Leinster vs Edinburgh

Men’s Energia All-Ireland
League update
With 12 of 18 rounds in the men’s
Energia All-Ireland League now
complete, Leinster clubs are
currently enjoying a short break
in the competition before facing
into the season defining last six
matches in the campaign which
recommences on 19 February.
There are 18 Leinster clubs competing
across the five divisions of 10 teams
which make up this season’s league.
Each of those clubs will now firmly have
their sights on what is required to either
achieve a top-four finish to get into playoffs,
or to escape a dreaded relegation
play-off by avoiding finishing in the
bottom two.
The leading four clubs in each division
will play-off to decide who is the overall
winner with the clubs finishing first and
second having home advantage in a
semi-final against the third and fourth
clubs respectfully leading into a final for
the title. In Division 1A, the final winner
will be crowned the Energia All-Ireland
League champions, while the winners in
each of the other four division play-offs
will win promotion to the league above.
At the other end of the scale the bottom
two clubs in each division will playoff
where the team finishing second last will
have home advantage in a game that
will define who is relegated to the league
below.
DIVISION 1A
Of the five Leinster clubs competing,
three currently fill the top three places.
Clontarf pave the way having only lost
one game to date, they hold a five-point
advantage at the top over second-placed
Lansdowne, who in turn are six points
clear of Terenure College who have won
their last six games in a row.
Dublin University in sixth place are nicely
placed to contend and are only four
points adrift of a play-off spot. UCD in
eighth place are 12 points clear of the
bottom two clubs and should retain their
1A status.
DIVISION 1B
Again, there are five Leinster clubs
competing and it is Old Wesley who sit
on top and are another club to only taste
defeat once this season. They hold a
six-point lead and are 10 points clear of
third-placed St Mary’s, who in turn are
three points clear of fourth-placed Naas.
Old Belvedere are in seventh place and
can still surmount a challenge if their
fortunes change. Navan, although in
10th position, have shown better form of
late as they strive to get out of having to
face a relegation play-off.
DIVISION 2A
MU Barnhall are the sole Leinster
representative in this division and sit
comfortably in fifth place, seventh points
adrift of a play-off place. A strong finish
to the remainder of the campaign could
see them make a challenge.
DIVISION 2B
It is Greystones who hold a commanding
lead at the top again having only been
beaten once so far in this season’s
campaign. The battle for the other three
play-off places is tightly fought between
a number of clubs. Blackrock lie in joint
second place a full 13 points behind the
Wicklow men. Wanderers are in joint
fourth place a further three points behind.
With Greystones looking more and more
likely to finish top, for and against points
along with bonus points could yet decide
who joins them in the play-offs. Malahide
will require another couple of victories
to lift themselves out of having to face a
relegation play-off.
DIVISION 2C
Again, it is the Leinster clubs to the fore
with the three clubs competing in this
league from the province sitting in the
top three positions. Enniscorthy are the
fourth Leinster club across the divisions to
have only been beaten once this season.
The Wexford team hold a nine-point
advantage over second-placed Skerries,
who in turn have a nine-point lead over
Tullamore in third place.
So, all in all, the bulk of the province’s
clubs face into the final stages of this
season’s Energia Men’s All-Ireland
league with plenty at stake so an exciting
end to the campaign with plenty of great
rugby action is anticipated before playoffs
take place. Good luck to all.
Check out the IRFU website along with
participating club websites and social
media outlets for upcoming fixtures.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 35