Mary’s and Terenure set for top ranks derby

By Stephen Leonard

THE TOP ranks of the Ulster Bank League serves up another mouth-watering derby on Saturday with the clash of St Mary’s College and Terenure College in Templeville Road.

While Mary’s sit three places above their Lakelands Park opponents in Division 1A, a mere four points separate the two.

Terenure will be coming into this match in the midst of a revival that was tempered somewhat by a six-point loss to third place Cork Constitution in their last league outing which saw Eoin Joyce and Sam Coghlan Murray break over the whitewash for them.

Yet three wins in row prior to that against Garryowen, Clontarf and second place Young Munster have helped haul them off the bed of the table and leaves them with very much with a fighting chance of survival.

They will be looking to return to winning ways at the expense of their near neighbours, who themselves will be seething from a narrow two-point loss at the hands of Young Munster in their last match.

Indeed it was only a last minute touchdown by Cian Bohane that denied Mary’s the win after they had raced in front with the aid of tries from Cathal Marsh, Ryan O’Loughlin and Dave Fanagan.

Needless to say, therefore, that both sides are likely to have the bit between their teeth when they meet again this weekend.

And there is every reason to expect a close match given that Mary’s edged their last encounter in Lakelands Park in October by just four points.

Second half tries by Terry Kennedy and winger Jordan Larmour, who has lit up the stage for the Ireland Under 20s in their unbeaten Six Nations campaign so far, saw them over the line on that occasion.