AIB League Round 3

Round Three of the AIB League sees the Munster clubs Cork Constitution and Shannon with home advantage over UCD and Belfast Harlequins respectively.

Round Three of the AIB League sees the Munster clubs Cork Constitution and Shannon with home advantage over UCD and Belfast Harlequins respectively.

This Saturday’s AIB League game between Shannon and Belfast Harlequins will be somewhat of a unique occasion. It will be the first time the visitors will have played Shannon in Thomond Park, but one thing is for sure, although a warm welcome will be extended off the field, it will be a totally different matter when the two sides face each other on the field. Shannon will be most anxious to continue in the same manner with which they started the league.

With two games gone the parish side is sitting in second place with impressive wins over Lansdowne and more recently, away to Dungannon. Indeed, that 26 points to 8 win in the North last weekend was something of a milestone for Shannon as it was their 100th all time, All Ireland League win, becoming only the second club to achieve such a distinction. These two sides have meet twice before; in 2001,Shannon won 18-13 and again last season, when the result went to the wire, but again Shannon came out on top by 24 points to 19. The surroundings of Thomond Park will not be altogether unfamiliar to Belfast Harlequins; they played here once before when they beat UL/Bohemian last season.

Shannon’s coach, Geoff Moylan will not be in a position to select his side until after Munster’s game in Edinburgh this Friday evening. Once again his captain, Tom Hayes will travel with the province and the likely hood is that James Blaney will accompany him on the bench. It is expected that Moylan will select his side very much along the lines as that which has started the opening two games. Tom Cregan’s absence last weekend in Dungannon was barely missed, but it would be a surprise if he were omitted when the starting XV is named. Few, if any clubs would be in a position to leave such a prolific goal kicker on the side lines, but having said that, Shannon coped quite well when Andrew Thompson took over the kicking duties last Saturday.

At 29 years of age, Thompson is a veteran of this Shannon side, having played at this level for over 10 years. His 11-point haul last weekend has brought his tally of points in that period to 893. He is sure to retain his position at No. 10, while his half-back partner looks set to Fiach O’Loughlin, who had a most impressive outing last weekend. The Eoin Cahill, Brian Tuohy partnership in midfield has been one of many positives for Shannon. The combination of a strong ball carrier, Cahill and a pacey and elusive runner in Tuohy has had defences scrambling already this season. John Lacey once again showed his worth in Dungannon when he scored a valuable try at a critical time for his side.

One more try for the full back, will see him reach the personnel milestone of 50 all time, AIL tries. Before he joined Shannon in 1997, he had scored 10 tries with Sundays Well. Tom Cregan looks certain to return to the wing with the unfortunate Ian Dowling most likely to lose out. Dowling started his first AIL game against Dungannon and hardly put a foot wrong, This talented 20 year old is certain for future glory and a continued learning curve this season will see him vie for a regular place.

It’s difficult to see any changes in the Shannon pack, however it will be an anxious wait for Geoff Moylan as he waits to see if Tom Hayes takes an active part in Munster’s Friday Night game. Colm Mc Mahon, along with Stephen Keogh, Trevor Hogan and Frankie Roche and are starters for Munster, which means that once again, Shannon will rely on those, that have served them so well to date. Shannon’s Man Of the Match from last weeks encounter, two try hero, Tony Buckley has firmly established himself in the front row, while on the opposite side, Gary Mc Namara has produced consistent performances thus far.

There could be tussle for the No.2 shirt between Jerry Flannery and James Blaney, but again the Munster game will dictate those terms. John Hadnett will continue to partner Brian Buckley in the second row while the impressive John O’Connor will play on the openside of the backrow. Garrett Noonan showed no ill effects after missing Shannon’s opening game because of a viral infection and played an instrumental part in his sides victory in Dungannon. If available, Tom Hayes will take up the No.8 position.

Belfast Harlequins are also effected by the provincial set-up, but not to the same extent as Shannon. They opened their AIL account with a good win away to Buccaneers and were very unfortunate to lose to a controversial injury time penalty against Cork Con last weekend. They will travel to Thomond Park with little to fear and will test the home side to the limit. With two wins under their belt Shannon will take nothing for granted and are preparing themselves for their most difficult task to date. They have yet to be beaten in any competition this season and will be looking to maintain that record, but whether they play the genial hosts or aggressive defenders remains to be seen.

Garryowen and Dolphin are set to hit the road, Garryowen to the north and a tough assignment against league leaders Ballymena while Dolphin, fresh from their good win over St Mary’s heading for the (commercial) capital where they take on last year’s form side, the beaten finalists Clontarf. Shannon and Con are both unbeaten after two games while Garryowen dropped points in Templeville Road a fortnight ago with a 13 point share of the spoils.

That may yet be seen as two points gained before the season is ended and the built on that start with a highly credible 18-16 victory over Clontarf last Saturday in Dooradoyle. Garryowen had to come back from a 16-8 half-time deficit to snatch victory which wasn’t secured until the 76th minute when fullback Mark Connolly landed a penalty that supplemented an earlier Conor Hartigan. Full credit though to the Peter Malone side for the courageous manner they clawed their way back.

It needed a late penalty in Belfast for Con to secure their 24-22 win over a Harlequins side who looked set to take the points when they came from being 21-12 down at half time to lead 22-21. But then Pat McCarthy kicked his fourth penalty of the afternoon to give Con the valuable points. On Saturday they’re up against a UCD side who had a good win (25-21) over a Buccaneers side – that had Martin Cahill back in action after injury – in Belfield last week.

Dolphin recovered from an opening day defeat in Oak Park (Co Carlow) to bounce back with a 24-18 win over St Mary’s last time out. Mike Pettman scored two tries that day while John O’Mahony kicked four penalties and one conversion. On Saturday they face an awesome task in Castle Avenue where any sort of a point would constitute a worthy achievement. In Division Two Midleton are the best placed of the southern sides in second place on five points the same as Ul Bohemians and UCC. They travel to Dublin to play bottom placed Terenure while Bohs are also on the south side of that city, in Kilternan to play DLSP while UCC are at the Mardyke for their clash with Malone.

In Division Three Highfield carry the Munster banner placed 4th after a 43-5 win in Naas on the opening day and then a surprise 20-15 home defeat by Banbridge on Saturday. This time around they travel to the north west and a run-in with a Ballina side who were given a 62-0 trouncing in Greystones last weekend. Next best placed Munster team in this division is Clonakilty in 11th spot and they can’t improve their position this week as they have a bye.

AIB League Division 1: Ballymena v Garryowen Buccaneers v Galwegians Clontarf v Dolphin Cork Constitution v U.C.D. Lansdowne v Dungannon Shannon v Belfast Harlequins St. Mary’s College v Blackrock College Co. Carlow – Free.

AIB league Division Two. Barnhall v Young Munster Dublin University v Old Crescent D.L.S.P.v U.L. Bohemians Sunday’s Well v Old Belvedere Terenure College v Midleton Thomond v Ballynahinch U.C.C. v Malone Waterpark v Bective Rangers.

AIB League Division Three. Ballina v Highfield Banbridge v Ards City of Derry v Old Wesley Connemara v Greystones Corinthians v Skerries Instonians v Queens University Naas v Suttonians Portadown v Wanderers. Clonakilty Free.