Weekend Preview & Fixtures Across Connacht

Monivea face Connemara in the semi-final of the Connacht Junior Cup.

All four of Connacht's Ulster Bank League sides are in action this weekend with a Junior Cup semi-final and the U15 Girls League final also taking place. Check out our big game previews below with the weekend's fixtures at the bottom of the page.

Tonight

Ulster Bank League Division 2A

Corinthians (8th) v Nenagh Ormond (2nd), Corinthian Park,, 8pm

Corinthians' first-half surge against Banbridge, which saw them pocket 15 unanswered points, and their ability to see out the result showed exactly what they are capable of.

Despite the best efforts of key forwards Dylan Donnellan and Pat O'Toole, the Galway men are too inconsistent to challenge for promotion. Instead, they still have some work to do to avoid finishing in the bottom two.

Second-placed Nenagh got back to winning ways against Sunday's Well thanks to unconverted tries from Conor Muldoon and John Coffey. The table positions suggest an away win here but Nenagh will not have it easy.

Tomorrow

Ulster Bank League Division 1B

Ballymena (6th) v Galwegians (9th), Eaton Park, 12.30pm

Ulster Bank League Season's Form: Ballymena: WWLWLLWWLDL; Galwegians: LWLLLLLLWLL

Ulster Bank League Top Scorers - Ballymena: Points: Ritchie McMaster 39; Tries: Rodger McBurney, Mark Best, James Beattie 4 each; Galwegians: Points: Aidan Moynihan 53; Tries: Cormac Brennan 6

Preview: The entertainment value should be high again as Ballymena and Galwegians lock horns three months on from the Braidmen's thrilling 35-34 victory out west.

However, they have collected just three points in their last three outings, noticeably giving away early leads. Former Ireland Under-20 hooker Adam McBurney is a welcome addition this week, especially with a number of Ulster absentees.

'Wegians' failure to put away their scoring chances hurt them in a 25-14 beating by Buccaneers. Picking up points of any kind is a must in these back-to-back trips north to Ballymena and Ballynahinch.

Recent League Meetings - Saturday, February 21, 2015: Ballymena 17 Galwegians 25, Eaton Park; Saturday, November 12, 2016: Galwegians 34 Ballymena 35, Crowley Park

Buccaneers (1st) v Old Wesley (5th), Dubarry Park, 4.30pm

Ulster Bank League Season's Form: Buccaneers: LWWWWWWWWDW; Old Wesley: WWLWWWLDWLL

Ulster Bank League Top Scorers - Buccaneers: Points: Alan Gaughan 96; Tries: Jordan Conroy 10; Old Wesley: Points: Barry McLaughlin 117; Tries: Ger Finucane, Paul Harte 4 each

Preview: Old Wesley will definitely feel they owe Buccaneers one after a 25-9 defeat on their most recent journey to Athlone, along with November's heavy 39-22 reversal on their own 4G pitch at Donnybrook.

14 points is now the gap between fifth-placed Wesley and front runners Buccs whose flying winger Jordan Conroy (10 tries) starred with a brace against Connacht rivals 'Wegians.

With some ex-Buccs in their selection, including out-half Tim Clifford and prop David Henshaw, Wesley will not be overawed, but the strong-scrumming front row of Martin Staunton, John Sutton and Saba Meunargia should lay the platform for another Pirates success.

Recent League Meetings - Saturday, April 2, 2016: Buccaneers 25 Old Wesley 9, Dubarry Park; Saturday, November 12, 2016: Old Wesley 22 Buccaneers 49, Donnybroo

Ulster Bank League Division 2C

Midleton (7th) v Sligo (3rd), Towns Park, 12.30pm

Midleton were taught a real lesson by Navan in round 11, a day to forget for John O'Neill's men saw them humbled 45-3 in County Meath with Stuart Lee kicking their only points.

They are 13 points off the top four so a fourth straight defeat would seriously dent their promotion hopes. But with memories of November's narrow win over Sligo and the benefit of home advantage, they are more than capable of arresting their slide.

This is also an acid test of Sligo's ambitions following their well-executed doubles over Seapoint and Bangor. They seem to have an excellent balance to their team, particularly their back row of Simon Coulter, Diarmuid O'Dowd-Hill and captain Shane Boyle.

Junior & Underage Rugby

The Connacht Junior Cup semi-final between Monivea and Connemara takes place on Sunday at 2pm.Connemara were 15-12 winners in their quarter-final away to Sligo last weekend. The winners will face Ballinasloe in the final.

The big underage game of the weekend will be played on Saturday as Westport and Ballinasloe face off in the U15 Girls League final at Ballyhaunis RFC (12pm). A win for Ballinasloe would give them an unprecedented fourth league title in a row 

Weekend Fixtures

Tonight

Ulster Bank League 2A: Corinthians v Nenagh Ormond, Corinthian Park, 8pm;

Saturday, February 11

Ulster Bank League 1B: Ballymena v Galwegians, Eaton Park, 12.30pm; Buccaneers v Old Wesley, Dubarry Park, 4:30pm;

Ulster Bank League 2C: Midleton v Sligo, Towns Park, 12.30pm;

J1B League: Corinthians v Creggs, Corinthian Park, 12.30pm;

JP Flanagan U20: Galwegians v Seapoint , Galwegians RFC, 1.00pm;

U15 Girls League Final: Westport v Ballinasloe, Ballyhaunis RFC, 12.00pm;

U16 Dev League: Carrick v Westport, Carrick RFC, 12.30pm; Loughrea v Oughterard, Loughrea RFC, 1.00pm;

U14 Cup: Claremorris v Loughrea, Dunmore RFC, 2.30pm;

Sunday, February 12

Junior Cup Semi Final: Monivea v Connemara, Monivea RFC, 2.00pm;

J1B League: Loughrea v Ballyhaunis, Loughrea RFC, 2.30pm; Tuam v Sligo, Tuam RFC, 2.30pm;

J1C League: Carrick v Westport, Carrick RFC, 2.30pm;

JP Flanagan U20: NUIG v Naas, Dangan, 3.00pm;

J2 League: Ballina v Oughterard, Ballina RFC, 2.30pm; Connemara v Creggs, Monastery Field, 2.30pm;

Connacht Women’s League: Castlebar v Buccaneers, Castlebar RFC, 12.00pm;

U17 League: Corrib v Westport, Corrib RFC, 12.00pm;

U14 Cup: Corrib v Westport, Corrib RFC, 1.30pm; Connemara v Creggs, Monastery Field, 1.30pm;

Women’s Friendly: Carrick v Cavan, Carrick RFC, 11.30am

U14 Friendly: Corinthians v Gort, Corinthian Park, 12.30pm

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