This Saturday 25th April, Terenure College RFC will host Clontarf in Lakelands in an all Leinster AIL semi-final.
Showing the great strength of Leinster Rugby at present, three of the four semi-finalists are Dublin sides, and many of the players on show for all three sides have been regulars in Leinster ‘A’ games this year. Saturday promises to be a great showcase of all that the Province can offer.
Terenure and Clontarf, who finished second and third in the table respectively, face each other for the right to play in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League final on May 19th in the Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, where they will meet the winners of Lansdowne FC and Young Munster RFC. The two sides have played each other twice so far this season, with one win apiece. There was barely a score between them in both games, with the home side triumphing – Terenure winning 14-9 in Lakelands and Clontarf winning 16-11 in Castle Avenue.
Despite the close margins this season, this game retains a ‘David vs Goliath’ atmosphere, with Terenure reaching the playoffs in only their first season in the top flight, after winning promotion from Division 1B last year. Clontarf, meanwhile, won the All Ireland League last May in dramatic circumstances on the last day, and remain one of the major forces in Irish rugby.
The day itself promises to be a great event for all the family, with the rich history of friendship and rivalry between the two sides lending itself to the occasion. A massive 600 people are expected for the pre-match lunch in a marquee, while club sponsors Sherry Fitzgerald have kindly provided an ice-cream van for the day. All children wearing a Terenure jersey will get in free, while the first 300 kids in jerseys will also get a free ice-cream!
At least two thousand spectators are expected for this great match, making it a fantastic event for Leinster Rugby. Everyone is welcome to come and join us for what promises to be a cracking game of rugby between two great sides.
