AIL 2021-2022

Crankypantz

I read a report yesterday evening describing it as a black Saturday for limerick clubs.

Just shows how on any day in any league anyone can be caught.

Asan aside I watched ulster v ireland earlier. Great game.

Lucas44

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118215769#Comment_118215769

Nothing certain about queens, only 3 points ahead after buccaneers getting a game called off an hour before kick off due to covid last week

Chico Flores

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118236095#Comment_118236095

True enough - was more going off the size of their victories etc, but a fair point

Good win for us on Friday in a fecking insanely cold Belfield. Christ Im only warmed up now. Just a bigger pack is all, but having seen both Trnity and UCD up close, and as the results have show, Trinity certainly a better side. More skillful players.

Stainalert

That's an incredible win by Trinity over Young Munsters obviously helped by the red card for Munsters but very impressive none the less

Crankypantz

Trinity a very good side. I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the shake but up at the end of the season.

Stainalert

1A

CLONTARF v DUBLIN UNIVERSITY - should be a really good game, Tarf to win

LANSDOWNE v UCD - expecting UCD to get a load of their leinster players released so will be tough

TERENURE COLLEGE v BALLYNAHINCH - Hard to see past Terenure although by all accounts Hinch should have beaten Con last week

UCC v CORK CONSTITUTION - Cork Con to keep on winning

YOUNG MUNSTER v GARRYOWEN - Both teams badly need a win to steady the ship - going with home advantage

1B

NAAS v ST MARY'S COLLEGE - Naas looked good away to Shannon - Marys to snatch it

HIGHFIELD v CITY OF ARMAGH - No stopping Highfield

MALONE v SHANNON - Tricky away game for Shannon but they should have enough

OLD BELVEDERE v NAVAN RFC - Belvo seem to have been playing pretty without getting the wins but I think they will get the win v Navan

OLD WESLEY v BANBRIDGE - Old Wesley quietly going about their business hoping for Highfield to slip up - more of the same this week

Purple Fox

1A

CLONTARF v DUBLIN UNIVERSITY - Calling the upset, Trinity

LANSDOWNE v UCD - Peter Sullivan will make a big difference again, Lansdowne

TERENURE COLLEGE v BALLYNAHINCH - Terenure finding the stride and think Hinchs' best chance of a win is at home

UCC v CORK CONSTITUTION - Cork Con to win well

YOUNG MUNSTER v GARRYOWEN - Limerick ties are always close but YM stronger on paper,

1B

NAAS v ST MARY'S COLLEGE - Naas

HIGHFIELD v CITY OF ARMAGH - Highfield look a good side

MALONE v SHANNON - Gonna go Malone, think they are settling into their squad with some more consistency, long trip for Shannon

OLD BELVEDERE v NAVAN RFC - Belvo at home should be strong enough

OLD WESLEY v BANBRIDGE - Old Wesley are top 2 team, them and Highfield to go up. Surprised at how poor ban are doing tho

Lost Ormond

Any one at a game? Or able post up division 1 and 2 results?

Bogwoppit

Naas beat Mary’s 35-19 last night.

Zeugnis

Clontarf beat Trinity 27-7.

Lansdowne beat UCD 48-15.

Terenure beat Ballynahinch 39-0.

Young Munster beat Garryowen 20-16.

Con beat UCC 45-0.

luke9311

lansdowne winning 48-15..... not much to write home about in terms of how the game went other than the scoreline reflected it tbh. Cosgrave at 15 is a decent enough player... would love to see him come through the leinster fold if he doesnt get 7s tied

luke9311

and on that point in the can anyone tell me is ucd hooker bobby sheehan is/ever was/or still is in the leinster academy does anyone know? he played today very very big guy

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118269886#Comment_118269886

Not AFAIK but @Lsdrugbyfan will know.

Cullen has name checked him, but there was talk (i.e. forum speculation!) that he might get converted to another position. Given that the next decade will be a ding dong battle at hooker between his brother Dan and Ronan Kelleher., it's easy to see the logic in that.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118269886#Comment_118269886

Not academy and wasnt ever full academy. sub academy i think for while.

On Covid and teams having 0-0 draws. Interesting effect on division 2C now with Clonmel after 8 games have 4 draws. 2 from covid and theyve drawn 2 of the 6 games they have played. Skerries and Enniscorthy beginning to pull away at top of that division as well. theyre 12 and 10 clear of 3rd at this stage...

Greystones looking very good in 2B. Just the 1 point dropped. 14 clear of second and their points difference is plus 232!!!

Queens look quite likely to go up in 2A. Nenagh struggling fair bit at the bottom

Lsdrugbyfan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118269886#Comment_118269886

was in leinster sub-academy

Lost Ormond

Friday

Division 1B

Navan v Naas, Balreask Old, 8pm

Division 2A

Old Crescent v UL Bohemian, Takumi Park, 7:30pm

Division 2B

Malahide v Blackrock College, Estuary Road, 8pm

Saturday

Division 1A

Ballynahinch v Lansdowne, Ballymacarn Park, 2:30pm

Cork Constitution v Terenure College, Temple Hill, 2:30pm

Dublin University v UCC, College Park, 2:30pm

Garryowen v Clontarf, Dooradoyle, 2:30pm

UCD v Young Munster, Belfield, 2:30pm

Division 1B

Banbridge v Old Belvedere, Rifle Park, 2:30pm

City Of Armagh v Old Wesley, Palace Grounds, 2:30pm

Shannon v Highfield, Thomond Park, 2:30pm.

St. Mary’s College v Malone, Templeville Road, 2:30pm

Division 2A

MU Barnhall v Cashel, Parsonstown, 2:30pm

Ballymena v Rainey Old Boys, Eaton Park, 2:30pm

Dolphin v Nenagh Ormond, Musgrave Park, 2:30pm

Queen’s University v Buccaneers, Dub Lane, 2:30pm

Division 2B

Dungannon v Belfast Harlequins, Stevenson Park, 2:30pm

Galway Corinthians v Ballina, Corinthian Park, 2:30pm

Sligo v Galwegians, Hamilton Park, 2:30pm

Wanderers v Greystones, Merrion Road, 2pm

Division 2C

Bangor v Skerries, Upritchard Park, 2:30pm

Bruff v Sundays Well, Kilballyowen Park, 2:30pm

City Of Derry v Omagh Academicals, Judges Road, 2:30pm

Clonmel v Enniscorthy, Ardgaoithe, 2:30pm

Midleton v Tullamore, Towns Park, 2:30pm

Lost Ormond

Promotion relegation confirmed by irfu

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/12/10/changes-to-energia-all-ireland-league-promotion-relegation-for-2021-22/

Lost Ormond

Bohs 28 Crescent 17. Fine crowd on cold night for a game. Not greatest of games but deserved win for visitors.

Malahide Blackrock was 34-34 draw and Naas beat Navan 22-17

Lost Ormond

Absolutely drenched after today,...

Garryowen well beaten by Tarf who were well worth the win. very impressive by them. very dominant performance

Hey boy

With the exception of 2A (Queen’s and Ballymena) and Quinn’s in 2B why do the Ulster clubs not fare better in the AIL?

Red Silurian

Quick question for people. How much are you being charged for entry to these games. It's been a tenner for Garryowen and half that for students and OAPs since the start of the season and the same at Young Munster 2 weeks ago, just wondering is it the same or more or less at other clubs? Fantastic value I should add

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118308229#Comment_118308229

Strange one. When league began 30 years ago it was Ballymena who were expected to dominate along with Wanderers, etc but they just didnt get what the Munster clubs had or would do.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118326025#Comment_118326025

Tenner at nearly all games/grounds i go to - been to AIL games in Garryowen, Tarf, Nenagh, Buccaneers, Clontarf, Crescent and Corinthians this season so far. trinity generally dont charge b/c cant really but do have a donations bucket go round

Dont think many/if any charge more than that

Hey boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118326025#Comment_118326025

£5.00 at Ballymena game I went to.

Purple Fox

Bateman Cup Semis this weekend: Armagh V Lansdowne and Young Munsters V Ballina

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118411814#Comment_118411814

Cant see Ballina or Armagh causing a shock but Armagh being at home gives them a better shot at doing that than Ballina.

Lost Ormond

Ballina concede to Young Munster due to covid

Red Silurian

For anybody interested the Garryowen V Young Munsters match that was scheduled for 8pm on Friday the 21st it has now been moved to Saturday the 22nd at 2:30pm

I presume this is due to the recent 8pm lockdown of hospitality

Lost Ormond

Hopefully all games can get played this weekend

2 games tomorrow night. bohs v crescent in 2A and Naas Navan in 1B.

1A

Clontarf v Garryowen

Lansdowne v Ballynahinch

Terenure v Cork Con

UCC v Trinity

Young Munster v UCD

1B

Highfield v Shannon

Malone v St Marys

Old Belvedere v Banbridge

Old Wesley v Armagh

2A

Buccaneers v Queens

Cashel v Barnhall

Nenagh v Dolphin

Rainey v Ballymena

2B

Galwegians v Sligo

Ballina v Corinthians

Belfast Harlequins v Dungannon

Blackrock v Malahide

Greystones v Wanderers

2C

Enniscorthy v Clonmel

Omagh v City of Derry

Skerries v Bangor

Sundays Well v Bruff

Tullamore v Midleton

Lost Ormond

Bohs 15 Crescent 34

Naas 29 Navan 7

Faugheen

Mick Kearney starting for Tarf against Garryowen today.

Tarf’s team as a whole is the strongest I think I’ve seen it this year.

https://twitter.com/clontarfrugby/status/1482330684366671872?s=21

Lost Ormond

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/01/15/energia-mens-all-ireland-league-results-round-up-11/

Stainalert

Leagues are really hotting up with some great matches this weekend

1A

BALLYNAHINCH v TERENURE COLLEGE - Terenure are flying at the moment, never easy at Hinch but Terenure will have enough

CORK CONSTITUTION v UCC - Con badly need a win to get things going, think they will be too strong for the students

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY v CLONTARF - Trinity apparently very strong this week - should be a cracker of a game. Going to go with Trinity

GARRYOWEN v YOUNG MUNSTER - Great derby game which I think will go down to the wire with Munsters prevailing

UCD v LANSDOWNE - Hearing UCD are strong this weekend - They have Scott Penny, Tommy O'Brien, Paddy Patterson apparently

1B

BANBRIDGE v OLD WESLEY - Banbridge showing some life recently but Wesley will have too much and will hold onto their No 1 spot

CITY OF ARMAGH v HIGHFIELD - Should be a great battle. Highfield to edge it

NAVAN RFC v OLD BELVEDERE - Belvo need to raise their game and I think will have too much for Navan

SHANNON v MALONE - Shannon just off the back of 2 great results against Highfield should push on with a win

ST MARY'S COLLEGE v NAAS - Very tight game 50/50 really, will go with Naas but only just

Lost Ormond

Any thoughts on division 2 Stainalert? You only ever put up division 1 fixtures

2A

Ballymena v Bohs - Ballymena will want to keep pressure on queens in case they slip up and should get good win here

Dolphin v Cashel - Cashel to edge it

Barnhall v Buccaneers - Buccaneers

Crescent v Nenagh - Nenagh had good win last week and may get another here which would bring them in striking distance of Crescent, Bohs to avoid the playoff with Rainey

Queens v Rainey - Should be comfortable win for students who are looking more and more like theyll run away with division

2B

Corinthians v Galwegians - Corinthians in much better form tho form can go out window in derbies like this cant see wegians getting anything tonight

Dungannon v Blackrock - Blackrock have more to play for and are in with good chance of playoff spot so may edge this

Malahide v Ballina - Ballina to put gap between themselves and Malahide at bottom to 11 points with win here

Sligo v Greystones - Should be very good game and Greystones to extend their lead at top

Wanderers v Belfast Harlequins - Wanderers

2C

Bangor v Sundays Well - home win

Bruff v Enniscorthy - league leaders to get away win

City of Derry v Skerries - skerries

Clonmel v Tullamore - tullamore

Midleton v Omagh - midleton

Dan Goggin and Pa Campbell starting for Young Munster with Eoin O'Connor on the bench. I would imagine Garryowen will have the likes of Mark Donnelly, Cian Hurley, Jack Daly, Tony Butler available to them again this weekend and potentially Neil Cronin and Paddy Kelly who have all played for them this season. Should be a cracker.

Stainalert

Great to see loads of players being released by the provinces to play AIL

Lost Ormond

Corinthians 43 Wegians 15

great having games streamed and with commentary. hope clubs can keep this up

Lost Ormond

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/01/22/energia-mens-all-ireland-league-results-round-up-12/

Hey boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118514806#Comment_118514806

Pity there aren’t Friday night games in 2A, 2B etc

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118519805#Comment_118519805

2A has a fair few think 8 across season which is around same as 1B if not more than it. Division 2 far more geographically spread out so harder for clubs to have friday night games

Easy to have a lot of Friday games in 1A when theres 5 clubs in 1 city, 2 in 2 other cities.

Hey boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118519865#Comment_118519865

My own experience is that they are well attended but I understand the logistical problems for clubs.

Stainalert

1A

Lots of players playing URC this weekend that played AIL last weekend so a fair bit of change across most teams I suspect

CLONTARF v UCC - Tarf to win easily

CORK CON v BALLYNAHINCH - Con with a BP

LANSDOWNE v GARRYOWEN - We will need a big improvement from last week to have a chance here

TERENURE COLLEGE v UCD - Terenure will win well

YOUNG MUNSTER v DUBLIN UNIVERSITY - I think Trinity might get the away win

1B

HIGHFIELD v BANBRIDGE - Highfield have slipped of late but will get back to winning ways

MALONE v CITY OF ARMAGH - Tight game going to go with Armagh

NAAS v SHANNON - 2 form teams - I think Naas will edge it

NAVAN v ST MARY'S COLLEGE - Marys to win well

OLD WESLEY v OLD BELVEDERE - Old Wesley on a roll and should have too much for Belvo

Chico Flores

Mighty win v UCD for us. But they were missing so many.

But we are in a nice little groove. Team playing so well

Lost Ormond

Some turn around for nenagh. Have struggled at times this season and lost to Ballymena before Christmas 46-12 and beat them this afternoon 41-7.

Some gaps emerging in 1A. 12 points now between UCD and bottom 2 hinch, UCC. and UCD are 9 off Garryowen who are 7 off Trinity. Tarf 5 clear of Lansdowne. Con are 4th and their ability to get losing bonus point from every game theyve lost could be key to them making playoffs at seasons end

Wesley now 6 clear at top of 1B. Highfield then 4 clear of Marys next. At bottom Banbridge and Navan both on 14 and 5 adrift of Malone. Could be very interesting how that plays out

Queens look like they could run away with 2A and put 58 on Bohs in Limerick today and are 13 clear of Cashel who took advantage, very late on, of Ballymenas loss. Nenagh are thanks to their win and Bohs big defeat just 3 off the Limerick side and avoiding the relegation playoff.

Greystones are 13 clear of the rest in 2B and scored 59 against Wegians today. very tight behind them with 6 points between the next 5. Corinthians are next on 39 just ahead of Rock on points difference with Wanderers and Belfast Quins 3 behind them and Sligo a further 3 points behind. Wegians 12 points off Ballina who are 9th after Malahides win over Corinthians lifted them out of the 9th/10th playoff.

Some big gaps between top sides in 2C with the bottom very close. Enniscorthy 9 clear of Skerries who are 9 ahead of Tullamore and Bangor and then another 9 points between them and Omagh. While Sundays Well and Clonmel are currently in the drop zone on 13 and Derry are on 15 and Midleton 16.

Lost Ormond

Division 1A

Clontarf 26 UCC 13

Cork Constitution 26 Ballynahinch 15

Lansdowne 46 Garryowen 5

Terenure College 60 UCD 8

Young Munster 8 Dublin University 27

Division 1B

Highfield 19 Banbridge 8

Malone v Armagh Covid-19-affected match cancelled – 0-0. Both teams are awarded two points)

Naas 38 Shannon 29

Navan 28 St. Mary’s College 36

Old Wesley 22 Old Belvedere 7

Division 2A

Cashel 22 Old Crescent 19

Barnhall 50 Dolphin 24

Nenagh Ormond 41 Ballymena 7

Rainey Old Boys 3 Buccaneers 60

UL Bohemians 5 Queen’s University 58

Division 2B

Ballina 19 Dungannon 28

Belfast Harlequins 32 Sligo 22

Blackrock College 31 Wanderers 26

Galway Corinthians 17 Malahide 37

Greystones 59 Galwegians 7

Division 2C

City of Derry 19 Midleton 20

Enniscorthy 29 Bangor 25

Omagh Academicals 6 Clonmel 8

Sunday’s Well 14 Skerries 9

Tullamore 28 Bruff 7

Lost Ormond

Bateman Cup final scheduled to be played February 12th in Musgrave Park at 1.45pm

Strange venue for a game between Young Munster and Lansdowne

Stainalert

IRFU had initially fixed it for St Marys for what I am told were very strong reasons and then following complaints from Young Munster the IRFU rugby committee changed it to Musgrave Park citing fairness and neutrality. The preference for neutrality seems to be relatively new as there used to be an option of tossing a coin for home advantage but that wasn't considered this time.

Should be a great game if the AIL fixture earlier in the season is anything to go by.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118581097#Comment_118581097

Fair call to move from Marys but surprised Cork was selected. Portlaoise or Naas would have been better in between both

Neutrality would be new ish concept tho it would have been in play for other finals at different stages.

RuPi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118581342#Comment_118581342

I imagine TV and commentary would have been an issue and potentially why they went to Musgrave. It is usually shown on RTE so presuming this would be the reason.

Stainalert

Irish Rugby | Energia Bateman Cup Final Preview: Lansdowne v Young Munster

Game getting streamed by irishrugby.ie

Lost Ormond

Comfortable win for Lansdowne.

Not over but 46-6 lead with few minutes remaining