Saturday's round brings us two-thirds of the way into
the Energia All-Ireland League Women's Division campaign. Galwegians are involved into another crunch clash, returning to the capital to face third-placed Old Belvedere.
ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE WOMEN'S DIVISION – ROUND 12:
Saturday, January 24
Kick-off 5pm unless stated –
ENNIS (7th) v BLACKROCK COLLEGE (2nd), Drumbiggle Road, 2.30pm
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Ennis: WWLLLWLLDLL;
Blackrock College: LWWWWWWWWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ennis: Points: Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey 35;
Tries: Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey 7;
Blackrock College: Points: Maggie Boylan 60;
Tries: Maggie Boylan 12
Preview: Last week marked only the third time that Ennis have been held scoreless in an Energia All-Ireland League fixture. It was a tough day at the office for them against Railway Union, last season's beaten finalists, and it will not get any easier against a Blackrock College side on a 10-match winning run.
There are two changes for the Clare outfit tomorrow, with
Emma Byrne, a dual status player from Dolphin, slotting in on the left wing, and
Alana Foudy making her first start at loosehead prop. Ennis lost 44-12 away to Blackrock in late November, their tries scored by
Caoilfhionn Conway Morrissey and captain
Micaela Glynn.
There are positional switches for Blackrock skipper
Hannah O'Connor and
Aoife Moore, who move to the second row and back row respectively. Canadian
Trinity Todd returns to the back-line, at full-back, and
Cara Martin, Sophie Balay-Chawke, Megan Brodie, and
Regan Casey have all been promoted from the bench.
Recent League Meetings - Saturday, November 29, 2025: Blackrock College 44 Ennis 12, Stradbrook
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Blackrock College to win
BALLINCOLLIG (8th) v TULLOW (10th), Fethard Town Park 4G pitch, 6.30pm
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Ballincollig: LLWLLLWLLLL;
Tullow: LLLLLLLLLLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ballincollig: Points: Emma Connolly 36;
Tries: Eve Prendergast 4;
Tullow: Points: Chloe Farrell 29;
Tries: Chloe Farrell 4
Preview: A big chance for both teams to pick up points here, especially Ballincollig who are targeting a season's double over Tullow after winning 31-10 when they met in November. Heavy rainfall has meant this game has been moved to the Fethard Town Park 4G pitch with a later kick-off time of 6.30pm.
Three converted tries meant Ballincollig were a whisker away from beating Wicklow last Saturday.
Caolainn Healy comes into the second row as their only personnel change, while there is a welcome return to the matchday squad for the Munster-capped
Gillian Coombes, the older sister of
Gavin.
Alex O'Brien is back in the centre for Tullow, combining with their leading scorer,
Chloe Farrell, who has 29 points (and four tries) to her name.
Emma Carroll shifts across to the left wing,
Siobhán Kennedy starts at scrum half, and
Katie Ann O'Neill reverts to the front row with
Lana Brennan restored to the number 8 berth.
Recent League Meetings - Saturday, March 8, 2025: Ballincollig 34 Tullow 12, Tanner Park; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Tullow 10 Ballincollig 31, Blackgates
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Ballincollig to win
[caption id="attachment_156809" align="alignnone" width="1248"]
Molly Fitzpatrick drives forward for Blackrock College during their round 11 encounter with Galwegians last weekend ©John Crothers Sports Photography[/caption]
OLD BELVEDERE (3rd) v GALWEGIANS (6th), Energia Park back pitch
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Old Belvedere: WLLWWWWWDWW;
Galwegians: WWWWWLLLLLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Old Belvedere: Points: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton 69;
Tries: Robyn O'Connor 8;
Galwegians: Points: Niamh Murphy, Emily Foley 40 each;
Tries: Niamh Murphy, Emily Foley 8 each
Preview: There is plenty of anticipation surrounding this rematch between Old Belvedere and Galwegians, not least because
Emma Tilly and
Nicole Fowley will be making their seasonal debuts. Fowley takes the reins at out-half for 'Wegians, just under two months after
announcing her retirement from international rugby.
The Sligo-born playmaker is one of four changes for the Blue Belles, who also bring in
Kila Curran Coleman,
Megan Connolly, and Connacht lock
Orla Fenton. Belvedere, meanwhile, are boosted by Tilly's inclusion at full-back, with the Kildare youngster back to full fitness after being sidelined with an ankle injury.
The 22-year-old makes a timely return as 'Belvo's back-line is missing both
Amy Larn and Katie Corrigan who are on Celtic Challenge duty this week.
Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton switches to scrum half, partnering
Hazel Simmons, and
Kara Mulcahy and
Zara Martin are both promoted from the bench to start in the pack.
Recent League Meetings - Saturday, January 18, 2025: Galwegians 17 Old Belvedere 10, Crowley Park; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Galwegians 19 Old Belvedere 22, Crowley Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Old Belvedere to win
RAILWAY UNION (4th) v COOKE (9th), Aviva Stadium back pitch, Lansdowne FC
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: Railway Union: LLLWWWWWWWW;
Cooke: LWLLLLLLLLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Railway Union: Points: Heidi Lyons 76;
Tries: Heidi Lyons 12;
Cooke: Points: Shola Iluyemi, Ilse van Staden 20 each;
Tries: Shola Iluyemi, Ilse van Staden 4 each
Preview: Sarah O'Donnell, Nikki Caughey, and
Mira Broeks are bumped up from Railway Union's bench to start against second-from-bottom Cooke. Former Ireland international Caughey will team up with
Hannah Scanlan at half-back, as
Sana Govender's charges chase their ninth victory on the trot.
Railway's twelve-try centre
Heidi Lyons kicked three conversions against Ennis to become the division's top scorer (76 points). The attacking form of Lyons and company should suit the Aviva Stadium's back pitch, which this match has been moved to due to the Park Avenue surface being unplayable.
Cooke, who conceded over 100 points to the Dubliners in November, will have set certain targets for this return fixture. Captain
Megan Simpson shifts back to number 8, with
Bronach Cassidy now at hooker, in between
Shola Iluyemi and
Ilse van Staden who have scored four tries each.
Sorcha Mac Laimhin gets the nod in the second row.
Recent League Meetings - Saturday, January 18, 2025: Railway Union 71 Cooke 5, Park Avenue; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Cooke 0 Railway Union 105, Shaw's Bridge
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Railway Union to win
UL BOHEMIAN (1st) v WICKLOW (5th), UL 4G pitch
Energia All-Ireland League Season's Form: UL Bohemian: WWWWWWWWWWW;
Wicklow: WLWLLWLWWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UL Bohemian: Points: Éabha Nic Dhonnacha 73;
Tries: Chloe Pearse 14;
Wicklow: Points: Beth Roberts 49;
Tries: Vicky Elmes Kinlan 5
Preview: UL Bohemian had 33 points to spare when they played Wicklow back in round 7, but ask any of the Red Robins and they will tell you that
Jason Moreton's young side were difficult opponents to put away that day. With a strong starting line-up and home advantage,
Bohs are heavy favourites to maintain their winning momentum.
There are positional switches for
Clodagh O'Halloran and
Becca Bradshaw as
Claire Bennett and
Abbie Salter-Townshend return, along with
Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, their top scorer with 73 points, and
Lily Brady. The latter pair both crossed the whitewash twice during November's 43-10 triumph in Wicklow.
Now back up to fifth in the table, Wicklow will field a reshuffled back-line which has speedster
Naoise O'Reilly back at full-back, and
Erin McConnell rejoining
Beth Roberts at half-back. Opportunity knocks in the back row for both
Róisín Ridge and
Nicola Schmidt, while New Zealander
Dannii Masters will pack down at loosehead prop.
Recent League Meetings - Saturday, February 8, 2025: UL Bohemian 68 Wicklow 21, UL 4G pitch; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Wicklow 10 UL Bohemian 43, Ashtown Lane
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: UL Bohemian to win
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