AIL Preview: Division 2C Week 10

Round 10 of 2C brings action and drama into 2023, Instonians look to keep their unbeaten run intact while the race for promotion really heats up.

Ballina V Tullamore, Saturday January 14th, Heffernan Park, 2:30pm

After last weekend’s home win over Ballina, Tullamore bid to keep that momentum going in the reverse fixture this weekend.

The losing bonus point certainly will boost Ballina but in reality they need to put more wins on the board as they have seven losses from nine and just one of those nine brought a win. It really was a game of two halves last weekend going into the break down by ten, they brought it back to three before Tullamore secured their try bonus point, lessons will be learnt.

Eight wins from nine games puts Tullamore in a good position to try and remain in the title picture should the league leaders stumble in the coming weeks, nine points separates them from the summit and they need to keep up; that winning mentality to keep this good form alive.

Bangor V Skerries, Saturday January 14th, Upritchard Park, 2:30pm

Fresh from the winter break, Skerries look to nail down their spot in the top four, having won the reverse on home soil a tricky trip to Ulster now awaits.

Bangor will have to show a more dominant style of play in order to not repeat the defeat last time out, three unanswered tries in a row saw them come within a converted try of snatching a draw, they have the tools to get these results but now down to sixth in the table they need a win to stay in the top four hunt.

It has not always been smooth sailing for Skerries this year but a win this weekend can give them abolition over the next while, a consecutive win on the trot would help them stay clear of the scramble beneath them, a quality team with strong players they need a positive outcome to keep spirits high.

Bruff V Midleton, Saturday January 14th, Killballyowen Park, 2:30pm

Bruff bid to keep their winning streak alive and move further up the table, but Midelton will be out to better that week’s defeat.

Tries from Cillian Rea and Paul Collins kick started the Bruff comeback in last week’s second half fightback, that would see them take home all the points, a fourth win that leaves them a point behind provincial neighbours Clonmel, a top four finish is well within their reach.

It had been going so well for Midleton until that second half display saw them suffer a four point defeat, now comes a big test for them to try and overcome that defeat last time out and showcase that they can grab the result and not let it slip.

Instonians V Omagh Academicals, Saturday January 14th, Shaws Bridge, 2:30pm

Unbeaten in the opening half of the season, Instonians now look to pick up where they left off ahead of another Ulster derby.

For the league leaders it has been a dominant showing in the division, unbeaten in nine with nine bonus points to boot, they bring a blend of rugby that makes them a force to be reckoned with, their 42-15 win before the winter break gives them ambitions of replicating that in round 10.

Omagh sit just four points adrift of Sundays Well in ninth, they have slipped down the table with seven losses to date this game is one they need to make for better fortune but the cards are stacked against them with how strong their opponents have been.

Sundays Well V Clonmel, Saturday January 14th, Musgrave Park, 3:15pm

The final game of 2C for the first full round of games in 2023, see’s a game with implications at both ends of the table with extra spice being a Munster derby also.

A win for Well would put them level with Omagh if they fail to get points but a bonus point win elevates them to eight, they were well beaten 26-5 as they met in a cold clash before Christmas, a new year a new start for them to push on and try end the year on a high.

Clonmel have the coveted fourth spot in the table, hanging onto that will be important and a consecutive win would keep them in that fight for promotion as a dogfight may be on the cards before the season runs its course, that powerful performance last time out sets them up nicely for another shot at points.

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.

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