Red hot Malone target derby joy against Queen’s
UNLESS the weather decides to intervene, tonight’s Ulster derby between Division 2A’s unbeaten leaders Malone and in-form Queen’s University (kick-off 8pm) at Gibson Park promises to be a tasty encounter.
Last week, Malone stretched their impressive run of wins to all six games played when shading it over Armagh, thanks to Josh Pentland’s late drop goal, and they will be gunning for another scalp from a second successive home game and derby clash.
Coach Paddy Armstrong will be up against the club he previously coached when his opposite number Neil Doak brings the third-placed students over to the Cregagh Road.
“You want to be in this position and it is a good challenge,” Armstrong said.
“In any derby everyone knows each other and obviously it adds a bit of spice and hopefully it will be a good spectacle.”
Malone — who have Pentland and Ulster’s Chris Henry assisting Armstrong — should have Jack Owens, Joe Dunleavy and Peter Cooper all on board.
Doak’s squad are also in a good place and have run up 91 points in their last two games.
Dave Whitten will start in the back-row.
There is no derby game for fifth-placed Armagh and, instead, they play Highfield at the Palace Grounds with Willie Faloon’s side badly needing to halt a damaging run of three straight defeats.
Division 2B’s bottom side Belfast Harlequins host Dungannon, (kick-off 2pm). Also in 2B, second-placed Rainey Old Boys are at struggling City of Derry.
In 2C, it’s fifth against fourth when Omagh host Bangor.
Bangor have lock Dave Caughey back from injury while Andrew Jackson comes in at hooker. Mark Widdowson is on the wing while Jamie Clegg returns from his injury issues to make the bench. Tonight: Div 2A: Rock v Greystones, Cashel v Nenagh, Galwegians v Corinthians, Malone v QUB. Div 2B: Skerries v Navan, Sun Well v Old Crescent. Div 2C: Bective v Seapoint, Bruff v Thomond
Tomorrow: Div 2A: Armagh v Highfield. Div 2B: Quins v Gannon (2pm), Wanderers v Barnhall, Derry v Rainey. Div 2C: Midleton v Malahide, Omagh v Bangor, Sligo v Tullamore