With just eight rounds left of the AIL season, the action starts to heat up in 2C with quality fixtures at the top and bottom of the table this weekend, headlined by Clogher Valley meeting Enniscorthy.
Bangor v Ballina, Saturday 20th January, Upritchard Park, 2:30pm
A meeting of the bottom two at Upritchard Park, the hopes of making it out of the drop zone could be achieved for both this weekend.
With Omagh Academicals facing a tough trip to leaders Galwegians and sitting just ahead of these two, a win for either side combined with Omagh losing their tie could turn the tide for their survival hopes.
Bangor are five behind and would need a bonus point result and a 19 point swing in point differential to leapfrog Omagh into eight position. With a sole win so far this campaign it has not been easy for the Ulstermen, losing their last three games on the spin including a 47-33 defeat to Ballina.
The visitors sit one point ahead of Bangor and will also need the same outcome of a bonus win to get them into safety. Ballina would need a 66 point swing in score difference to see them jump out without a bonus point win, they achieved a bonus result and came out 14 point winners when the sides met in early December, losing back to back games will they find their feet this weekend.
Bruff v Tullamore, Saturday 20th January, Kilballyowen Park, 2:30pm
Having lost their tie last weekend, Bruff return to home soil facing an inform Tullamore side looking to close the gap to make the play-offs.
That defeat for Bruff marked just the second occasion the Limerick men have tasted defeat in the 2023-24 campaign. Ending a winning run of four games in the process. Bruff need to dust themselves off from that 39-15 defeat to Midleton last weekend as they look to win the home leg of this meeting with Tullamore, victorious 14-10 in their away test in round eight.
Since that defeat in round eight, Tullamore have bounced back to overcome a stern Bangor side not once but twice, the latter outcome a 33-12 win showing they have a serious threat in them despite largely being outside the play-offs with a 50% win ratio this term. In the past Tullamore have had a fruitful showing against Bruff winning all of their previous meetings before the defeat in December. Can they avenge that loss this weekend?.
Clogher Valley v Enniscorthy, Saturday 20th January, The Cran; 2:30pm
In a week where the weather has been sub zero, this meeting of Clogher Valley and Enniscorthy is sure to bring the heat at The Cran this weekend.
Clogher were pulling the strings at the top of the table prior to that round eight meeting with Ennisorthy and losing 20-17 sent them off track, only last weekend did they get back to winning ways and will want to claw back Wegians at the summit. Another stern test awaits for the hosts, only last weekend’s ten point margin is the first time since late November the side have enjoyed a double digit outcome. Winning by free over Galwegians and losing by three to Enniscorthy and four to Omagh Accies.
Enniscorthy have enjoyed a fruitful spell back in 2C, if results go their way this weekend we could see the Wexford men go top. It is not beyond the realms of possibility, Omagh defeating Galwegians by more than seven points and a bonus win for Scorthy would be enough. No one has matched Scorthy in terms of scoring this year, their defence is the leakiest of those top three sides however, Clogher bring a savage threat and this one will not be easy for either team.
Clonmel v Midleton, Saturday 20th January, Ardgaoithe, 2:30pm
Another Munster derby for Midleton, can it be another fruitful outcome from the Leesiders as they travel to Tipperary to face an out of form Clonmel.
Last weekend marked a fourth straight defeat for Clonmel as they have stumbled down the standings now sitting in seventh position. A lot more of a one sided defeat in truth than previous games, six, four and two points has been the margins in games prior to last weekend. Clonmel certainly are a quality outfit if they continue to drop points they could well end up facing the threat of a relegation battle despite being 11 clear as things stand.
Midleton survived at the finish of the second part of the season last term and this season they kick started it with a win to occupy sixth in the table. That can go a long way for this side in the hopes of finishing in the top half and building as they go. Claiming a 19-15 win at Towns Park in early December, has them looking for another win this weekend, winning last time out in convincing fashion over Bruff can also give them serious confidence.
Galwegians v Omagh Academicals, Saturday 20th January, Crowley Park, 2:30pm
Galwegians look to keep their lead of 2C intact this weekend as they welcome Omagh down to Crowley Park.
Wegians are very much a side inform coming into this one, winning four of their last five games to build up a two point lead at the summit. Certainly tested in many games this year, Wegians enjoyed a 27-5 win when last these two met. The Tribesmen also had two tough games with Ballina since then but did get the job done on both occasions and brimming with confidence they want to keep that going this weekend, especially if dropping points opens the door to lose top spot.
Omagh will know the threat of losing this one can be going forward, with the battle raging on beneath them they will want to put a gap between them and the drop zone and that will mean toppling the league leaders. It is something the Tyrone side have done before defeating Clogher Valley before Christmas which allowed Galwegians take top spot. Having had a varied run of results including defeat last time out, they will want to get results under their belt going forward.
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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.