Four finals are down for decision today in the AIL, with plenty of high’s and low’s expected as for some it will be a day of jubilitation.
Keep updated with all of the action from today’s finals including live audio commentary of the 2B promotion play-off final from Holmpatrick and updates from the other ties here.
Skerries V Bruff, Holmpatrick, Division 2B Promotion Play-Off Final
A spot in 2B is on the line for both teams in this decider, having worked so hard this season it comes down to this.
Skerries missed out last season on promotion and now have a shot at making 2B but have to get past a valiant Bruff, the Goats are unchanged from their narrow win over Tullamore, having finished in second they earned back to back home ties in the race for promotion, a 24 point gap between them in the league standings will not be an issue to the Shannon men.
Bruff relegated Galwegians with a win out west in the semi final and are now hoping to upset the odds against Skerries and gain promotion, the side narrowly made the last four on the final day but have shown what they can do all season, Jake O’Riordan is a talented scrum half, having played with St Munchin’s this season in the Munster Schools Senior Cup, Ireland Under-19 number 9 is a big game player.
UL Bohemian V Dungannon, Annacotty, Division 2A Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final
UL Bohs five year streak in 2A is at stake as they take on a Dungannon side aiming to leave 2B having featured since 2015, a big game on Shannonside.
The Robins will be a strong side, with Harry Byrne at out-half they have a goal kicker who is accurate but also can gain yards, they used him well against Sligo with his place kicking on point to down the Westerners in the semi final, the inform pair of Ireland underage internationals Evan O’Connell and Ihechi Oji gives them a chance at remaining in the Division for another season.
Toppling Dungannon in the semi final may have been a surprise based on league standings, but they went West and toppled the side who looked a shoe in for the title if Greystones failed to get results late on, now Gannon head south to Shannonside, looking to do the same in Jonny Gillespie’s first season in charge for the Ulster side.
Blackrock College V MU Barnhall, Stradbrook, Division 1B Promotion Play-Off Final
Having just missed out on the league title to Queens, Blackrock have one final test in their way as the inform MU Barnhall side travel from Kildare look to continue a fairy-tale season.
Rock are chasing back to back promotions having jumped into the 2A race this year, they now want to be in the second flight something we haven’t seen since 2016, they have been a terrific side all season, a high scoring side, with a dominant game plan they have taken some stopping, with Barnhall feeling the brunt of their force twice already this season.
The Kildare men have not been in the promotion picture since 2020, they looked certain to get promoted to 1B that year but a covid halted season saw zero progress, since then they have failed to get within a sniff of getting up but now this year it look’s on the cards, they stormed up the standings to even lead at one point, the Blue Bulls also won their semi final narrowly by two points, this tie will be a battle.
Shannon V Highfield, Thomond Park Back Pitch, Division 1A Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final
The final game up for decision today, is one of the biggest Munster Derbies all year, as Highfield travel to Limerick with the aim of making it to 1A, as the hosts do everything to keep their status.
Flashback 12 months ago and Shannon were in the same spot, needing a win to move up a division however, this time it’s to keep that same spot they earned, along that way they toppled their Cork opponents in the semi finals, aiming for the same today as top flight rugby is what they club aims for, they pulled off promotion last year and overcame Wesley in their home venue, now it’s all or nothing.
Highfield went to Ollie Campbell Park a fortnight ago and put on a clinic to overcome Belvedere, a game they showed just why they want to claim this 1A berth, they have been there and lost it like we seen last year, now it’s a final in the shadow of the home of Munster Rugby, they cannot let that get the better of them as Shannon are still a tough side, Cian Bohane an ex Munster man knows this venue all too well and will aim to keep his top try scoring marker alive for his side.
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.