The leaders St Mary’s return to Tom Clifford Park for the first time in eight years with a side featuring both of their ex-Young Munster players, prolific fullback Conor Hayes and the former Munster centre Dan Goggin.
The latter will be opposing his brother, Tom, who starts in the home side’s secondrow, as was the case when the sides met in round eight six weeks ago. St Mary’s prevailed that day by 26-24, with their ex-Munster centre scoring their fourth try and Hayes landing three conversions.
This fixture has always had a certain resonance ever since Young Munster beat St Mary’s in a title decider at Lansdowne Road in 1993. The home side sit sixth but are only five points behind Mark McHugh’s side, who were blunted a week ago by Lansdowne.
Young Munster recorded a fine derby win over Garryowen last week but Evan O’Connell and Ruadhán Quinn are travelling reserves for Munster’s Champions Cup game in Northampton, and outhalf Tony Butler is on the bench in Franklin’s Gardens.
The 11th round comprises the return fixtures from the eighth round in early December, when four of the five top-flight games were decided by four points or less. The exception was Clontarf’s handsome win in Ballynahinch, and after their game in Armagh was postponed last week, they will be favourites to complete the double at Castle Avenue.
As well as having the Leinster duo of Alex Soroka and Brian Deeney up front, the Clontarf team features Hugh Cooney, named this week as a development player in the Irish squad. With Jake Flannery on Ulster duty, James Humphreys reverts to outhalf for ‘Hinch, who welcome back influential centre George Pringle.
Third-placed Terenure host UCD and welcome back Chris Cosgrave, who nailed the last-ditch penalty to beat the students in the corresponding clash at the Bowl. Aran Egan reverts to outhalf, while Leinster’s John McKee returns at hooker.
Emmet MacMahon, forwards coach when Terenure won their maiden AIL two seasons ago, returns to Lakelands with a UCD team featuring six Leinster players, including Andrew Osborne on the wing.
Fourth-placed Cork Con will look to continue their steady climb up the table when hosting Garryowen at Temple Hill, having been hard-pressed to beat the bottom-placed side 19-17 last time around. The champions have restored James Taylor at outhalf but while Garryowen welcome back loosehead George Hadden they are again without the stardust of Brian Gleeson and also fellow Munster academy outhalf Dylan Hicks.
Lansdowne, who will be eyeing up a top four finish after last week’s win at St Mary’s put them within seven points of the playoffs, host City of Armagh on the Aviva back pitch on Sunday due to the Leinster-Bath game.
Last May, Old Belvedere went to the Thomond Park back pitch and beat Shannon 46-8 in the promotion/relegation semi-final playoffs. Eight months on and the in-form Belvo return atop 1B against a Shannon side who have swiftly dropped to last in the second tier.
Nenagh Ormond, just three points adrift, seek to maintain the pace in Naas, while Trinity host third-placed Old Wesley and Blackrock travel to UCC in a meeting of fourth and fifth.
The free-scoring pacesetters in 2A, Corinthians and Instonians, are at home to Banbridge and Cashel, as are third and fourth placed Greystones and MU Barnhall against Ballymena and Old Crescent.
Energia All-Ireland League fixtures (kick-off 2.30pm unless stated)
Saturday
Men
Division 1A: Clontarf v Ballynahinch, Castle Avenue; Cork Constitution v Garryowen, Temple Hill; Terenure College v UCD, Lakelands; Young Munster v St Mary’s College, Tom Clifford Park.
Division 1B: Dublin University v Old Wesley, College Park; Naas v Nenagh Ormond, Forenaughts; Queen’s v Highfield, Dub Lane; Shannon v Old Belvedere, Thomond Park; UCC v Blackrock College, Mardyke.
Division 2A: Galway Corinthians v Banbridge, Corinthian Park; Greystones v Ballymena, Dr Hickey Park; Instonians v Cashel, Shaw’s Bridge; MU Barnhall v Old Crescent, Parsonstown; Navan v Buccaneers, Balreask Old
Division 2B: Dungannon v UL Bohemian, Stevenson Park; Malahide v Galwegians, Estuary Road; Rainey v Malone, Hatrick Park; Skerries v Clogher Valley, Holmpatrick; Sligo v Wanderers, Hamilton Park.
Division 2C: Belfast Harlequins v Tullamore, Deramore Park; Clonmel v Midleton, Arghaoithe; Dolphin v Enniscorthy, Virgin Media Park; Monkstown v Ballyclare, Sydney Parade; Omagh Academicals v Bruff, Thomas Mellon Playing Fields.
Women’s Division (5.0 unless stated): Suttonians v UL Bohemian, JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds (2.30); Blackrock College v Tullow, Stradbrook (4pm); Ballincollig v Wicklow, Tanner Park; Galwegians v Old Belvedere, Dr Hickey Park; Railway Union v Cooke, Willow Lodge.
Sunday
Men’s Division 1A: Lansdowne v City of Armagh, Aviva Stadium Back Pitch, 2.30.
Women’s All-Ireland Junior Cup: Malone v MU Barnhall, Dundalk RFC, 2.30.
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