City of Armagh face a crunch tie at UCD on Saturday as they bid to put distance between themselves and the Students who sit in the Division 1A drop zone.
With four rounds to play, Armagh are seven points ahead of their ninth-placed hosts at Belfield so a win for Chris Parker’s squad is the clear goal as they seek to keep out of the relegation mire.
“It’s a big one,” admitted Parker. “It’s one that we have looked at from a while out and we have known that we would have to go to Dublin and do a job.”
The hope is that buoyed by milestone appearances from Andrew Willis (200) and Paul Mullen (100), Armagh find a way of marking the day in appropriate style.
Ballynahinch are in must-win territory for their home clash with Young Munster, the Co Down club needing points to stay in touch for a possible top-four finish.
James Humphreys, Zac Ward and Reuben Crothers are all released from Ulster for the game.
Read more
It’s seventh versus eighth when Queen’s University host Dublin University for their 1B colours match with both sides eager to move out of this part of the table.
Division 2A leaders Instonians are at ninth-placed Navan and the Shaw’s Bridge club look odds-on for moving closer towards clinching the title and promotion. Down in eighth, Ballymena are at Cashel while sixth-placed Banbridge take on bottom and already relegated Buccaneers.
As for 2B, Dungannon, in second, and Rainey, who are fourth, meet for their Ulster derby at Stevenson Park with much on the line for both.
In third, Clogher Valley are at UL Bohemians while Malone go to Sligo.
After three losses, Belfast Harlequins need to revive their 2C Play-Off hopes at last-placed Omagh who are fighting for their survival in senior ranks. Ballyclare travel to Bruff.
Division 1A: Ballynahinch v Young Munster, UCD v City of Armagh
Division 1B: Queen’s University v Dublin University
Division 2A: Ballymena v Cashel, Buccaneers v Banbridge, Navan v Instonians
Division 2B: UL Bohemian v Clogher Valley (1.30pm), Dungannon v Rainey Old Boys, Malone v Sligo
Division 2C: Bruff v Ballyclare, Omagh Academicals v Belfast Harlequins