Clontarf will look to continue as 1A leaders when we pause for a week break as they travel up north, Cork Con are the nearest challengers and will be out to remain hot on their coattails.
Ballynahinch v Clontarf, Saturday 18th November, Ballymacarn Park, 2:30pm
Looking for their third win in a row, Ballynahinch welcome Clontarf to Ballymacarn Park hoping to move further up the standings.
Hinch had a turbulent start to the campaign with two defeats from their opening three games and have since built an unbeaten streak with their home venue an early fortress. The Stags will lock horns with The Bulls and certainly give them a real contest. Certainly bidding to improve on their 28-3 defeat on home soil 12 months ago.
Tarf runners up of course last season have set the pace early as they look to regain the crown they lost in painful fashion a few short months ago. With Dylan Donnellan back in the fray, their captain and fruitful scorer is back to lead by example. The leaders will have confidence for sure but cannot go all gung ho in this one as Hinch can ceratinaly cause problems.
City Of Armagh v UCD, Saturday 18th November, Palace Grounds, 2:30pm
Following their third defeat of the season, City of Armagh welcome UCD this weekend looking to regain lost ground in the standings.
It was a first defeat for Armagh in three games last weekend as they had built up a pretty impressive streak over Shannon and Trinity. Having lost 35-17 to Tarf last weekend, they aim to bounce back with another stellar performance which from this Armagh side is well known to occur.
UCD are three points above the drop zones after a nail biting finish with Young Munster last weekend earned a second win of the campaign, Tim Corkery crossing twice for tries in that 26-24 win. Michael Moloney was still a standout talent as his four penalties and two conversions was another vital contribution from the talented out-half, he has been an incredible asset for the Students.
Cork Constitution v Dublin University, Saturday 18th November, Temple Hill, 2:30pm
With Con sat in second place a win on home soil over Trinity could well open the door for the Leesiders to top the standings if Clontarf suffer defeat this weekend. With just one loss to their name Con are plotting a title charge of their own and four behind Clontarf are the nearest challenger.
Con have been very impressive so far this season, from their perspective they will feel like they should be unbeaten having lost to Hinch by three points in round two. Since then they have not let that setback prevent them taking three impressive wins on the trot. Con are looking a tasty prospect in these early stages.
Trinity have had a season the complete opposite of their Cork adversaries, bottom of the standings winless from their opening five meetings and have only scored points with two losing bonus results. Trinity lost the same meeting back in January of this year and in their last four meetings tasted victory once which came on home soil last year. Can they end their losing streak and score a much needed win?
Lansdowne v Shannon, Saturday 18th November, Aviva Stadium Back Pitch, 2:30pm
Having lost their last two meetings in the league, Lansdowne hope to turn the tide in a battle of the titans against Shannon.
Having set the division alight in the early stages, Lansdowne have since dropped to third spot having suffered consecutive setbacks, Con and most recently Terenure coming out winners in tight affairs. They almost secured the win last weekend only for Nure to steal one late on and will look to prevent a third setback this weekend.
Shannon too started the year on an impressive note but since have suffered three defeats to slip down to seventh in the standings. They struggled to tackle Con last weekend and Hinch prior to that, they did however win this meeting shy of 12 months ago, 31-41, can they get a much needed win this weekend?
Young Munster v Terenure College, Saturday 18th November, Tom Clifford Park, 2:30pm
Second from bottom Young Munster need a result this weekend to get themselves out of the relegation zone.
The Cookies have scored just one win this season from their opening five games and as a result sit ninth. Defeating Trinity who sit beneath them in the standings has been their only success and with two points coming from losing bonus results, they have had games in recent weeks they just could not prevail in. Tarf and UCD both winning by tight margins, can they go one step further this weekend and avoid a third defeat in a row.
Terenure got back to winning ways last weekend with Caolan Dooley striking a deciding penalty to see them past Lansdowne. A result that moves the holders to fifth in the standings, two points behind Hinch. A win here and a result for Tarf up North would be an ideal string of results to put them into the top four for just the second time this season. Having lost their last two trips to Tom Clifford Park, it could well be a banana skin.
More Info on Division 1A here.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.