Limerick clubs in action as Ulster Bank League returns from Christmas break.

Its the first week back for Ulster Bank League clubs this weekend following on from a four week Christmas break and there are already some mouthwatering clashes involving Limerick sides.

Young Munster V Garryowen (Friday January 5th, Tom Clifford Park, Kick off 7:30)

In what will be their fourth meeting of the season Young Munster and Garryowen will renew hostilities at Tom Clifford on Friday evening. Young Munster are currently nine points off the playoff spots and cannot afford to lose any more ground while for their part, Garryowen lie in 5th place just one point behind Terenure and a playoff berth.

Gearoid Prendergast’s side will be looking to end a run of three consecutive defeats to their bitterest of local rivals having suffered defeats in the Charity Cup, Senior Cup and UBL meetings already this season.

Garryowen enter the tie on the back of three league wins plus a Senior Cup semi final victory over Cork Con which set up a cup final against Bohs in Friday, January 12th.

The Cookies haven’t had the best of seasons so far by their high standards but they will go into Friday’s game on the back of a fine win over Terenure in the last round of the league.  Expect both teams to throw everything at each other on Friday night in what promises to be a huge battle and with so much on the line, it promises to be a very tight affair.

Garryowen lie just ahead of Young Munster in 1A

Shannon V Naas (Thomond Park, Kick off 1pm)

Shannon will play host to Naas on Saturday on the back pitch in Thomond Park for their first fixture of 2018 and following on from the first half of their season will be hopeful of continuing their fine form in Division 1B.

The home side currently occupy top spot in their Division after 8 wins and 2 losses so far and are on course to at least guarantee a play off spot come the end of the league in April.

Indeed Naas were the first side to defeat Shannon back in November when Fionn Carr and Johne Murphy’s outfit came out the right end of a 21-18 scoreline in Forenaughts. Going by their 100% record in Thomond Park so far this campaign, Shannon will go into the fixture as favourites, and rightly so given some of the scorelines they have amassed on their home turf.

Old Wesley V UL Bohemians (Donnybrook, kick off 2:30)

UL Bohemians will be hoping that their form doesn’t carry on to 2018 following a run of 2 wins and 8 losses in the first half of the 2017/18 season rooting them to second bottom of division 1B just ahead of Dolphin. On Saturday they travel to Donnybrook to take on Old Wesley in what will be a very important fixture for the Red Robins seeing as the host’s are only five points ahead and also having a less than impressive season.

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When these two met about two months ago, the Dublin outfit emerged victorious on the 4G pitch in UL. However with a good win against Bruff in the Senior Cup under their belt, and a few weeks to prepare themselves properly, Bohs will make the trip with an added confidence that might help 2018 a more positive year compared to 2017.

Shannon and Bohs are eight places apart in 1B

Old Crescent V Sundays Well (Friday 5th January, Rosbrien, Kick Off 7:45)

Old Crescent play host to Sundays Well on Friday night in another vital division 2B Munster derby clash. When the pair last met in the league Crescent came out on top, like they did in every other game they played this season, on a 16-6 scoreline.

Crescent have been playing an exciting brand of attacking rugby this year that has seen them go 10-0 for the opening ten rounds of games. They haven’t however had it all their own way and have had to battle hard to earn the points in several of their games.

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The Rosbrien side will be hopeful of carrying their scintillating form into 2018 on Friday when they host Well’ and on paper their perfect record should stay intact for at least another week, with the Cork side lying in 8th place with just two wins to their name so far this season.

Old Crescent are flying high in Division 2B