Moneygourney, the home of Douglas RFC has traditionally proven a difficult venue for many a visiting team over the years. It also features a slope which can literally make games there an uphill challenge.

Promotion-chasing Carrick-on-Suir make the trip to Cork for next Sunday’s Division 3 Group B meeting, as the hosts seek to avenge a 19-8 defeat at Tybroughney last November.

A victory for Carrick this Sunday would put them in a strong position to emerge from the group, given that fellow promotion hunters Galbally lost 9-8 at Moneygourney on Sunday last.

Galbally will be aiming to achieve the maximum points haul when they face struggling Dungarvan on home soil (also at 2.30), a game they must win to stay in touch with Carrick.

Matters at the top are likely to come to head on March 8th when Carrick host Galbally, the only team to have registered a league win against the Tybroughney men to date. But there’s little concealing the potential consequences of next weekend’s match-ups.

Waterford City, whose second half display in their last league outing at home to Carrick will be one they’ll be anxious to flush out of their collective system, travel to Fermoy next Sunday.

But following a 27-0 win over Old Christians in Kilbarry last weekend, City will aim to stick to winning ways in East Cork.

With just two rounds remaining in this season’s league beyond Sunday’s fixtures, the margin for error at the top is minimal.

For now, the advantage lies with Carrick, but the possibility of a tantalising group decider against Galbally a week on Sunday remains on the table.

A boisterous, victorious rendition of ‘The Carrick Smashers’ is almost on the tongue tips of some club members, but there’s some considerable rugby to be played yet.