Clontarf and Young Munster, the only two unbeaten teams left in Division 1A, are both on the road this weekend as they look to make it three wins out of three in the opening block of Energia All-Ireland League fixtures.
Five-try winger Jack Keating will be chasing more scores when Division 1B leaders Old Belvedere host Blackrock College on Saturday, while the Colours match between Queen's University and UCC is a key fixture for both teams.
ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE MEN'S DIVISION 1A – ROUND 3:
Saturday, October 5 Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –CORK CONSTITUTION (5th) v YOUNG MUNSTER (2nd), Temple Hill, 1.30pm
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Cork Constitution: LW; Young Munster: WW Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Cork Constitution: Points: James Taylor 16; Tries: Scott Buckley 3; Young Munster: Points: Julian Leszczynski 23; Tries: Shay McCarthy 2 Preview: An acid test of Young Munster's early season progress as they pay a visit to the defending champions. Claiming the scalp of Cork Constitution, on the back of beating Terenure College last week, would be a real statement of intent from the Cookies. Cork Con got back to winning ways against Ballynahinch, and have been particularly potent from mauls with Munster hooker Scott Buckley already bagging three tries. Winger Joe O'Leary and forwards Billy Scannell and Eoin Quilter are Con's three personnel changes. With Alan Kennedy ruled out for Munsters, hooker Stephen McLoughlin takes over the captaincy, and head coach Ger Slattery brings in Tom Goggin at lock and Donnchadh O'Callaghan at scrum half. Former Ireland Under-19 international Ihechi Oji has been added to the bench. Recent League Meetings - Saturday, December 16, 2023: Young Munster 22 Cork Constitution 21, Tom Clifford Park; Saturday, January 13, 2024: Cork Constitution 23 Young Munster 13, Temple Hill IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Cork Constitution to winBALLYNAHINCH (8th) v ST. MARY'S COLLEGE (3rd), Ballymacarn Park
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Ballynahinch: WL; St. Mary's College: LW Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ballynahinch: Points: Conor Rankin 8; Tries: Matthew Booth, Kyle McCall, Aaron Sexton, Bradley Luney 1 each; St. Mary's College: Points: Mick O'Gara 19; Tries: Leandro Ramirez 2 Preview: Fresh from opening their win account in Armagh, St. Mary's College head north again for their first trip to Ballymacarn Park since April 2019. Mary's scored two of their four tries last week from cross-field kicks, delivered by stand-in captain Conor Dean and Mick O'Gara. Ireland U-19 international Zack Hopkins is one five personnel changes for Mark McHugh's third-placed side, with Adam McEvoy, Tom O'Reilly, Howard Noonan, and Ian Wickham also restored to the starting XV. Ballynahinch have won five of their six Division 1A home matches since last January. Head coach Adam Craig has freshened up the front row for Saturday with the inclusion of props Matthew Burke, who was one of Connacht's departing players at the end of last season, and Tom McAllister. Recent League Meetings - Saturday, October 6, 2018: St. Mary's College 37 Ballynahinch 27, Templeville Road; Saturday, April 13, 2019: Ballynahinch 41 St. Mary's College 15, Ballymacarn Park IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Ballynahinch to winGARRYOWEN (7th) v CITY OF ARMAGH (10th), Dooradoyle
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Garryowen: WL; City of Armagh: LL Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Garryowen: Points: Kelvin Langan 15; Tries: Colm Hogan, Gordon Wood 2 each; City of Armagh: Points: Kyle Faloon 12; Tries: Neil Faloon, Kyle Faloon, Evin Crummie 1 each Preview: Alex Wood will join his younger brother Tom in Garryowen's starting line-up for this third round clash with City of Armagh. The eldest of the three Wood brothers starts on the right wing, with Colm Hogan reverting to full-back, in place of the injured Jamie Heuston. George Hadden's Emerging Ireland call-up means Mikey Veale comes into the Light Blues' front row. Munster Academy scrum half Jack Oliver is set for his seasonal debut off the bench. Garryowen famously beat Armagh 45-21 to win the Energia Bateman Cup in 2019. Matthew Hooks and Josh McKinley return as Armagh's two changes, with head coach Chris Parker commenting: "We were in the same position last season at this stage. We had two close losses in the first two games and then we went to Shannon and won, so hopefully lighting can strike twice." Recent League Meetings - N/A IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Garryowen to winTERENURE COLLEGE (4th) v LANSDOWNE (6th), Lakelands Park
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Terenure College: WL; Lansdowne: LW Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Terenure College: Points: Aran Egan 22; Tries: Fintan Gunne, Henry McErlean 2 each; Lansdowne: Points: Stephen Madigan 20; Tries: Jack Cooke, Andy Marks, James Kenny, Jack Treanor, Cathal Eddy 1 each Preview: This is a repeat of last season's semi-final which was an epic encounter at Lakelands Park. Lansdowne brilliantly fought back from 19 points down before Aran Egan kicked a last-gasp winner for Terenure, the 31-28 victors. Terenure have licked their wounds following last week's reversal at the hands of Young Munster. Egan reverts to out-half with Chris Cosgrave and Jules Fenelon forming a new centre pairing, and Jordan Coghlan makes his seasonal bow at number 8. Levi Vaughan also starts at hooker. Lansdowne boss Declan Fassbender has made six personnel changes to the team that finished 15 points clear of UCD. The Lawlor brothers, Donough and Ireland Under-19 international Todd, will line out together, and there are also starting jerseys for Harry O'Riordan, Steve McMahon, Tom Connolly, and experienced flanker Clive Ross. Recent League Meetings - Saturday, February 17, 2024: Lansdowne 20 Terenure College 27, Aviva Stadium back pitch; Saturday, April 20, 2024: Semi-Final - Terenure College 31 Lansdowne 28, Lakelands Park IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Terenure College to winUCD (10th) v CLONTARF (1st), UCD Bowl
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: UCD: LL; Clontarf: WW Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UCD: Points: Michael Moloney 10; Tries: Andrew Osborne, Michael Moloney, Ruairi Shields, Charlie Molony, Tom Murtagh 1 each; Clontarf: Points: Conor Kelly 20; Tries: Dylan Donnellan 3 Preview: Leinster Academy full-back/winger Ruben Moloney will anchor the UCD back-three as the two teams at the opposite ends of the table go toe-to-toe. The students also welcome back Gerry Hill in the second row, meaning a move to number 8 for the versatile Michael Colreavy. Promising winger Aitzol King is back in Clontarf colours, just a week on from scoring his first senior try for Leinster. Fellow Academy player, 19-year-old prop Niall Smyth, packs down at tightead for the table toppers, and Will Reilly, Callum Smith, and Richie Whelan complete the visitors' changes. An Emmet MacMahon-coached UCD won the corresponding fixture last season, prevailing 38-32 in typically breathless fashion. Ruairi Shields grabbed a hat-trick for them, Dylan Donnellan bagged a brace for 'Tarf, and UCD half-back Michael Moloney, who is currently injured, kicked 13 crucial points. Recent League Meetings - Saturday, October 21, 2023: Clontarf 43 UCD 19, Castle Avenue; Saturday, March 23, 2024: UCD 38 Clontarf 32, UCD Bowl IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Clontarf to win
Five-try winger Jack Keating will be chasing more scores when Division 1B leaders Old Belvedere host Blackrock College on Saturday, while the Colours match between Queen's University and UCC is a key fixture for both teams.