The Ulster Bank All Ireland League kicks off this weekend and with four Ulster sides now involved in AIL 1B it promises to be an exciting season ahead with plenty of local derbys!
The league has been expanded from eight to ten teams and with Clontarf and Lansdowne being promoted last season to AIL 1A four teams have been promoted, three from Ulster, Ballymena, Ballynahinch and Belfast Harlequins, and one from Leinster in UCD.
The promoted teams join Dungannon, Ulster’s sole representative from last season, Connacht sides Galwegians and Buccaneers and Munster teams UCC, UL Bohs and Bruff.
It was a highly competitive league last season with all teams taking points of each other with only one win seperating second from eighth and it’s likely to be just as tight this season with bonus points being particularly valuable.
Dungannon and Belfast Harlequins have recruited well over the summer and these pair have been setting the pace in the Ulster Senior League with Dungannon unbeaten in the league and cup and Quins unbeaten in the league. It’s a step up in the AIL but both teams will be happy to be starting their All Ireland League campaign at home against UL Bohs and UCD respectively.
Ballymena and Ballynahinch are starting on the road with Hinch travelling to Galway to face a gritty Galwegians side in a difficult opener and Ballymena journeying the length of Ireland to play U.C.C. in Cork. Both difficult openers for the newly promoted Ulster sides in a league where the home sides have a distinct advantage. They must however remember the importance of bonus points and any points picked up on the road will be particularly valuable come the end of the season.
| Sat 1st Oct 11 | 14:30 | Belfast Harlequins | v | U.L. Bohemian | Deramore Park |
| Sat 1st Oct 11 | 14:30 | Buccaneers | v | Bruff | Dubarry Park |
| Sat 1st Oct 11 | 14:30 | Dungannon | v | UCD | Stevenson Park |
| Sat 1st Oct 11 | 14:30 | Galwegians | v | Ballynahinch | Crowley Park |
| Sat 1st Oct 11 | 14:30 | U.C.C. | v | Ballymena | Mardyke |
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