AIL 2021-2022

1A

CLONTARF V CORK CONSTITUTION - Cork Con will be hurting so expecting them to get going with a narrow over Tarf

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY v BALLYNAHINCH - Ballynahinch - No logic for this just a hunch

GARRYOWEN v UCD - Expect them to win well against UCD

UCC v LANSDOWNE - Mardyke has been a tricky place for us to go to in the past - our last game there we won by a whisker 🤞

YOUNG MUNSTER V TERENURE COLLEGE - I think Terenure will surprise most with a win here

1B

BANBRIDGE v ST MARY'S COLLEGE - Going with Marys, they have had 2 tight losses against 2 of the top teams in the league

CITY OF ARMAGH v SHANNON - Home advantage to tell with Armagh to squeeze through

HIGHFIELD v NAAS - There won't be many getting a win away to Highfield this season and I can't see Naas being the exception

OLD BELVEDERE v MALONE - Belvo to win

OLD WESLEY v NAVAN - Wesley to win well

We ended up taking a mini bus to Limerick, 12 of us, was mighty craic.

Two tough losses in a row for us, but v two good teams. Young Munster are very physical. Was a good tough game.

The break is needed to patch up a few injuries.

The talk in the Young Munster bar was because of that Covid case in Nenagh before their game in week 2, it is going to be announced that it will be only 1 up and 1 down. Which seems crazy cause it is only October and would just make piles and piles of dead rubber games post Christmas.

Even in 1B for example, its pretty obvious Navan are going to get relegated and that Wesley and Highfield seem pretty strong at the top, so what happens in the middle like

I don't know, sort of games for the sake of games.

Asking lads to give up up their weekends, maybe work to travel etc, with no hope of promotion if you were midtable post Xmas. As opposed to having top four to aim for. Like we all know how physical it is etc, risk getting injured for essentially dead rubbers.

I know it is done, just seems mad with a full season, and loads of breaks to catch up on games called off due to weather etc, that it couldn't have been fitted back in and that say other divisions would be impacted by one game in a different league.

Whilst I know it is your team, and not even my league, they were saying it was all a bit suss and that Cashel were very unhappy how it played out.

Yes I get that, but as someone still playing myself, and speaking for myself, if someone said even at our Junior Level, that we are changing the way promotion or relegation happens, and that is just playing in Dublin, you are less likely to be as motivated , and I think less likely to maybe go from Cork on an overnight to Belfast, leave work early etc. Just my tuppance on it.

They were the lads from Young Munster who were chatting with, we spent about 4 hours in the bar afterwards with them, just giving us the "Munster" "Limerick" club gossip, as this case could have ramifications on every league and the Round Robin for the Junior Clubs, so they were obviously talking about it.

I went to the game myself it was hugely physical, I thought Young Munster looked good value for their win, they played well into the wind and held onto the ball for long stretches. I think both teams will do well this season, Terenure have a very good pack although the lineout misfired somewhat.

The highlights for the 1A and 1B games going up on youtube is an excellent way of promoting the game.

The weeks break will be welcome by most teams. There are some great lineups the following week with Terenure against Tarf and Young Munster against Lansdowne

Ah ok, I assumed it was 1st goes up and last goes down.

Still think the existing format is the best, but least as you said, that is a bit better, albeit bit harsh if you come first or moreso just say its UCC or UCD come last and Ballinahinch 9th and there is a play off and UCC or UCD load up into next week on academy or pro players.

In my head, if you come last in a league, you go down.

Mangan & Maguire already with the senior squad

1A

BALLYNAHINCH v GARRYOWEN

CORK CONSTITUTION V DUBLIN UNIVERSITY

LANSDOWNE v YOUNG MUNSTER

TERENURE COLLEGE V CLONTARF

UCD V UCC

1B

MALONE V HIGHFIELD

NAAS V OLD WESLEY

NAVAN RFC V BANBRIDGE

SHANNON V OLD BELVEDERE

ST MARY'S COLLEGE V CITY OF ARMAGH

Aaron sexton, Lewis Finlay, Angus Curtis and Gareth milasinovich all playing for malone

Would have to agree, very annoying loss. I thought Colm De Buitleir was good for us at 15. But Caolan Dooley at 10, he is a 12, killed us.

Tarf rolling maul was excellent.