This is the last round of fixtures before the league takes another three week break

It’s an important weekend for Limerick sides, not only because many of them are chasing important wins, but also because there are a number of local and provincial derbies on show.

Garryowen V Young Munster (Dooradoyle, Kick Off 7:30 pm)

Garryowen – Young Munster is such an historic fixture in Limerick club rugby, and the two sides go head to head again this Friday night in Dooradoyle with a single point separating them in division 1A. The old rivals, less than three kilometres apart in geographical terms, have produced some superb encounters over the years, and last season shared a win a piece in the fixture with the away side on each occasion coming away with the victory.

Both go into the tie after a mixed couple of games, with the Cookies beating Cork Con and St. Marys in their last two, whilst their opponent’s have lost to league leaders Lansdowne last time out, but managed a good win against a good UCD side the week previous at home.

Conan Doyle’s side haven’t faltered at home yet this campaign, and even put 50 points on a strong Clontarf side earlier in the season. The lights blues will take a lot of confidence from their first half performance last weekend too, where they went in 17-10 ahead of a Lansdowne side who are currently running away with the league with an impressive 100% record to date, which included a nice try from young centre Peadar Collins (watch below).

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Gearoid Prendergast’s side didn’t have the best start to their campaign but as of late have rallied and put together some superb performances, most notably their 51-7 hammering of St. Mary’s last weekend. Both sides should have an almost full squad to pick from, with the likes of Fineen Wycherly, Calvin Nash and Gavin Coombes of Young Munster’s as well as Bill and Dave Johnston, Coombes’ cousin Liam Coombes and potentially Sam Arnold and Alex Wooton available to Garryowen as neither Munster nor Munster A have a game for another few weeks.

It’s going to be a hard fought game with only a few points likely to separate the side, but one would have to favour the light blues in this one due to their home form along with the fact they have beaten their opponents twice already this year in Charity and Senior Cup ties.

There is only 1 game in #Limerick this Friday Nov 10, ko 19:30@GarryowenFC v @YoungMunsterRFC #UBL #supportyourlocalclub

— Garryowen FC (@GarryowenFC) November 6, 2017

Naas V Shannon (Forenaughts, Kick Off 2:00pm)

Naas are the host’s on Saturday afternoon as a rampant Shannon side visit to add to their 100% record so far this season in Division 1B. Tom Hayes’ men will go into the tie as strong favourites seeing as the Kildare side have only won two games this season and have already been beaten on home soil twice this year to Ballymena and U.C.C., that, plus the fact the visitors will be on a high after beating their closest opponents in the table at the time Banbridge 33-14 last time out might mean a tough afternoon for 6th place side.

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Fionn Carr and Johne murphy are two very well known names set to feature on Saturday, but with the likes of Conor Fitzgerald, Duncan Casey and Sean McCarthy all impressing for the league leaders over the opening 6 rounds of action it looks as if their 100% record isn’t under a huge threat just yet. However, winning away in the Ulster Bank League is never an easy feat, no matter the opposition, which seems to be even more so the case in Division 1B with a few surprises already this year, so Shannon shouldn’t be looking too far ahead of this clash, especially with the likes of Carr and Murphy on hand who could cause an upset, ahead of the next three week break.

UL Bohemians V Old Wesley (UL 4G Pitch, Kick Off 2:30pm)

UL Bohemians face an important fixture this Saturday afternoon when they welcome Old Wesley to the 4G pitch at the University of Limerick. Both sides have had poor starts to their season with a only a solitary win each to their names. Wesley sit just one place above their hosts on Saturday on 9 points, 3rd from bottom while Bohs are second from bottom on 8.

Full llist of games this weekend from Thursday to Monday but a rare occasion where all senior teams are away #UBL pic.twitter.com/x8e99BfNPZ

— Old Wesley RFC (@OldWesleyRFC) November 8, 2017

It comes as a bit of a surprise where Christy Neilan’s men are in the table at the minute seeing as they only lost out on promotion to 1A last season by one game, losing their final play-off game to Garryowen. The home side will be looking to put in a big performance tomorrow afternoon, with a try bonus point victory seeing them move up three places in the table given other results go their way, and if their in form scrum half James Hart is made available to them by Munster, things might start to look more positive come the final whistle

Sundays Well V Old Crescent (Irish Independent Park, Kick off 7:45pm)

It looks as if it’s going to be a memorable season for Old Crescent already this year with six straight wins on the bounce including four try bonus points, and a memorable 45-0 win over a Skerries side last week, that were second in the table to their host’s before kick off, suggesting the dominance Crescent currently have in 2B.

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Sundays Well are the opponents tonight in Irish Independent in what is sure to be an exciting all Munster clash, but going by the form books, you just can’t see the Rosbrien outfit slipping up just yet. Ronan McKenna has been dictating things from out half all season with the likes of Val McDermott and Shane Mullaly also impressing outside him, notching up a host of tries on their way to six victories in a row. An away win is definitely on the cards again this evening against a Sunday’s Well side that have conceded 64 points in their last two losses.

Bruff V Thomond (Kilballyowen Park, Kick Off 7:30 pm)

Another Limerick derby to be played under ‘Friday night Lights’ this weekend is the meeting of Thomond and Bruff in Kilballyowen park. Thomond lead their division 2C rivals by three points after two wins in as many weeks against Midleton away and Malahide at home last Saturday which has also propped them up the table to an impressive second behind leaders Sligo. The host’s on the other hand had a disappointing loss against Bangor at Upritchard park in Round 6 and will be looking to bounce back on Friday when they meet the only other Limerick side in division 2C.

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Eoin Cahill’s side haven’t been flawless in Kilballyowen park this season, with a win, a draw and a loss to their name there suggesting it could be a good opportunity for the Soda Cakes’s to exploit those issues, coupled with the fact they have won two out of their three away games suggests it’s a brilliant opportunity for James Hickey’s charge to really stake a claim for a top three finish this season, with a victory over a local rival the perfect platform to build on going into another break in All Ireland League action.