons, a settled and established way of playing which revolves around their power game, Clontarf are guaranteed a semi-final spot, and any kind of win at doomed Garryowen will ensure a home semi-final.
True, they are still missing the Soroka brothers, who are with Leinster in South Africa, and Garryowen did end their 14-match losing streak away to City of Armagh last weekend and also welcome back Brian Gleeson. But Connor Fahy is in midfield after his Under-20 Six Nations campaign and it will be a major surprise if Clontarf don’t do enough to earn an advantageous and covetous semi-final at Castle Avenue.
In their return to the 1A after a seven-year absence St Mary’s need only a point to ensure their place in the play-offs, and a win against City of Armagh in Templeville Road will also ensure them of a home semi-final.
In 1B, Old Wesley and UCC are battling for the last promotion play-off place, while their opponents, Shannon and Highfield, are in a relegation dogfight with Trinity, away to the new champions Old Belvedere. Corinthians travel to Greystones in a game with repercussions for the 2A play-offs.
This weekend’s fixtures
Women’s Six Nations
Sunday, March 30th
Italy v Ireland, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 3pm
U18 Boys Schools International
Saturday, March 29th
Ireland Schools v England Schools, The Mardyke, Saturday, 5.30pm
BKT URC
Friday, March 28th
Ulster v DHL Stormers
Saturday, March 29th
Connacht v Munster, Hastings Insurance McHale Park, 2.30pm
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Leinster, Kings Park, 5.15pm
Energia All-Ireland League
Men’s Division 1A
All matches Saturday, March 29th, at 2.30pm unless stated
Ballynahinch v Cork Constitution, Ballymacarn Park
Garryowen v Clontarf, Dooradoyle
St Mary’s College v City of Armagh, Templeville Road
Terenure College v Young Munster, Lakelands Park
UCD v Lansdowne, Belfield
Division 1B
Highfield v UCC, Woodleigh Park
Nenagh Ormond v Blackrock College, New Ormond Park
Old Belvedere v Dublin University, Ollie Campbell Park
Old Wesley v Shannon, Energia Park
Queens v Naas, Dub Lane
Division 2A
Ballymena v Instonians, Eaton Park
Banbridge v Cashel, Rifle Park
Buccaneers v MU Barnhall, Dubarry Park
Greystones v Galway Corinthians, Dr Hickey Park
Old Crescent v Navan, Takumi Park
Division 2B
Dungannon v Sligo, Stevenson Park
Galwegians v Rainey, Crowley Park
Malone v Malahide, Gibson Park
UL Bohemian v Skerries, UL4G
Wanderers v Clogher Valley, Merrion Road
Division 2C
Bruff v Monkstown, Kilballyowen Park
Enniscorthy v Ballyclare, Alcast Park
Midleton v Belfast Harlequins, Towns Park
Omagh Academicals v Dolphin, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields
Tullamore v Clonmel, Spollanstown
Women’s Division
Saturday, March 29th (5pm unless stated)
Ballincollig v Galwegians, Tanner Park, 3pm
Wicklow v Tullow, Ashtown Lane, 3pm
Cooke v Suttonians, Shaws Bridge
Old Belvedere v Railway Union, Ollie Campbell Park
UL Bohemian v Blackrock College, Annacotty
Energia All-Ireland League women’s qualifying playoffs
All matches Sunday, March 30th, at 2.30pm
Tuam v Ennis/Kilrush, Garraun Park
MU Barnhall v Enniskillen, Parsonstown
