Eyes everywhere across 1A this weekend, Clontarf and Terenure both eye up top spot, Shannon try and get out of ninth spot, while Ballynahinch look to be in the top four.
Cork Constitution V UCD, Saturday 25th February, Temple Hill, 2:30pm
Con will look to pick up another win this weekend as they try to move higher than third in the table, as strugglers UCD come down South.
Con are three behind Terenure and four behind Tarf but any slip ups by them may well see them move higher, a win last weekend could have seen them even higher in the table, but they’ll hope to push on from that loss and get a better result this weekend.
For UCD they are two points ahead of ninth placed Shannon, on a tightrope now they have to take points this weekend if they look to remain in the top division, a big win over Garryowen last weekend will give them plenty of confidence.
Trinity V Clontarf, Saturday 25th February, College Park, 2:30pm
Clontarf climbed back into first spot last weekend, this weekend a win will be required to keep away Terenure.
Trinity are in a rut of late and a heavy defeat last weekend to Shannon saw them drop down to sixth place, if they aim for as high aa finish as possible then it’s win or bust this weekend.
Tarf were dominant last weekend as a late Cookies comeback could not stop them getting the points, it was enough to move them back to the summit and this weekend getting over an out of form Trinity would keep them top of the table.
Garryowen V Shannon, Saturday 25th February, Dooradoyle, 2:30pm
Shannonside will come alive this weekend, as Shannon make a trip across Limerick City to face bottom placed Garryowen.
Garryowen will be playing for pride in this tie as it looks likely that they will face the chop from the division, a Limerick derby with two of the oldest proudest clubs rich in history doing battle in Dooradoyle, games don’t get bigger than this.
Shannon are just above them in the table but with an 18 point gap between them has Shannon looking at UCD as the team to worry about in the standings, a dominant showing over Trinity might just give them the spark they need to survive in 1A.
Terenure College V Lansdowne, Saturday 25th February, Lakelands, 2:30pm
Terenure are fighting to regain top spot this weekend, but Lansdowne produced one big scalp last weekend and will look for another this time around.
Nure fell to a 10-8 defeat at the hands of Ballynahinch last weekend, heading back to Lakelands, they are gunning for points as they cannot award Tarf too much ground at the top if they want silverware by the end of the year, they need to be with them.
Young Munster V Ballynahinch, Saturday 25th February, Tom Clifford Park, 2:30pm
With just two wins in their last five encounters, Young Munster look to re find their form but Ballynahinch are just behind them in the table looking to break into the top four.
Time just ran out for Young Munster last weekend as they were just three points off Clontarf, back on Shannonside this weekend they are out for a big result to find their form and finish the season on a high point.
Ballynahninch came good last weekend and this time around look for more of the same as a win would see them dump the Cookies out of fourth spot, it was a low scoring encounter between Hinch and Nure but they showed their class and will make it a tough battle in Tom Clifford Park.
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.