The meeting of UL Bohemian and Railway Union headlines round eight this weekend, two heavyweights locking horns in the top four, while elsewhere can Wicklow build on last weekend’s result to find some momentum.
Ballincollig v Old Belvedere, Saturday 18th November, Tanner Park, 4pm
With the league leaders facing a tough task this weekend a win for Belvedere would see them keep pace toward the summit.
Ballincollig have suffered three one sided defeats in succession to the “top four”, facing Belvedere this weekend on home soil can they turn that tide. With three wins from their opening seven games, the Cork outfit have surpassed last season’s performance but against the leaders have struggled. Belvo provides a tricky test this weekend and they will face another stern matchup.
The Dubliners journey south looking for their sixth straight win of the campaign. Since that opening day setback against Blackrock, they have been on a one way trip to the top half of the table and look to remain there this weekend. Belvedere have enjoyed some one sided wins in each of their last three meetings, with their eyes on the summit they are out for another big result.
Cooke v Blackrock College, Saturday 18th November, Shaw’s Bridge, 5pm
Blackrock like Belvedere are eyeing the chance to close the gap to the leaders should UL suffer defeat, second from bottom Cooke provide the opposition.
The Ulster contingent were unlucky not to end their losing streak on home soil last weekend as Wicklow snatched it in the second half. Against Blackrock will be a mammoth test for Cooke, recent meetings do not make for good reading as the Dublin heavyweights have proven a test too much.
Blackrock cannot leapfrog UL should they lose this weekend due to an incredible points difference, but can keep pressure applied all the same to remain level in the standings. They bounced well since that defeat in Annacotty overcoming Suttonians and Ballincollig in recent weeks, having won all their recent meetings they aim to continue that this weekend and bring Cooke’s unbeaten streak to 15 in the division.
Wicklow v Galwegians, Saturday 18th November, Ashtown Lane, 5pm
Wicklow scored their first win of the campaign last weekend on the road, on home soil this weekend can they keep that winning streak alive.
The spotlight shone on Saoirse O’Reilly as the winger scored a hat trick of tries to get Wicklow over the line in a cagey meeting in Belfast. A much needed result for the conference champions this season and with Galwegians sat bottom they will favour a result against the side they overcame to claim silverware last season.
Wegians off the back of their sixth straight defeat of the campaign will be looking to end that this weekend. It has been a tough campaign with players unavailable for selection and a host of players having departed earlier in the year, the struggles for them are well documented and they now need to turn that around before we near the midway point.
UL Bohemian v Railway Union, Saturday 18th November, 5:30pm
The late kick-off will be a massive meeting in Annacotty as leaders UL bid for a seventh straight win of the season against Railway Union.
For UL they have been the pace setters with six bonus point results thus far giving them a five point cushion to the chasing pack. Fiona Hayes’s charges have certainly been a well talked about prospect and the move of Chisom Ugwueru to return to her native Munster before the season began has proved fruitful, 12 tries thus far putting her in a league of her own. Can they avenge their defeat here 12 months ago and continue their charge for a title?
Railway suffered a first defeat of the campaign last weekend and look to prevent further slip ups this weekend. Narrowly losing their meeting with Belvo 6-3 last weekend, that has caused an early setback and nine behind UL, they cannot allow that to be furthered. With a strong history having not lost to UL since 2020, will the Dubliners prove too tough for this impressive looking Robins side.
Live Audio Commentary of this fixture can be found here.
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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.