The AIL Women’s season concludes this weekend, with the final team to advance to the semi-finals needing to be decided, UL Bohemian, Wicklow and Galwegians all in contention.
The calculators will need to be out to see just who can finish fourth, UL win and that that really as they are the team currently in fourth, should they lose outright to Wegians a bonus point win sees them up to fourth until Wicklow kick off. UL winning would see the same four teams contest the semi-finals again from last year.
If Wicklow then win they take fourth from the Galway side, a draw would not be enough unless they notched a bonus try for scoring in the game. Bonus points could see Bohemians through also, scoring and a losing point would move them to 21, Wicklow would need to win and better their score difference or get a bonus point win over Railway Union to take fourth.
Ballincollig V Cooke, Sat November 19th, Tanner Park, 3pm
The bottom two sides in the league will look to finish on a high note as they meet in a decider over who avoids finishing bottom.
Both are winless this season, with the Cork outfit slightly better off after a draw with Wicklow at the start of October. Despite being ahead of Cooke, Ballincollig have the worst defensive record in the league, they will need to sharpen up to avoid defeat on home soil.
It could be a case of eight defeats in a row for Cooke, they have struggled to find any form to pull themselves off bottom, they have shown their ability in glimmers but were unable to take any results, this game could cough up any result.
Blackrock College V Suttonians, Sat November 19th, Stradbrook, 3pm
Blackrock can end the regular season unbeaten if they can get the better of seventh placed Suttonians.
Little to play for both teams in truth, Blackrock are already named as the hosts for a semi-final, to give them the best boost going unbeaten would leave the other three teams worried to face them, but it could be a game to test out fringe players and avoid costly injuries going into the next stage of the season.
Suttonians too could end with a high point having been the only team to defeat Blackrock in the year, but it is certainly a test for them as The Rock have a team full of quality and will test a defence that has been breached a lot this season.
UL Bohemian V Galwegians, Sat November 19th, Annacotty, 3pm
Here is where the weekend gets interesting, in the three-way fight for the fourth spot, a win for UL is a must.
UL can make the final four with a win, with how good they have looked in recent weeks, they will be in great form going into this tie.
Wegians have lost their last four in a row and are a side really out of form looking to try and win a crucial game to end on a high as they have a very outside chance of making the final four.
Wicklow RFC V Railway Union, Sat November 19th, Ashtown Lane, 5pm
By kick off at Ashtown Lane, Wicklow should know what they need to do make the top four if UL lose and also if they can topple second placed Railway Union.
Wicklow have had a tough run in to finish the season, having had to play Old Belvedere last weekend which resulted in defeat and now Union, before those three wins in a row had them looking good in fourth, they need a win if UL slip up in their 3pm tie.
Railway can finish the season on a high with a win to boost confidence ahead of the semi-finals, they almost had the perfect season but suffered a first defeat to Blackrock last weekend 19-17 in a dramatic close tie, after that game they will look to dust themselves off and go again but in reality, they have nothing to play for only to keep spirts high.
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.