The UBL returns this weekend after a two week break with some important fixtures for Limerick sides.

This is the penultimate round of matches in the AIL before the Christmas break and the reverse of round of fixtures to begin in the new year.

Dublin University V Garryowen (College Park, Kick Off 2:00pm)

Garryowen make the trip to Dublin on Saturday to face Trinity college at College Park for an earlier than usual two o’clock kick off. The away side will be brimming with confidence after a hard fought derby win last time out against Young Munster in Dooradoyle in torrid condition.

Conan Doyle’s side currently occupy fourth place in division 1A with four wins from their opening seven games, which is a noted improvement on last year’s campaign already. Their opponent DUFC are four below them in 8th on 12 points, with some heavy defeats as well as some surprising wins to their name so far as per most college sides in the AIL.

Saturday’s fixture is a big opportunity for the light blues to keep on the toes of leaders Terenure and Lansdowne. Conan Doyle knows that an away win would be a huge step towards cementing a playoff berth.

Fixtures Nov 25

Trinity v GFC, A, ko 14:00 #UBL
@GarryowenFC3rds v @RfcPresentation H, ko 14:30 #GL@HighfieldRFC v @gfcu20 A, ko 14:30 #DWT

— Garryowen FC (@GarryowenFC) November 20, 2017

Young Munster V Clontarf (Tom Clifford Park, Kick Off 2:30pm)

In a repeat of last year’s semi-final fixture, Young Munster face Clontarf at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday in what is sure to be one of the fixtures of round 8 in division 1A. Before losing to local rivals Garryowen 6-3 last time out, Munster’s had put in two superb performances against Cork Con and St. Mary’s after a less than impressive start to their league campaign.

The Cookies were unlucky not to come away with four points in Dooradoyle, with Alan Tynan missing a tough penalty and some tough decisions not going their way, but will take confidence from their two previous games against a Clontarf. The Dublin side endured a torrid time on their last visit to Limerick when the shipped a  heavy 51-17 loss to Garryowen.

Clontarf would be slight favourites going into the game seeing as the home side have lost to Dublin opposition there twice already, but Greenfields is well known for being one of the toughest grounds to get a win on so it should be an extremely tight encounter.

Dolphin V U.L Bohemian (Irish Independent Park, Kick Off 2:30pm)

In what has been set up as a bottom of the table clash, U.L Bohemians travel to Irish independent Park on Saturday to face a Dolphin side in a similar predicament to their own. Bohs have lost their last four on the bounce in the league which sees them second from bottom on 9 points, four ahead of their opponents in last place.

Christy Neilan’s side have suffered a huge drop in form compared to the same point last season where they had won six out of their opening eight and were in and around the top four, where they stayed for the whole season, eventually finishing third.

Bohs will need to improve performances fast if they don’t want to be in a relegation fight come April. A win on Saturday could really help give them that motivation to kick on going into the next few AIL fixtures before the Christmas break.

Shannon V Ballymena (Thomond Park, Kick Off 2:30pm)

Shannon are at home this weekend where they will play host to Ballymena in a very important fixture for the Limerick side. After a run of six straight wins in the league, Tom Hayes’ men tasted defeat for the first time in Round 7 when Johne Murphy’s Naas side held on to beat the league leaders 21-18 in a gritty encounter at Forenaughts.

Whilst Saturday’s visitors to Thomond Park lie in 8th position in the table, what would have been a fairly confident home side going into the tie if they were to have won in Kildare, are now going into a fixture on the back of a loss for the first time this season which will really test their league winning credentials.

If Shannon do continue to play how they did from rounds 1 to 6, they should get the job done on Saturday against a struggling Ballymena side.

Our firsts were back in the gym tonight preparing for our @UlsterBankRugby League clash against @ballymenarfc, this Saturday at 2.30 in Thomond Park pic.twitter.com/zxaBzEdfOH

— Shannon RFC (@Shannon_RFC) November 20, 2017

Belfast Harlequins V Old Crescent (Deramore Park, Kick Off 2:30pm)

Old Crescent will look to continue their astonishing run of form this weekend as they travel north to take on Belfast Harlequins at Deramore Park. In their last outing, Crescent eked out a tight victory in what were awful conditions at Irish Independent Park against a resilient Sunday’s Well side on a scoreline of 16-6, which is one the tighter games Brendan Guilfoyle’s side have encountered on their way to the top of 2B.

Things don’t look too bright for the the County Antrim side this year having lost all seven of their games so far and only picking up three points on the way meaning they sit bottom of the league, already eight points from safety. With the visit of the Rosbrien outfit to Belfast to add to their struggles, it looks as if Harlequins will be making it 8 from 8 losses and the Old Crescent making it 8 from 8 wins.

Old Crescent Fixtures this weekend:
Saturday, Nov 25
UBL @QuinsWRFC v Old Crescent, Belfast, ko 2.30pm.
Gleeson League
Old Crescent v @StSenansRugby
Rosbrien, kick off 2.30pm.

— Old Crescent RFC (@OldCrescentRFC1) November 22, 2017

Malahide V Bruff (Estuary Road, Kick Off 2:30pm)

Bruff make the trip to the capital on Saturday to face Malahide at Estuary road for a half two kick off, with the County Limerick side looking to bounce back from a narrow 2 point loss to local rival’s Thomond in the last round of fixtures.

Owen Cahill’s side face a tough challenge in Malahide, with the newly promoted side having accounted for three wins this season, all of which have come at Estuary road. Bruff will know the challenge that lies ahead and if the get back to playing at their maximum potential, they have a good chance of coming away with an away win.

It's big game week as @malahiderfc take on @bruffrfc at home this Saturday at 2pm in @UlsterBankRugby AIL 2C. There will be a bus departing after the game to take spectators to Landsdowne Road for the @unionargentina game. #UBLAIL #MRFC pic.twitter.com/VCaQCYTMvW

— Malahide Rugby Club (@malahiderfc) November 20, 2017

Thomond V Omagh (Liam Fitzgerald Park, Kick Off 2:30pm)

Thomond will be looking to make it four wins on the bounce this Saturday afternoon as they play host to Omagh in Liam Fitzgerald Park. The soda cakes will be brimming with confidence following their last three results, with their win against Local rivals Bruff last time out the stand out result of the three, beating the county Limerick side by two points in a dogged top of the table clash.

The home side go into Saturday’s game in second place in division 2C on 25 points, with their opponents three spots behind them in fifth on 19 points. Things are looking good at home for James Hickey’s side having won every game there this year, bar an opening day one point loss to leaders Sligo RFC. A win at the weekend would keep the Royal blues in strong contention for top spot before the Christmas break.