Men’s All-Ireland League: Round 4 Preview

The men’s All-Ireland League campaign continues this weekend – here’s a look ahead to the Ulster clubs in action on Saturday:

DIVISION 1A:

BALLYNAHINCH (8th) v GARRYOWEN (1st), Ballymacarn Park

A record of three losses against three wins, Ballynahinch will find it difficult to break down unbeaten league leaders Garryowen unless the Light Blues’ exertions catch up with them.

While the rest of the top flight rested up last week, Mike Sherry’s men edged out Cashel in a dramatic Munster Senior Cup semi-final. “Ballynahinch have had a patchy enough start, but they’ll be licking their lips waiting to welcome us up there,” said Sherry.

Just two tries so far and an overreliance on goalkicker Greg Hutley (18 points) tells its own story for ‘Hinch. You get the feeling a big performance is coming, but it may happen in the following two rounds against the bottom two.

DIVISION 1B

MALONE (8th) v HIGHFIELD (1st), Gibson Park

Highfield signed off on the first block of games with an ultra-professional 38-3 dismissal of Naas. Conor Quaid’s men even overcame some unsettling early injuries, with Paddy O’Toole and Dave O’Connell seamlessly making positional changes.

Malone are back at home after two losing trips to Leinster, needing a greater level of composure to put away the chances they are creating. Ulster’s Aaron Sexton is a great strike runner but has been underutilised.

O’Connell reverts to the second row for Highfield, who have Ronan O’Sullivan slotting back in at openside flanker. Sam Burns and Shane O’Riordan come into the back-line, the latter at out-half for the injured James Taylor.

NAVAN (10th) v BANBRIDGE (9th), Balreask Old

Navan and Banbridge are both pointless and rooted to the bottom of the table. Bann boss Mark McDowell admitted heads were down following recent results, but he has been encouraged by the younger players pushing through.

Props Josh Chambers and Christian Trimble, coupled with try-scoring replacement Robert Mathers, drew praise for their efforts against St. Mary’s, particularly Trimble who made his AIL debut after taking up the game just seven years ago.

The corresponding fixture in 2019/20 was a real cracker, going right down to the wire as Banbridge prevailed 24-22. Navan blew a 15-point lead and had a last-gasp drop goal effort charged down.

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE (6th) v CITY OF ARMAGH (3rd), Templeville Road

City of Armagh make their first trip of the season outside of Ulster, eager to extend their winning run which came under serious threat from Shannon before a dramatic late penalty try.

Their back row has excelled in recent rounds, with openside James Hanna hailed as ‘outstanding’ the last day by head coach Chris Parker. They did the double over St. Mary’s during the 2019/20 campaign.

Mary’s overcame some untimely injuries to open their win account at Bann. Tighthead Mick McCormack starred in the scrum and as a ball carrier, while Myles Carey is a centre of real quality. He is a potential game-breaker that Armagh will have to stop.

DIVISION 2A

CASHEL (6th) v RAINEY OLD BOYS (8th), Spafield

Cancelled

DOLPHIN (5th) v BALLYMENA (4th), Musgrave Park

How Dolphin rebound from their 60-point hammering by Queen’s University will tell a lot. They dust themselves off to face more Ulster opposition in Ballymena, who sit just a point above Brian Scott’s men in the table.

The Braidmen have not hit top speed yet but they are getting there. They managed without Tim Small last time out against Old Crescent, Pierce Crowe scoring a try to add to his strong start to the season.

However, Ballymena have not won an away AIL fixture since beating Buccaneers in December 2018. That 12-match winless streak includes a 26-all draw with Dolphin in Cork two years ago.

MU BARNHALL (2nd) v QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY (1st), Parsonstown

Something has got to give at Parsonstown where MU Barnhall entertain front-running and free-scoring Queen’s. The Blue Bulls are protecting a proud home record of 16 league wins out of 17, stretching back to 2018.

The only team to beat them was Queen’s who triumphed 49-31 in February 2020. Captain David ‘Dizzy’ Whitten, Stuart Martin and Luke Pollock bagged a brace of tries each that day.

Barnhall will be live-streaming tomorrow’s rematch on their YouTube channel. Their promising young centre David Dooley, a try scorer against UL and Rainey, was called up to the Ireland Under-19 squad.

DIVISION 2B

BLACKROCK COLLEGE (2nd) v BELFAST HARLEQUINS (4th), Stradbrook

Blackrock College may not have the scoring might of Greystones, but they have shown match-winning nous in the first few rounds. Their maul provided the platform for all three tries at Galwegians last time out.

Their spate of sin-binnings cannot be repeated, though, and ‘Rocks coaches James Blaney and Stan McDowell will be hammering this home. Especially with Harlequins having kickers of the calibre of Paul Kerr and James McKinney.

The Belfast club’s followers have been getting used to tense finishes, with winning margins between one and four points in their games to date. Centre Kerr has kicked 23 points so far.

DUNGANNON (6th) v GALWEGIANS (8th), Stevenson Park

Dungannon returned home from playing Wanderers on the Aviva Stadium’s main pitch with a well-deserved losing bonus point. The Russell brothers, Sam and John, have contributed half of ‘Gannon’s eight tries so far.

They went without a win in their two 2019/20 clashes with Galwegians, losing 17-0 at home and drawing seven-all away. Conor O’Shaughnessy, Christy Reilly and Kieran Downey were part of that first ever ‘Wegians victory at Stevenson Park.

It is hard to judge Ja Naughton’s current ‘Wegians side on their last two performances, both against high-ranking Dublin clubs. They started the league season with a dozen debutants, including Connacht Under-19 scrum half Kelvin Langan, a recent try scorer.

DIVISION 2C

CITY OF DERRY (5th) v BANGOR (3rd), Judge’s Road

City of Derry are hoping Neil Burns and Simon Logue can make a timely return to action, with two of their in-form backs, Paddy Blennerhassett and Calum O’Hagan, both unavailable for this Ulster derby.

Buoyed by their victory at Sunday’s Well, Derry have revenge on their minds after suffering a 44-7 Ulster Rugby Premiership defeat at the hands of Bangor last month.

It is so far, so good for Bangor with three straight league wins. Director of rugby Tom Rock acknowledged: “When I arrived two and a half years ago, I was told that we had around 18-20 lads capable of playing AIL rugby. To develop to a point where I would now say it’s double that number, is really pleasing.”

OMAGH ACADEMICALS (10th) v SUNDAY’S WELL (9th), Thomas Mellon Playing Fields

A win here for either club would be a real shot in the arm, with Omagh licking their wounds after leaking 45 points to Enniscorthy, while Sunday’s Well are on the rebound from two tight defeats.

While Omagh’s attack has shown encouraging signs – winger Ryan Mitchell has scored three of their eight tries so far – they must shore up a defence that has struggled against teams at the table’s business end.

The down week will hopefully have given coaches Denis Hurley and Josh Featherstone extra time to sharpen up the ‘Well attack. Their five-try haul includes efforts from forwards Cormac Kelleher, Evan O’Connell and James Mulcahy.

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