#EnergiaAIL Men’s Divisions: Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Previews
Nenagh Ormond's John O'Flaherty brings down possession during their round 2 clash with Blackrock College earlier in the season ©John Crothers Sports Photography
Come just after four o’clock on Saturday, clubs from across the Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Divisions will either be looking forward to contesting play-off finals, or reflecting on a semi-final exit from the promotion/relegation bracket.
ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE MEN’S DIVISIONS – PLAY-OFFS:
Saturday, April 19
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
DIVISION 1A PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS:
CITY OF ARMAGH (9th, Div 1A) v UCC (4th, Div 1B), Palace Grounds
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form:Â City of Armagh: LLWLWLWLLLWLWLLLLL;Â UCC: LWWWLLWLLLWLLWLWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – City of Armagh: Points: Kyle Faloon 93; Tries: Sam Cunningham 8; UCC: Points: Daniel Squires 122; Tries: Sean Condon 14
Preview: City of Armagh have a play-off fight for survival on their hands after narrowly avoiding it twelve months ago. Chris Parker’s men have won one more match than last season, but endured a tough period with five recent losses, and injuries hampering them at key stages.
They meet UCC for the first time in two years, and the Cork students make the trip buoyed by a late three-match winning run which earned them a fourth place finish in Division 1B. Munster’s Ben O’Connor features at full-back, with Gene O’Leary Kareem, Sean Edogbo, and Michael Foy also starting.
Hoping that ‘home advantage can make a bit of a difference for us’, Armagh head coach Parker has Ulster hooker James McCormick available, and centre Ross Taylor is back for injury. However, the influential Lewis Finlay, an Ireland Club international this season, and Charlie Worth have been ruled out.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, October 8, 2022: UCC 15 City of Armagh 14, the Mardyke; Saturday, April 1, 2023: City of Armagh 24 UCC 20, Palace Grounds
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: City of Armagh to win
NENAGH ORMOND (2nd, Div 1B) v BLACKROCK COLLEGE (3rd, Div 1B), New Ormond Park
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form:Â Nenagh Ormond: WWDLWWWWWWLWLWLWWL;Â Blackrock College: LLWWLWWWLWLWWWLWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Nenagh Ormond: Points: Conor McMahon 165; Tries: Dylan Murphy 8; Blackrock College: Points: Conor O’Shaughnessy 134; Tries: Barry Galvin 11
Preview: This should be one of the matches of the Easter weekend, especially if both teams follow through on the attacking intent they showed in last September’s encounter at Stradbrook. It was an eight-try thriller back then, Nenagh Ormond crossing five times to edge it 38-36.
Blackrock College will be all out for revenge after also losing 21-17 in Tipperary last month. Two of the league’s leading goal-kickers face off again, with Ireland Under-19 international Conor O’Shaughnessy, who kicked 21 points in that round 2 meeting, coming up against Nenagh’s Conor McMahon, who topped Division 1B’s scoring charts with 165 points.
Hosts Nenagh restore Josh Rowland and Davey Gleeson to their back-three, and there are four changes up front, including a start for eight-try hooker Dylan Murphy. O’Shaughnessy rejoins Jack Ringrose at half-back for Blackrock, who have Ireland U-20 prop Paddy Moore at loosehead.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, September 28, 2024: Blackrock College 36 Nenagh Ormond 38, Stradbrook; Saturday, March 29, 2025: Nenagh Ormond 21 Blackrock College 17, New Ormond Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Nenagh Ormond to win
DIVISION 1B PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS:
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY (9th, Div 1B) v GREYSTONES (4th, Div 2A), College Park
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Dublin University: LLWWLWLLWLLWLWLLLW; Greystones: WLLWLWWWWWWWLWLLWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Dublin University: Points: Matty Lynch 98; Tries: Oscar Cawley 7; Greystones: Points: Killian Marmion 138; Tries: Craig Kenny 9
Preview: It is all on the line this weekend for Dublin University as they battle to retain their Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B status. Following their relegation from the top flight last season, they now face a crunch play-off clash with Greystones, as defeat is most definitely not an option.
A series of tight defeats, and some final day drama, saw Tony Smeeth’s young side fall to a ninth place finish. Despite that disappointment, they will take confidence from their Matty Lynch-inspired victory over Nenagh Ormond in the last round, and the fact that they have home advantage.
Having narrowly avoided a relegation play-off scenario last year, Danny Kenny’s Greystones have been in resurgent form of late, beating Navan 15-13 away to seal fourth spot in Division 2A. Kenny will start at number 8 against Trinity, behind the influential lock pairing of captain Eoin Marmion and Kiwi Reeve Satherley.
Recent League Meetings – N/A
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Dublin University to win
CASHEL (2nd, Div 2A) v MU BARNHALL (3rd, Div 2A), Spafield
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Cashel: WWWWWLWLLLWWWWWWWW; MU Barnhall: WWWLWLLWWWWLWLWWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Cashel: Points: Ben Twomey 132; Tries: Alan Flannery 14; MU Barnhall: Points: Adam Chester 156; Tries: Sean Sexton 13
Preview: Last April saw MU Barnhall overcome Cashel 25–23 at Spafield in the play-off semi-finals. With plenty of history between these teams, their latest meeting promises to be another enthralling encounter as the Tipperary men look to extend their current winning run to nine.
February’s exciting 39-33 victory over Barnhall helped Ray Moloney’s charges to beat Barnhall to second place by a single point. Joe Callery and Ben Twomey impressed with standout performances in that match, and they will be key again if Cashel are to prolong their season.
Barnhall are well used to the business end, having contested promotion finals in both 2023 and 2024 after winning away to Banbridge and Cashel. Their well-oiled attack has been lethal all season, with the likes of Sean Sexton, Cathal Duff, Conor Duggan, and Matt Grogan consistently finding the try-line.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 14, 2024: MU Barnhall 30 Cashel 17, Parsonstown; Saturday, February 22, 2025: Cashel 39 MU Barnhall 33, Spafield
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Cashel to win
DIVISION 2B PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS:
NAVAN (9th, Div 2A) v GALWEGIANS (4th, Div 2B), Balreask Old
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Navan: LDLLLWLWWWLLLLLLLL; Galwegians: LLLLLLLWWWWLWWLLWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Navan: Points: Tom Gavigan 106; Tries: Gary Faulkner 5; Galwegians: Points: Stephen Mannion 122; Tries: Cian Brady 6
Preview: Galwegians secured promotion to Division 2B via the play-offs last season, and now their sights are set even higher. The Blues are hoping to return to Division 2A for the first time since 2019, and familiar opponents Navan provide the first hurdle.
Navan achieved a season’s double over Galwegians in 2018/19, the last time the teams met. Jason Harris-Wright’s men have been struggling for results of late, suffering eight straight losses, but have some quality operators in the Dixon and McEntagart brothers.
It was quite a mid-season turnaround for Galwegians, who lost their opening seven league fixtures. With UL Bohemian slipping up against Sligo, Brendan Guilfoyle’s side, who have former Connacht captain Jarrad Butler at number 8, took advantage to beat Skerries and clinch their play-off place.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 8, 2018: Navan 28 Galwegians 7, Balreask Old; Saturday, January 26, 2019: Galwegians 5 Navan 7, Crowley Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Galwegians to win
DUNGANNON (2nd, Div 2B) v CLOGHER VALLEY (3rd, Div 2B), Stevenson Park
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Dungannon: WWLWWLWLWWWWWWWWDW; Clogher Valley: WLWWLWWWLWWWLWLWLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Dungannon: Points: Ben McCaughey 168; Tries: James Gamble, James McMahon 7 each; Clogher Valley: Points: David Maxwell 134 ; Tries: Callum Smyton 13
Preview: Ulster derbies are never short on drama, and this semi-final showdown between Dungannon and Clogher Valley promises to be no exception. With two wins during the current campaign (33-21 at home and 21-18 away), ‘Gannon will carry the psychological edge into this rematch.
Jonny Gillespie’s outfit, who have Canada international Peter Nelson at out-half, have had some near misses in recent years. They suffered a 20-16 promotion final defeat to UL Bohemian in 2023, and missed out on the top four last year before improving significantly this term to occupy second spot.
This was Clogher Valley’s first season in Division 2B, and reaching the play-offs was an excellent achievement. They have momentum after retaining the Ulster Senior Shield against Ballymena last Saturday, and former ‘Gannon back Paul Armstrong will spearhead the visitors’ challenge from outside centre.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, October 26, 2024: Dungannon 33 Clogher Valley 21, Stevenson Park; Saturday, February 15, 2025: Clogher Valley 18 Dungannon 21, the Cran
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Dungannon to win
DIVISION 2B PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINALS:
SKERRIES (9th, Div 2B) v BALLYCLARE (4th, Div 2C), Holmpatrick
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Skerries: WWWWLLWLWLLLLLWLLL; Ballyclare: WWLWDWLLDLWLWWWWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Skerries: Points: Ronan Mulcahy 151; Tries: Peter O’Neill 6; Ballyclare: Points: Matthew McDowell 161; Tries: Joel McBride 14
Preview: It is a first ever meeting between these two clubs, and it is a high stakes one. Skerries, who flew out of the blocks at the start of the season, now find themselves staring down the barrel of relegation, while All-Ireland League newcomers Ballyclare are chasing another historic promotion.
Johnny Tyndall’s Skerries side have endured a tough second half of the season, however their experience in high-pressure fixtures could prove crucial as their aim to preserve their Division 2B status. Connor Haynes, Paddy Finn, and John Healy come in as their three changes in personnel.
Ballyclare have made a big impact on their AIL debut, winning 10 matches and accumulating 12 try-scoring bonus points to finish just five points behind Division 2C champions Enniscorthy. Second rows Dave Gillespie and Grant Bartley are their only changes from their 51-27 win over Tullamore.
Recent League Meetings – N/A
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Skerries to win
MIDLETON (2nd, Div 2C) v DOLPHIN (3rd, Div 2C), Towns Park
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Midleton: WDWWWWWWDWLDWWWLWL; Dolphin: WWDWWLWLDLWLWLWWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Midleton: Points: Jack Colbert 87; Tries: JB du Toit 15; Dolphin: Points: Jordan Soli 166; Tries: Craig O’Connell 10
Preview: After narrowly missing out on the Division 2C title on the final day, Midleton now face a massive Cork derby to keep their promotion hopes alive. For Dolphin, who have endured back-to-back relegations, this is a chance to bounce back and return to the league’s fourth tier.
Since having to fight hard to hold onto their senior status just two years ago, Midleton’s reinforced squad have become very consistent under Robbie Doyle. They are unbeaten at home this season, and Mark Corby, Ryan Lehane, and Denis Broderick all come into their starting pack for the semi-final.
A tight tussle is expected with a 15-all draw in December followed by an 18-13 home win for Midleton. With Steve Ford and Eamonn Mills at the helm, Dolphin have look rejuvenated this year. They welcome back hooker Phil Dowling from injury, with Dave Byrne shifting to loosehead prop.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, December 14, 2024: Dolphin 15 Midleton 15, Virgin Media Park; Saturday, January 11, 2025: Midleton 18 Dolphin 13, Towns Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Midleton to win
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