Belvedere out for revenge at Con

THE top game in the Ulster Bank League Division 1A is in Temple Hill today (2.30pm) when league leaders Old Belvedere are away to Cork Con, the only team to have beaten them this season.

Since that October confrontation, Belvedere have rattled up five consecutive wins while Constitution lost to Dolphin and drew with Garryowen, leaving them three points adrift at the halfway stage of the campaign.

Another eagerly-awaited fixture is the game between third-placed St. Mary’s College and Young Munster (4th) at Templeville Road.

Clontarf have opened up a five-point gap at the top of Division 1B but Buccaneers have a game in hand. Buccs have a tough assignment with fourth -placed Bruff at Dubarry Park, while the leaders are tipped to win their home tie against struggling Galwegians.

In Division Two, unbeaten UCD bid to continue their good league form and bounce back from a disappointing All-Ireland Cup exit to Bruff last week when they face Terenure.

The students will endeavour to keep in touch with leaders Ballynahinch, who make the short journey into Belfast to take on Malone (9th).

Midleton are another side in form this season and five wins from seven games sees them sitting nicely at the business end of the table in fifth. They hope to extend that good form at the expense of Old Crescent at Towns Park.

The back pitch at Aviva Stadium is something of a talking point this season. Sitting over an underground car park, the artificial surface in the shadow of the stadium has proven a happy place for Lansdowne but far less so for Wanderers, who face Instonians today. The hosts have had just two wins and the fast surface is likely to suit the undefeated Belfast side. Second-placed Seapoint appear bankers to pick up points on the road to struggling Connemara, while City of Derry (3rd) get the vote at home to Navan, who are also in relegation trouble.