Eyes will turn the top half of the table this weekend, Queens look to stay top, Barnhall bid to push on while Blackrock and Cashel look to regain places from last weekend.
Blackrock College V UL Bohemian, Saturday January 26th, Stradbrook, 2:30pm
Blackrock look to dust themselves off from a two game losing streak as they return to Stradbrook for a meeting with bottom placed UL.
Blackrock dropped to third in the title race after defeat in Nenagh last weekend, having led the division in recent weeks they will hope it was only just a blip in form and will look to knuckle down this weekend ahead of a must win game.
UL could produce a huge upset if they can add to Blackrock’s recent string of defeats and pick up some points, falling just short to Navan last weekend they have a sole win to their names this year, but a win would get them closer to safety.
Dolphin V Ballymena, Saturday January 26th, Musgrave Park, 2:30pm
After defeat at home last weekend, Dolphin will hope for better fortunes when they host the team just above them this weekend.
Dolphin’s poor record of form continued with a 34-24 defeat to Barnhall last weekend, seven straight defeats leaves them in the bottom two needing something to change their fortunes, or they will face the chop by the end of the season.
Ballymena are six points ahead of their opponents with a game fewer played, they put in two great performances against Queens so far this month, if they can get things to go in the right direction then they can certainly pick up points this weekend.
Navan V MU Barnhall, Saturday January 26th, Balreask Old, 2:30pm
In the Leinster Derby in Meath, MU Barnhall hope to continue a title charge while Navan hope to move closer to the top four.
Navan managed to get a narrow two point win last weekend, after failing to get over the line against Nenagh the week prior, earlier in the season they looked likely to finish in the top four but are in sixth after the win last weekend, they will hope to get a winning run going this weekend.
Barnhall quietly moved into second after Queens, Cashel and Blackrock were all squabbling in recent weeks, they are seven adrift of Queens but will hope to keep pressure applied this weekend with another winning performance.
Old Crescent V Cashel, Saturday January 26th, Takumi Park, 2:30pm
Cashel look to bounce back from defeat last weekend that dropped them to fourth in the table, as they are in Munster Derby action with Old Crescent.
The hosts are fresh having been rested last weekend, coming in off the back of those two late wins to Dolphin, they hope their winning record can survive another week, dropping to seventh they now look to sit closer to the promotion chasers.
Cashel have tasted each end of the form guide to start this month with three tough fixtures, a draw, win and defeat last weekend, has tested their resolve as a top side in 2A, they have proved their ability and this weekend are aiming to get back to winning ways and threaten those above for position.
Queens University V Nenagh Ormond, Saturday January 26th, Dub Lane, 2:30pm
Leaders Queens hope to increase their lead at the summit this weekend, but Nenagh have proven to be a banana skin and will not make it easy.
Queens had to show their strength to overcome Cashel last weekend and strengthen their grip on the 2A crown in the process, two battles with Ballymena before that have them in good shape form wise coming into this tie, they will hope a repeat of last year is not on the cards.
Nenagh are just outside of the race for top four, they could very well produced another upset over the Ulster students as they overcame them 32-24 in November, with their record standing at unbeaten so far this month they will be a difficult opponent for Queens.
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.