AIL Men’s And Women’s Permutations

It is make or break for the Men’s teams as we tick to the final normal season weekend of the year while the Women’s Division reaches its penultimate round.

Division 1A:

A tale like many this weekend of opposite ends of the table providing drama. The top four will tussle to determine who plays who in the semi-final, while the relegation battle continues at the basement.

Terenure currently sit top and look to preserve that status to enjoy a semi-final in Lakelands. They are on the road this weekend to meet a Ballynahinch team who are unable to make the play-offs. Nure must grab the win here and a bonus point win would confirm their position at the summit.

But what if Nure fail to win. Cork Con are a point behind them and Clontarf two adrift after their defeat last weekend in Lakelands. Con are away to City Of Armagh while Clontarf are home to relegated Trinity. A win for Terenure would mean Tarf need a bonus point win to secure a home semi-final and hope Con fail to take the win, while Con simply need just that win to finish second.

Lansdowne sit fourth and travel to Limerick looking to end the year on a positive note over Young Munster. They still have the chance to finish third, a bonus point win combined with Clontarf losing their tie would be enough to shake up that top four.

At the bottom it is make or break for City Of Armagh and Shannon. Maybe the easier of the ties will be for Shannon as they take on UCD who have little to play for while the Ulster side have a Con team that can still go top of the standings.

Points difference is all that separates these two, a win for Armagh would see them safe while the same can be said for Shannon. Bonus points also could swing this for the teams as it could well go down to the final action as to who avoids the relegation play-off.

AIL Women’s Division:

This is the penultimate round in the Women’s Division and the capital will provide all of the drama this weekend as the race continues to make the decider in the Aviva Stadium.

With UL Bohs confirmed already as taking one of the spots, Old Belvedere need to hope the Limerick side defeat Railway and deny them a bonus point which saw the case last weekend to see The Red Robins advance. Belvedere meet Ballincollig in their tie this weekend.

Elsewhere in the Division Galwegians host Wicklow and Blackrock College entertain Cooke.

Division 1B:

The promotion battle in 1B certainly is interesting to say the least. Wesley are already assured a spot in the play-offs but not guaranteed a home semi-final. Garryowen, Highfield and Belvedere all fight for those final two spots.

At the basement end of the table we find Naas in the better of the positions as Queens still have a chance to leapfrog them and stay away from a relegation play-off on the final day.

Wesley face Queens in the capital and it really is a must win for the pair. Wesley would like the prospect of a home semi-final but with Garryowen and Highfield meeting they cannot afford to drop points on the final day. A win for either Munster club could see them leapfrog Wesely if they suffer defeat.

Old Belvedere will have one eye on that tie in Dooradoyle. They travel to meet Naas who with a win can assure their safety for another year. Belvedere would need to win this game via bonus point to tie with in the ideal scenario the loser of that game in Limerick and hope that their points tally fails to increase. Should Highfield for example suffer defeat and fail to take at least a point, Belvedere need to overturn the score difference (18) and record that bonus point win.

At the opposite end of the standings, Naas and Queens will determine their finish this weekend. Both face a tricky assignment against opponents going in the opposite direction. A win for Queens would put them ahead of Naas by a sole point but bonus points could be vital this weekend, primary objective for these two is a win at all costs.

Division 2A:

2A will have plenty of drama on the final day as promotion and relegation heats up, two teams are already assured of being in the promotion play-offs while two more are fighting for the final spot. At the bottom Malone need a miracle to stay up and three teams are fighting to avoid the relegation play-off.

Cashel and MU Barnhall have the prospect of a home semi-final, but need to get the correct results this weekend. A win for Cashel would be enough while bonus points in a defeat may also just see the Tipp side book a semi-final slot. Banbridge provide their opposition as they go in search of confirming their play-off place.

Old Crescent join Banbridge in that battle to take fourth spot on the final day, they face MU Barnhall who also need that win to see them potentially finish in second spot. Barnhall need a win to leapfrog Cashel should they lose, while a win for Cashel could see Old Crescent finish fourth if they win on the road in Kildare.

At the opposite end of the table the meeting of Greystones and Malone is of massive importance. Malone sit bottom but to avoid the automatic drop, they need a five point haul and also a 156 difference in scoring. Odds are with Greystones to avoid the play-offs, they need a win and hope UL Bohemian and or Ballymena suffer defeat.

UL Bohs have slumped down the standings in recent weeks and facing the Champions Nenagh Ormond on the final day, it is make or break. Three points keeps them clear of the drop zone, two bonus points might just be enough if they fall to yet another defeat. Ballymena of the three most at risk of the play-offs are in the best position.

Greystones would need a bonus point win to leapfrog Ballymena. The Ulsterside take on Navan away from home this weekend, Navan are safe and can enjoy their final outing of the season, a bonus point for Ballymena can confirm their safety.

Division 2B:

In the top half of the table, Galway Corinthians take on Wanderers on the final day in 2B as both sides hope to finish second to secure home placement for a semi-final in what is a dress rehearsal between these two. At the bottom end of the table, the relegation battle will make for interesting viewing.

Merrion Road will play host to this semi-final dress rehearsal in the promotion play-offs, for Wanderers to get home advantage in that semi-final they need to win this game at all costs. The Chaps are three points behind Corinthians in the table but bonus points could be crucial for the Galway side should they suffer that defeat. If they suffer defeat and are within ground for those two bonus points, score difference would see Wanderers finish second. Corinthians need a win or draw to finish second.

The relegation battle will certainly take up a lot of focus this weekend. Dolphin sit bottom by three points, while Skerries, Malahide and Belfast Harlequins also are at risk of a relegation battle. Dolphin must beat Dungannon on home soil this weekend, 12 months ago they suffered relegation in 2A on the same turf and if they suffer defeat here they will be in 2C next term.

A bonus point win would put them on 30 points but that may not be enough. Malahide meeting Belfast Harlequins could have big implications for the basement sides. Quinns are three ahead of Dolphin and Malahide are just outside the drop zone, a win for Malahide would see them on 34 points and safe from the drop, should Quinns not score points they end the year on 28 points and a Dolphin win would see them in the play-offs and Quinns relegated.

However should Quinns grab two bonus points, score difference would see them make the play-offs and Dolphin would be relegated. A win for them would see the narrative swap with Malahide taking their place in the mix and they cannot automatically drop down unless Dolphin have a winning margin of 149 points. Next on the list are Skerries, promoted via the play-off last year, they meet Champions Instonians on the final day, a win can guarantee their safety but a win for Malahide would also see them safe.

Division 2C:

Outside of the teams making the play-off places confirmed, 2C is an open book this weekend as far as the title and relegation is concerned.

The title race between Clogher Valley and Galwegians will reach its climax this weekend as the newcomers hold the cards going into the final day. Clogher meet Ballina on the final day with a bonus point enough to crown them Champions. Galway need Mayo to do them a favour this weekend as Ballina have to beat Valley to see Galwegians have a shot at the title.

Wegians meet Tullamore in Crowley Park this weekend, needing a bonus point win and a 54 point swing in score difference to see them crowned Champions. It is possible for sure but Clogher Valley have been immense on the scoring front this season and have just to take a bonus point, 14 already accumulated this season, number 15 is the all important magic number.

Elsewhere in that top four, Bruff and Enniscorthy will fight for third spot. Scorthy have a massive score difference in their favour and need to better or match the Treaty side’s result this weekend to secure third spot. They meet eight placed Omagh, while Bruff face Clonmel and need a bonus point win hoping Scorthy fail to take one in their tie to move up the ladder.

Three teams at the bottom are fighting it out to avoid the drop. Ballina as we know face the leaders, while Omagh Accies who are ahead by score difference in eight place are home to Enniscorthy as bottom placed Bangor take on Midleton.

A win for Omagh would be enough to see them safe should Ballina fail to match or better their points haul and at that Ballina would need a 35 point swing in score difference to see them finish eight should both finish on the same points haul. Bangor need a win at all costs to stay up and hope at least Ballina who sit just ahead of them lose to avoid the drop down. Bangor with a bonus point win and a healthy winning margin would finish eight provided at the minimum Omagh fail to take a bonus point win. 

AIL Qualifiers:

With one team dropping down from 2C this weekend the semi-finals of the qualifying play-offs take place this weekend to see who can stake their claim to move up to senior status. Ashbourne RFC will be the venue for the both games. The final takes place a week later with the winner automatically promoted to Division 2C.

Creggs RFC meet Ballyclare at 1pm in the first semi-final, while Thomond take on Monkstown, the winner of these games will meet a week later, with one going up and the other entering the play-off against whoever finishes ninth in 2C this weekend.