The gear bags are being packed, the pitches prepared, the sandwiches being considered for the long journeys ahead, 2A rugby returns this weekend as the race for this year’s title begins in earnest.
Ballymena v Navan, Saturday October 7th, Eaton Park, 2:30pm
Two sides with identical points finishes last term, a degree of different results however, with Ballymena meeting Navan in Eaton Park, the sides finishing 7th and 6th respectively last season.
12 months ago this was a Round 2 affair between the sides with the hosts coming out 20-14 winners. Can they put together another impressive performance against their Leinster opponents. After a solid run in pre pre-season they will hope it has served them well to get off the mark with the points.
Navan will hope for the same in their first encounter of the season, making a tricky trip away, it will not be an easy start to their second season in a row back in 2A. They did share the spoils in terms of wins last season winning the home tie between these two in April, on paper it looks hard to pick who from this contest will leave with a win if any.
Banbridge v Cashel, Saturday October 7th, Rifle Park, 2pm
If you asked the question to both sides last year, neither would have said for certain they would be in 2A for the 23/24 season, however on the opening day Banbridge will meet Cashel looking for an early momentum boost.
Banbridge’s second from bottom finish last term saw them relegated after defeat to MU Barnhall in the play-off semi-final. It has been quite some time since they last competed in 2A, winning the Division in the 16-17 season, they remained in 1B until last term. Finishing ninth in consecutive seasons they will hope for a change in fortunes this term.
Cashel meanwhile looked a very strong pick for the top four spots with promotion on their minds right from the start 12 months ago. It was Nenagh who upset the applecart as they had to settle for fifth, two points behind Barnhall. With a strong team full of brothers and quality talents, they are out to pick up where they left off last season.
Malone v Greystones, Saturday October 7th, Gibson Park, 2:30pm
A tale of contrasting fortunes for these two last season, Malone jumping down a Division, while Greystones jumped up a Division, getting off the mark early will be important to build on for the year ahead.
Malone finished bottom of 1B with four wins coming all season, in hopes of making it a short stay, Andy Bryans was named as club captain this year, leading a squad with a host of new faces to help give them an edge. Nathan Burns, Adam Keating, Tom Gillespie, Matthew Rea and Tom Muldrew are a host of new names in the off season. Building as they mean to go on, Malone will hope for a good degree of fortune to start the year off.
Against Greystones, it will prove no easy task. They dominated 2B last year winning 16 from 18 and with a strong unbeaten run built in that time, it was a question of whether they would have gone the year unbeaten. Building on from where they hoped to be last year coming off the 21-22 season, Greystones could be tricky customers this season.
Nenagh Ormond v UL Bohemian, Saturday October 7th, New Ormond Park, 2:30pm
A Munster Derby in New Ormond Park, pits the story of last season Nenagh Ormond against a UL Bohs side who survived a gruelling relegation final to stay up for another season.
Having almost faced the chop a year prior, Nenagh took the league by surprise last year to finish third in the standings. They gave Blackrock a battle in the semi-final but lost 10-8. After what we saw last year Nenagh are a fair shout to be back in the promotion hunt this year, going well in pre-season and building up their squad, the Tipperary side look in great shape for the year ahead.
UL Bohs meanwhile will look to topple their Tipperary neighbours just over 12 months on from losing 20-5 in their season opener last season. It was a real test of their character to get through the 2A relegation/promotion play-off last season, they are a side that can graft hard for a win, they lost both encounters with Nenagh last season, their last win over Nenagh came in March 2022.
Old Crescent v MU Barnhall, Saturday October 7th, Takumi Park, 2:30pm
Having begun the year with a win over Old crescent, the 22-23 season ended with a defeat in Shannonside for the Leinster side who lost the 1B promotion final, heading back to Shannonside to start this term, hopes of a win is firmly on their minds.
Finishing 11 points clear of the relegation battle, Crescent had one eye towards this season when the pair met back in April. John Toland captains a side hoping to impress and climb the table this year. Shane Mullally makes the step up from four years as the Club’s Attack and Backs Coach to become Head Coach. Munster and Ireland international Rory Scannell is also on the coaching ticket this year, taking the role as Assistant Attack and Backs Coach. Crescent have plenty of young players ready to shine this year also.
After a strong second half finish last season Barnhall took fourth spot, having briefly led 2A at one point in time, just missing out on promotion to Blackrock. It was a strong season by the Kildare side and now they will need to start as they mean to go on in hopes of getting promoted this season. Barnhall will be one of the favourites this season.
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.