All-Ireland League Previews

Division One

Dolphin v Lansdowne

One-time Dolphin servant Declan Kidney is still serving the cause, by extending IRFU development officer Kurt McQuilkin's stay in Toulouse with the Irish Under-19 World Cup finalists and thus keeping him out of this relegation four-pointer. Lansdowne may tire of this, but few players seem to exert quite such an influence on their club. Since their opening win over Belvedere, Lansdowne have lost all four games McQuilkin has been sidelined from, scoring five tries and conceding 21. In seven games with him, they've taken seven points (including wins over Shannon and Garryowen), scoring 14 tries and conceding 14. With Marcus Dillon (hamstring) and Aaron Freeman (dislocated arm) also out, Lansdowne look vulnerable, but once they avoid a 28point defeat and Young Munster beat Crescent, they're safe.

Dolphin welcome back John O'Mahony at out-half, but not centre Conor Mahony. It's win or bust for the home side, with the secondary target of a 28-point win. In the event of the former, they still need a favour from Young Munster or Cork Con (at Blackrock) to avoid the drop. Dolphin to win.

Old Belvedere v St Mary's

Their latest flirtation with defeat at home to Dolphin raised serious doubts about the mental strength (especially up front) of the mercurial Mary's men. But with a win required to secure a play-off place (coupled with defeats for Garryowen and Young Munster, it would earn them an unlikely home semi-final) surely not even they can blow this one, can they? St Mary's to win.

Terenure College v Shannon

The Limerick rumour mill has it that the holders won't be anywhere near full-strength come the kick-off for what is a "nothing" match.

But they still won't want to lose and should have enough big guns for a Terenure side who themselves seemed to stop playing a few weeks ago. Shannon to win.

Garryowen v Ballymena

Garryowen need a win to copper-fasten a home semi-final, Ballymena need a first win over a Limerick side and a prayer (in the form of Belvedere beating St Mary's) to gain a top-four place. They may well have lost their heart for the battle after the Young Munster defeat though, while the absence of Gary Longwell deprives Nellie Smith's team of the main launching pad for their mauling game. Garryowen, for all the knocks and distractions caused by their representative call-ups and the Munster Branch's rigidity, should win.

Blackrock v Cork Con

A huge game for the home club and George Hook, who will be desperately hoping to avoid a play-off against Buccaneers and Eddie O'Sullivan. Victory would ensure survival, even defeat by margin five points less than Lansdowne lose by would also do, but a heavy defeat could not only enable Crescent to overtake them (by beating Young Munster) but also, at a pinch, Dolphin. This is a pressure game for Blackrock's youngsters, who may be tight, whereas a relaxed Constitution have a more rugged pack and better halves. They also seem to be an honest outfit, witness their 63-12 win over Belvedere last time out. Cork Constitution to win.

Dungannon v Clontarf

Similarly, THE home side have more to play, but the mid-table visitors have the winning habit and are on a good run of form.

Willie Anderson will have the home side stoked up, but he doesn't have much in the way of raw material. Although a superior points difference (104) gives them an edge over Crescent (-126), they still need two other results (Dolphin and Crescent losing) to go their way as well just to make the play-off. It doesn't look good. Clontarf to win.

Young Munster v Old Crescent

Should be a bit of a step back in time, with a relatively tight, low-scoring game by today's standards. Young Munster surprisingly recall Niall Hartigan for Des Clohessy, while Aidan O'Halloran and Alan Honan continue where they left off in Eaton Park for the injured Stephen Tuohy and Mick Lynch. Crescent welcome back Brian Begley, not only a fine goalkicker, but also the player around whom so much of their game revolves. Crescent could still have the escape route of the play-off were Dolphin and Dungannon to lose, but they are precariously placed to become the first Limerick club to be relegated. That's a powerful spur, and they could just do it, but Young Munster to win.

Division Two

Greystones v Skerries

A huge game for the Wicklow club, perhaps their most important AIL game ever. Home advantage should be a big factor given the geographical extremes of the "Dublin" map, all the more so as Greystones have to win, whereas Skerries are now safe. Greystones were unlucky to lose to Galwegians, when their pack put it up to the Galway side, and though they've little outside the pack, a run of one win in nine doesn't appear to have ruined their appetite for the fray. Greystones to win.

DLSP v UCC

UCC are safe and though it would require an unlikely sequence of results for three or four teams below them to usurp DLSP, home advantage should help them to secure the win they need to guarantee survival.

Malone v Galwegians

Typically, the fates have conspired to ensure that this is another "Cup final" for Galwegians against a Malone side striving to keep the Belfast flag flying in the top two divisions. Malone have dug in lately, scrapping wins over Bective and Greystones either side of losing to UCC and extending Buccaneers last time out. But Galwegians can at last see the finishing line, and are a big occasion team. Galwegians to win and join the top flight.

Wanderers v Buccaneers

wanderers have some nice footballers, but as they stare down the abyss at third division football, this is one for the trenches and it's hard to see how their scrum will hold up against a Buccaneers side who won't give up their chase of Galwegians until 4.00 today. Buccaneers to win.

City Of Derry v Bective

Ironic to think that defeat to Derry cost Bective promotion and ultimately ensured their opponents of second division salvation.

The ball's on the other foot now, but even in defeat, Rangers ought to have enough points in the bag to ensure survival. In-form Derry to win.

Instonians v Sunday's Well

Instonians are gone, Sunday's Well are safe; and both have taken their foot off. Sunday's Well to win.