It all comes down to this. After some heart stopping rugby in the AIL regular season we reach the final stage for clubs to book promotion or survival. Garryowen and Old Belvedere will look to move up to 1A this weekend while Queens University fight to stay in 1B against MU Barnhall.
UL Bohemian hope to stay in 2A as they take on Galway Corinthians, the same can be said for Dolphin who face the threat of relegation from 2B against Galwegians. Meanwhile Bangor could lose their senior status if they suffer defeat to Monkstown in the Division 2C Promotion/ Relegation Play-Off Final
Division 1A Promotion Play-Off Final:
Garryowen v Old Belvedere, Saturday April 27th, Dooradoyle, 2.30pm
Can Old Belvedere end a wait since 2017 to play 1A rugby or will Garryowen use home advantage and make it a one year stint in 1B, for sure it promises to be a real classic between these two.
Garryowen in their own credit have bounced back well following that relegation last term, 11 wins from 18 games, ending up in third spot in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season.
The Limerick side won both of their meetings with Belvedere this year so form might just be with them having learned an awful lot about the other during the course of the campaign. An impressive attacking style is boosted by their very strong defence as they had the second best record in keeping sides at bay, they will want to use that to their advantage this weekend.
Garryowen coughed up 12 points when the pair met in Limerick back in October and just three points away in Ollie Campbell Park in March. The Dubliners have certainly been limited in scoring in those previous two meetings but outside of playing Garryowen have been strong in the scoring front.
Belvo showed that attacking intent when they defeated Shannon last weekend 46-8 down in Limerick. It was Belvedere playing at their glittering best and can they replicate that ahead of another trip to Limerick Garryowen may be in trouble.
As the season was nearing an end it looked like the Dubliners would not make the play-offs but now they are 80 minutes away from a spot in 1A. Remarkable work done by Belvo who when the test looked difficult managed to grind out the results needed. Garryowen did help them on the final day as they bested Highfield.
The heavyweights will certainly meet in Dooradoyle but who can land the knockout punch needed to move up to 1A. Garryowen have not been in a play-off final since 2015 where they went up to 1A and remained until last season.
On that day in 2015 it was a tie against St Mary’s that saw Garryowen move up to 1A in the capital, down on Shannonside could they topple another Dublin based club to go up. Belvedere last won promotion to the top flight in 2010, having come close since can they mark a return.
A short turnaround for these two sides since those semi-finals, who can claim the riches on offer and dine at the top table next season.
Division 1B/2A Promotion/ Relegation Play-Off Final:
Queen’s University v MU Barnhall, Saturday April 27th, Dub Lane, 2.30pm
Last season these two were locked for a time in a title race in 2A, now 12 months later this meeting of the two will determine which side will play 1B rugby next season.
If their previous meetings have anything to go by then it will be an exciting match between these two. Last year with these two was all about silverware, now for Queens it will be to remain in 1B, for Barnhall they will want to play 1B rugby next year.
Back when the AIL format was different was the last time Barnhall played in the “Second tier” of the AIL, 2008 they were relegated from the old Division 2 and since then have not played in the second tier of this league.
Could that change come Saturday afternoon?. The visitors have been once again a strong team with ten wins to their name this season as they occupied third spot, two points behind Cashel who they defeated narrowly in the semi-finals.
To go down to Spafield and record a win in such late fashion shows their intent for promotion. A cagey affair and even when Barnhall struggled with their discipline they managed to put in the winning performance.
In their last four meetings Queens however have held all the right cards. Four wins from four and while some games were single digit wins, their last meeting in Belfast was a 57-10 win for the Ulster side in March of last year.
Times have changed for the teams, Queens who lost just four games last year on course for the league title have suffered more than triple the defeats this season. 13 losses out of 18 games saw them finish in the relegation play-off places, they have throughout this year shown their quality.
No doubt it was shown when Queens won 59-17 last weekend in Belfast against Banbridge. Eight tries, some incredible rugby on display and in the end they have one final shot to stay up.
It will be tough to call between these two sides who will line out in 1B next season
Division 2A/2B Promotion/ Relegation Play-Off Final:
UL Bohemian v Galway Corinthians, Saturday April 27th, Annacotty, 2.30pm
After an incredibly dramatic end to their semi-final in Annacotty last weekend, no doubt the final in Annacotty to see if UL Bohemian can remain in 2A will also have drama as Galway Corinthians look to move up a grade.
The Red Robins won with the final kick of the game last weekend and have a short turnaround to meet a second Connacht side in seven days. Drama and a tint of controversy as the whistle had sounded for full time as a Harry Byrne conversion drifted wide which was charged down early.
Byrne took the conversion for a second occasion and this one sailed between the posts and UL Bohs had one final game to confirm safety for a consecutive season or they will be playing in 2B for the first time in their history.
Since they added more Divisions to the AIL, UL have never played in 2B spending time in Division 1 for a time but mainly occupied a seat in the top Divisions. Bohs have played in 2A since the 2018-19 season and this looked like a year that they would fight for promotion but in the end like last season they are fighting to stay up.
BJ Botha’s side were a prime promotion candidate going into the Christmas break but last weekend was just their second win of the next year. Bohs are battle hardened and after weathering the Sligo storm last weekend will be looking for a similar outcome this weekend against Corinthians.
The Tribesmen have not played in 2A since being relegated at the end of the 2017-18 season but certainly in these last few seasons they are building on a push for 2B. In the 2021/22 season it was dashed in a semi-final for the title, last year it was a play-off semi-final, this year they have made it to the final stretch but getting over UL Bohs is the final hurdle after the pain of these last few seasons trying to get back to 2A.
A first meeting of the pair since April 2015 when they met in the Thomond Park back pitch, Corinthians have been on a strong push this season and lost three times this season, they play a strong attacking brand of rugby with some clinical scorers. Their attack has been potent in securing that second spot in 2B.
Over the years Corinthians have pushed for promotion but these last three in succession have been agonisingly close. They are very much inform in comparison to their opponents, winning their last six games with plenty of challenging moments in those games on route to this weekend’s decider.
Division 2B/2C Promotion/ Relegation Play-Off Final
Dolphin v Galwegians, Saturday April 27th, Virgin Media Park, 2.30pm
Two sides who faced relegation last season meet in Virgin Media Park on Saturday afternoon, Dolphin looking to avoid a consecutive relegation, Galwegians hoping to go back to 2B having dropped down last year.
You have to give credit to Dolphin for the way they have managed the end of the season to avoid the automatic drop. Losing to Belfast Harlequins in a must win game on the penultimate weekend looked to be the end of their survival hopes but they c\ame out and bested Dungannon on the final day and one point was enough to see them in the play-offs.
Having been marooned to the bottom spot they got those wins fighting hard to take the points, but losing bonus points also played their part in the Leesiders avoiding the automatic drop. Just five wins on the board this season, three more than last season where they finished bottom of 2A.
Despite almost giving Enniscirthy a 15-0 head start last weekend on home soil, they picked up a 42-20 win, showing their attacking prowess despite having the second least potent attack in 2B this term.
Galwegians will certainly be hungry to return to 2B after losing their play-off semi final last season they almost grabbed silverware this season but could not turn over a five point deficit to Clogher Valley having lost key games while occupying top spot.
Wegians lost four games this campaign but might be kicking themselves that they failed to land a title where they did take pole position for a time. Nevertheless they have to knuckle down and focus on meeting Dolphin in the hopes of pushing on in a new Divisions.
The Galway men finished as the highest scoring side in 2C this season be it a single point on the score chart in difference to Clogher Valley. Wegians have some tremendous scorers at their disposal and are no stranger to breaches defences Dolphin conceding 625 points this season is a worry meeting a team like Galwegians.
A first trip down to Leeside for Galwegians since the 3rd of November 2018 where they suffered a 22-17 defeat to the hosts. When they last met in March 2019 it was Dolphin again who claimed the spoils winning 28-0, with everything at stake this weekend who will leave playing 2B rugby next season.
Division 2C Promotion/ Relegation Play-Off Final
Bangor v Monkstown, Saturday April 27th, Upritchard Park, 2.30pm
Winning this 2C Play-Off is vital for these two teams from a different perspective, Monkstown have been away from the AIL since 2003 and look to end a 21 year wait to return, Bangor will not want to lose their senior status this weekend.
It came right down to the final day but in the end thanks to Clogher Valley defeating Ballina and Bangor claiming a win over Midleton it was confirmed they would not suffer the automatic drop down to the junior grade.
The Ulstermen were up against it as the season neared an end, with three rounds left only points difference separated them from Ballina in that slogfest in the bottom two. Three wins on the bounce helped them give the points to stay off bottom spot with that final day bringing plenty of drama.
A side who can pull it out of the fire when they have their backs to the wall, when they needed it a 21-6 win over Bruff, a 38-31 win over Clonmel and an 18-15 win over Midleton followed. A talented team who want to push on in 2C when they have fallen down in the order in the last few years.
Finishing second bottom in the 2019-20 season they mounted a title charge in 21/22 but having finished sixth last season they have yet again finished ninth spot and now face the threat of losing their spot in the AIL.
Monkstown no doubt were left heartbroken to lose their All Ireland Provincial League Championship Final at the death in Balreask Old to Ballyclare earlier this month, they must dust themselves off ahead of such a crucial tie in the clubs history.
21 years is a long time to wait to get back into the AIL but they came within a whisker of ending that wait a few short weeks ago. When Schalk Jooste went over for their fourth try and Matt Stapleton converted with just minutes left they were ahead 28-26 having been behind 23-7 at the break.
It was a stunning comeback but the wind was knocked right out of them when Ballyclare sniped a try in injury time. The Dubliners will not rest on their laurels and will want to head up to Upritchard Park confident of defeating a regular in the AIL.
Monsktown have had an impressive season winning Division 1A of the Leinster League emerging as provincial champions with 11 wins from 14 games finishing up 12 points clear of Seapoint and 16 clear of Bective Rangers who failed to reach this stage of the competition last year having suffered semi-final defeat in the qualifiers.
Under Paddy Thorton’s guidance Monkstown look a threat, 13 bonus point wins this season in the Leinster League, defeating Thomond 33-17 in the semi-final and a strong performance followed in the final despite defeat. With Stapleton’s goal kicking very impressive Monkstown have a weapon in their Centre’s boot.
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.