...Fergal Lawlor of UL Bohemians takes on Lansdowne's Robbie Dolan during the Limerick side's 15-14 defeat at headquarters on November 4...
See below for previews of this weekend's Division One matches - UL Bohemians have a chance to reclaim top spot from Shannon when Cork Constitution pay Thomond Park a visit.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, December 2
BLACKROCK COLLEGE (7th) v GALWEGIANS (12th), Stradbrook, 2.30pm
Referee: Marshall Kilgore (Ulster)
Previous League Meetings: 9 (Blackrock W3, D1, Galwegians W5); At Stradbrook: 3 (Blackrock W0, Galwegians W4)
Last Season: October 15, 2005 - Galwegians 6 Blackrock 15, Crowley Park
Form: Blackrock (most recent games on left hand side): WLLWL
Galwegians: LLLWL
Blackrock - Notes: *This is their only home game to a Connacht club this season
*They have only won one of their previous eight AIB League games at home to Connacht clubs
*Along with UL Bohemians and Galwegians, they have collected the most bonus point (three) so far in AIB League Division One
*They lost 14-13 to Galwegians in April 2005 the last time the sides met at Stradbrook, but moved up four places when they beat Terenure College 31-19 last time out
*Their top points scorer is Fionn Carr (43 points). Their top try scorers are Carr and Des Dillon (2 each)
Galwegians - Notes: *This is their second of three away games in Leinster this season
*This weekend they are searching for their 40th success in 70 AIB League games against Leinster clubs - they have won on all four of their previous visits to Stradbrook
*The away team has won the last four clashes between these two sides
*They have kicked the least amount of penalties - three - so far this season in Division One. Along with UL Bohemians and Galwegians, they have collected the most bonus points (three) in Division One after four games
*Their top points scorer is Paddy O'Toole (25 points). Their top try scorer is Conor McPhillips (4)
BUCCANEERS (14th) v DUNGANNON (9th), Dubarry Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Dermot Moloney (Munster)
Previous League Meetings: 9 (Buccaneers W6, Dungannon W3); At Dubarry Park: 5 (Buccaneers W4, Dungannon W1)
Last Season: October 15, 2005 - Dungannon 26 Buccaneers 18, Stevenson Park
Form: Buccaneers (most recent games on left hand side): DWLLL
Dungannon: WWLLL
Buccaneers - Notes: *This is their only home game against an Ulster club this season
*They are bidding this weekend to secure their 25th win in 42 AIB League meetings with Ulster clubs
*They have conceded the most penalty goals - ten - in Division One this season, and have yet to win at home in the league so far this term
*They have won their last four games at home to Dungannon in the AIB League
*Their top points scorer is Tommy Cregan (41 points)
Dungannon - Notes: *This is their first of two trips to Connacht this season
*This weekend will see them playing their tenth league fixture in Connacht and they are bidding for their fourth win
*They lost 12-10 on their last AIB League visit to Buccaneers in December 2004 - they have only won one of their last four league encounters with the Pirates
*They first played Buccs in a play-off at the end of the 1997/98 season and they were relegated to Division Two on a 38-27 aggregate score line
*Their top points scorer is Richard McCarter (35 points). Their top try scorer is also McCarter (2)
...Clontarf's Fiach O'Loughlin peers out of a ruck against Cork Constitution...
DOLPHIN (5th) v CLONTARF (8th), Musgrave Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Colin Stanley (Ulster)
Previous League Meetings: 4 (Dolphin W1, Clontarf W3); At Musgrave Park: 2 (Dolphin W1, Clontarf W1)
Last Season: No match (Dolphin were in Division Two)
Form: Dolphin (most recent on left hand side): WLWWW
Clontarf: WLWLL
Dolphin - Notes: *This is their third of four home games against Leinster clubs this season
*They first played Clontarf back in Division Two during the 1992/93 season - they have lost their last four AIB League games against the north Dubliners
*They moved up five places in the Division One table after their win over Belfast Harlequins last time out
*They have beaten two other Dublin clubs, UCD and Blackrock, in Cork already this season, and have won their last five league games at Musgrave Park
*Their top points scorer is Barry Keeshan (33 points). Their top try scorers are George Finn and Tomas O'Leary (2 each)
Clontarf - Notes: *This is their third of four trips to Munster this season
*The last time they faced Dolphin away in the AIB League - back in February 1998 - they won 46-21
*They have already been to Cork this season, losing 20-10 to Constitution - they have lost both of their away games in the league to date this season
*Last time out in Division One, they registered their 100th league victory by beating UCD, although they lost the Leinster Senior Cup final to Old Belvedere on November 12
*Their top points scorer is Daragh O'Shea (21 points). Their top try scorer is Peter O'Brien (2)
GARRYOWEN (3rd) v BELFAST HARLEQUINS (16th), Dooradoyle, 2.30pm
Referee: Alain Rolland (Leinster)
Previous League Meetings: 6 (Garryowen W3, Harlequins W3); At Dooradoyle: 3 (Garryowen W1, Harlequins W2)
Last Season: October 15, 2005 - Belfast Harlequins 13 Garryowen 30, Deramore Park
Form: Garryowen (most recent on left hand side): WLWWL
Harlequins: LLLLL
Garryowen - Notes: *This is their last of two home games against Ulster clubs this season
*They first played Harlequins during the 2000/01 season - they have won only one of their last four league fixtures with the Belfast men
*In the televised 2004/05 Division One semi-final, they lost 15-8 to Harlequins
*Last time out in the league, they celebrated their 200th league fixture by beating Shannon 19-11, while they qualified for the Munster Senior Cup final recently by seeing off Nenagh Ormond 44-12
*Their top points scorer is Conor Kilroy (33 points). Their top try scorer is Ciaran O'Boyle (4)
Harlequins - Notes: *This is their second of three trips to Munster clubs this season
*They are hoping this weekend to gain their tenth win in 17 AIB League games away to Munster clubs
*They are on a hat-trick of league wins at Dooradoyle, but they have lost eight of their last nine games in the AIB League
*They lost 13-3 to Dolphin last time out and have so far scored the least points (32 points) and least tries (three) after four rounds of Division One action
*Their top points scorer is Niall O'Connor (11 points)
...Lansdowne coach Liam Toland...
LANSDOWNE (6th) v BALLYMENA (13th), Lansdowne Road, 2.30pm
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Munster)
Previous League Meetings: 14 (Lansdowne W5, Ballymena W9); At Lansdowne Road: 8 (Lansdowne W2, Ballymena W6)
Last Season: October 15, 2005 - Ballymena 17 Lansdowne 33, Eaton Park
Form: Lansdowne (most recent game on left hand side): WDLWW
Ballymena: WLLLW
Lansdowne - Notes: *This is their first of two home games against Ulster clubs this season
*They are seeking their ninth success in 20 AIB League games at home to Ulster clubs
*They are the top Leinster club in Division One at the moment, but have lost their last four home games in the league to Ballymena
*They have won their previous two matches at home in the league this season. However they lost away to Cork Constitution in the AIB Cup's preliminary round last weekend
*Their top points scorer is Robbie Dolan (34 points). Their top try scorer is also Dolan (2)
Ballymena - Notes: *This is their first of four trips to Leinster this season
*This weekend they play their 45th AIB League fixture away in Leinster and they are bidding for their 23rd victory
*They have won four of their last five league meetings with Lansdowne, and won 45-5 on their most recent visit to Lansdowne Road in February 2005
*They have collected two bonus points from their three defeats so far this season, and were buoyed when they had three clubmen - Isaac Boss, Paddy Wallace and Bryan Young - capped for Ireland recently
*Their top points scorer is Dirkie Strydom (33 points)
TERENURE COLLEGE (11th) v UCD (15th), Lakelands Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Alan Rogan (Leinster)
Previous League Meetings: 3 (Terenure W1, UCD W2); At Lakelands Park: 2 (Terenure W1, UCD W1)
Last Season: No match (Terenure were in Division Two)
Form: Terenure (most recent game on left hand side): LWLLW
UCD: LLLWL
Terenure - Notes: *This is their first of three home games against Leinster clubs this season
*They first played UCD in Division Two during the 1994/95 season
*They have not played UCD in the league during the past three seasons, 'Nure lost to the students at the end of the 2002/03 campaign and were relegated to Division Two
*None of the 44 players involved in the recent Colours match between UCD and Trinity were products of Terenure College. So far in Division One this season, 'Nure have scored three tries in three of their outings and they are yet to collect a bonus point
*Their top points scorer is Robert McCarthy (10 points). Their top try scorers are Graham Crawford and Alex Dunlop (2 each)
UCD - Notes: *This is their second of three away games in Leinster this season
*This is their 35th AIB League fixture on the road in Leinster and they are looking for their 17th win
*They are on a hat-trick of league wins over Terenure, but since October they have conceded the most points (110) and the most tries (14) in Division One
*They won 26-25 in April 2003 on their most recent visit to Lakelands, and have three mentors - John McClean, Dara Rowley and Bobby Byrne - all with strong Terenure connections
*Their top points scorer is Fergus McFadden (21 points)
...Cronan Healy flies through the air for Cork Con...
UL BOHEMIANS (2nd) v CORK CONSTITUTION (4th), Thomond Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Alan Lewis (Leinster)
Previous League Meetings: 2 (UL Bohemians W0, Cork Con W2); At Thomond Park: 1 (UL Bohemians W0, Cork Con W1)
Last Season: October 15, 2005 - Cork Con 23 UL Bohemians 21, Temple Hill
Form: UL Bohemians (most recent game on the left hand side): LWWWW
Cork Con: LWLWW
UL Bohemians - Notes: *This is their first of two home games against Munster clubs this season
*Holding the best Munster clubs at home to Munster clubs record, they are seeking their 16th win in 20 AIB League games at home to Munster opposition
*This is the first of three consecutive home games in the league for Bohs in the run-up to Christmas
*They have scored the most points (106) and the most tries (15) so far in Division One this season, while also conceding the least amount of tries (3)
*Their top points scorer is Ben Martin (34 points). Their top try scorer is Martin McPhail (6)
Cork Con - Notes: *This is the first of three away games in Munster for them this season
*They are on a hat-trick of AIB League victories over Bohemians - they won 41-15 on their only previous league visit to Thomond Park to play Bohs (March 2003)
*They beat Bohs 30-22 away in the Munster Senior Cup earlier this season - they saw off Clonakilty 31-14 a fortnight ago to reach the Munster Senior Cup final
*They first played Bohs in the league in the 2002/03 season
*Their top points scorer is Daniel Nethery (26 points). Their top try scorer is Richie Lane (2)
- AIB League statistics courtesy of Des Daly -
