Garryowen’s clash with league leaders takes top billing in weekend’s AIL

Garryowen will be looking to get back to winning ways this Saturday when AIL Division 1A leaders Cork Con visit Dooradoyle (2:30pm).

Conan Doyle’s side lost out to bitter rivals Young Munster on a 12-10 scoreline last time out and that cost them their spot in the playoff places.

Con will also have their sights on a return to winning ways after they suffered a shock 27-22 home loss to UCD at Temple Hill. When the teams met in November, Con came out with a 27-3 win.

Young Munster will hope to build on that win over the Light Blues but have a major task on their hands with a trip to the Aviva Stadium to play Lansdowne.

A win for Gearoid Prendergast’s men could see them overtake UCC and move out of the relegation playoff place.

Shane Airey kicked four penalties in that win over Garryowen and will have to be in fine form from the kicking tee if they are to have any hope of taking something away from Dublin.

Lansdowne were surprisingly beaten by Terenure last week and will be gunning for revenge this week.

Shannon are a side that need to arrest their slide down the table and face fellow strugglers UCC at the Mardyke.

Tom Hayes’ side have dropped to seventh place after three defeats on the spin and need a win to keep themselves clear of relegation worry.

They face a UCC side that have their own problems and Hayes will be hopeful that Shannon can nick a win down in Cork.

In Division 2A, both Old Crescent and UL Bohs sit on 35 points after their respective results at the weekend.

Crescent kept up their outstanding recent form with a 35-22 home win over Galwegians. Larry Hanly, Val McDermott (2), David Garry and Kevin Doyle crossed for Crescent, who now sit in fifth place.

Things weren’t so good for Bohs after they fell to a 35-3 defeat to Queens University. Crescent make the trip to Highfield this weekend, while Bohs host Navan at the University of Limerick’s 4G pitch.

Bruff gave their promotion hopes from Division 2C a big boost last time out thanks to a 25-11 victory over Bangor at Kilballyowen Park.

They make the trip to play Seapoint on Saturday in the next game. Thomond sit second from bottom after a 22-17 loss in Midleton and play Ballina in Liam Fitzgerald Park.

In the women’s AIL, UL Bohs kept up the pressure on Railway Union with a 39-12 win over Cooke last weekend.

The victory puts them just one point off the lead leaders. Bohs welcome Blackrock to UL this Sunday at 1pm.