Munster Academy hooker Danny Sheahan is pictured in action for Cork Constitution against Young Munster back in November ©INPHO/Ben Brady
There are only six rounds of the regular season remaining after this weekend, meaning the margin for error in Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 1A is tightening even further. Saturday’s big top four battle between Cork Constitution and Young Munster is commanding plenty of attention.
Saturday, January 31
Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated –
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Ballynahinch: WLWWLWLLLLD; Lansdowne: WLLWWWWLWLL
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Ballynahinch: Points: Conor Rankin 61; Tries: Ethan Graham 6; Lansdowne: Points: James Tarrant 55; Tries: Bobby Sheehan 6
Preview: With Ethan McIlroy and Ben Moxham returning to action with Ulster, Ballynahinch have rearranged their back-line to include Quinn Armstrong and Pierce Crowe, along with Paul Kerr at out-half. Former Ulster winger Aaron Sexton has played every minute of ‘Hinch’s campaign so far.
Josh Hanlon moves to blindside flanker, replacing Marcus Rea who is in provincial duty, and captain Claytan Milligan, one of the County Down side’s Ireland Club XV call-ups, returns at hooker. They lost 18-10 at Lansdowne in late November, which kicked off a frustrating five-match winless run.
Back-to-back defeats have Lansdowne outside of the top four. The versatile Bobby Sheehan – their top try scorer with six – moves to blindside flanker and captains the team in Andy Marks’ absence. Tom Roche, Tom Daly, Cian Eddy, Jack Treanor, and Paul Wilson are their five changes in personnel.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, February 8, 2025: Ballynahinch 21 Lansdowne 24, Ballymacarn Park; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Lansdowne 18 Ballynahinch 10, Aviva Stadium back pitch
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Ballynahinch to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Cork Constitution: LWWLLLWWWWL; Young Munster: LLLLWLLWWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Cork Constitution: Points: Dylan Hicks 46; Tries: Jack Kelleher, Danny Sheahan 7 each; Young Munster: Points: Shane O’Leary 75; Tries: Hubert Gilvarry 9
Preview: Jack Kelleher is a big loss for Cork Constitution, as he was instrumental in their 29-26 victory at Young Munster earlier in the season. The talismanic number 8 is currently on trial with Northampton Saints, and is on the bench for their Premiership Rugby Cup match against Leicester Tigers tomorrow afternoon.
Opportunity knocks for others in Cork Con’s pack, including industrious lock Sean Duffy who made 15 carries against Old Belvedere. Only scoring difference separates these Munster rivals in the table, as Young Munster have put together four wins on the trot, averaging 29.8 points per game so far.
Munster’s Shay McCarthy has amassed almost 1000 running metres for Ger Slattery’s side, who hope to get Hubert Gilvarry, the division’s leading try scorer with nine, back out on the pitch after missing the last two rounds. Academy youngster Luke Murphy shone against Terenure College with a try, 13 carries, and 13 successful tackles.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 22, 2025: Young Munster 23 Cork Constitution 30, Tom Clifford Park; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Young Munster 26 Cork Constitution 29, Tom Clifford Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Cork Constitution to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Nenagh Ormond: LLLLLLLLLLL; St. Mary’s College: WWWWWLWWLWD
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Nenagh Ormond: Points: Conor McMahon 36; Tries: Angus Blackmore, Willie Coffey 4 each; St. Mary’s College: Points: Mick O’Gara 115; Tries: Aaron O’Sullivan 4
Preview: Angus Blackmore’s absence from Nenagh Ormond’s midfield due to knee problem sees Patrick Scully join Willie Coffey in the centre. Matt Brice has recovered from a shoulder injury to feature on the right wing, while Munster Academy prop Darragh McSweeney will have a bench role against second-placed St. Mary’s College.
Mary’s first ever trip to New Ormond Park comes two months after a comprehensive 49-15 triumph over the Tipperary men. Mark McHugh’s charges fought back for a share of the spoils against Ballynahinch, and they will to take momentum into next week’s local derby against Terenure.
Back from a hamstring injury, Connacht’s Colm Reilly starts at scrum half alongside Mary’s captain Conor Dean. Dan Goggin is restored to the back row, alongside Ronan Watters and New Zealander Josh Gimblett. There are also starts for winger Ruairi Shields, and Oisin Michel, Richie Bergin, and Conor Pierce in the tight five.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, November 29, 2025: St. Mary’s College 49 Nenagh Ormond 15, Templeville Road
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: St. Mary’s College to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: Terenure College: WLWWWWLLLWL; Clontarf: LWWWWWWWWWW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – Terenure College: Points: Chris Cosgrave 54; Tries: Dan Martin, Aran Egan 6 each; Clontarf: Points: Conor Kelly 85; Tries: Dylan Donnellan 8
Preview: The pressure is building on Terenure College who have fallen down the pecking order to sixth in the standings. The next seven days could be season-defining as they host leaders Clontarf before visiting Dublin 6W rivals St. Mary’s. They also have six players heading into camp with the Ireland Club XV squad on Sunday.
Although former captain Harrison Brewer is a big loss to Terenure’s pack, young flanker Arthur Ashmore is back from a shoulder injury to start at openside flanker. Lock Oisin Shannon is promoted from the bench, Ethan Reilly slots back in at outside centre, and Max Russell reverts to the hooker position.
In terms of securing a home semi-final, Clontarf are sitting pretty at present, armed with a 14-point lead over Munsters in third. Connacht centre David Hawkshaw will make his second appearance of the season for ‘Tarf, and there are two more changes in the form of winger Peter Maher and flanker Paul Deeny, whose older brother Brian has almost 50 Leinster caps.
Recent League Meetings – Saturday, March 1, 2025: Terenure College 15 Clontarf 17, Lakelands Park; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Clontarf 29 Terenure College 24, Castle Avenue
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Clontarf to win
Energia All-Ireland League Season’s Form: UCD: LWLLLWLWLLW; Old Belvedere: WWLLLLWLWLW
Energia All-Ireland League Top Scorers – UCD: Points: Paddy Clancy 67; Tries: Daniel Hurley 6; Old Belvedere: Points: David Wilkinson 72; Tries: Morgan Meredith 4
Preview: UCD had a huge result against Lansdowne last Saturday, coming from 15 points down and defending tigerishly to see out the result. They will need another big performance at home to Old Belvedere, who sit five points above them in the table. This should be much closer than November’s 36-12 win for Belvedere.
With Josh Ericson set to earn his second Leinster cap off the bench against Edinburgh, Ronán O’Sullivan takes his place in the ‘Belvo back row. The team that gained an impressive 18-12 victory over Cork Con remains largely intact, the back-line now containing Andre Ryan and Chris O’Connor, an Ireland U-20 international last year.
UCD will play on their all-weather Thornfield pitch for the second week running, and welcome back their top try scorer Daniel Hurley (6) on the right wing. They are without Leinster forwards Conor O’Tighearnaigh and James Culhane, meaning starts for Oisin Spain and Paul Gerard. Lucas Maguire also gets the nod at hooker.
Recent League Meetings – Friday, February 3, 2017: Old Belvedere 9 UCD 20, Anglesea Road; Saturday, November 29, 2025: Old Belvedere 36 UCD 12, Ollie Campbell Park
IrishRugby.ie Prediction: Old Belvedere to win
DIVISION 1B PREVIEWS TO FOLLOW…
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