Munster Club News

Read the latest club news, previews and reports from around the province

AIB All Ireland League Division Two

Dolphin v Thomond

Sat 5th November 2005- Musgrave Park

Referee: Peter Ferguson (Ulster)

Previous Results

2001/02 L 10-27 (A) S Madigan try & J O Mahony try + con

2002/03 L 12-14 (H) J O Mahony 4 pens

2004/05 W 13-0 (A) G Finn, J O Mahony, Dg, pen & con

Dolphin

Thomond

Thomond

Clubs Top scorer- Aidan O Halloran (637)-of his total points of 1237.

5th consecutive season in Division 2.

Most points 2004/05 -John Cusack (95)

Most tries 2004/05- Kevin O Riordan (6)

Flanker Alopoti T Pau is younger brother of Matt

Dolphin

It was against Thomond that John O Mahony scored the clubs only drop goal last season, but only conceded just one for the season also.

After three games have scored more points (66) tries (7) and penalty goals (8) than any other Division 2 side.

Have won last four away league games (excluding play off semi final) this is just the 2nd time the club has done this , the first time was in 1996/97. Taking into account the two previous away games which resulted in draws, means that Dolphin are unbeaten away for six consecutive games.

Richie Murphy (Old Belvedere) is top points scorer in Division 2 with 29 while Barry Keeshan is just one point behind.

James Coughlan who made his Dolphin debut on 27/10/2001is the top try scoring forward for Dolphin with 11, just one ahead of Donnchadha Murphy and two ahead of Dave Pomeroy.

Scorers 2005/06

AIB All Ireland League Division One

Shannon v UL Bohemian

Saturday 5^th November 2005

Thomond Park, 2.30pm

Referee: Alan Lewis (ARLB)

This Saturday sees the first Limerick 1st Division Derby when Shannon face UL Bohs in Thomond Park. It s a relatively new AIB league fixture as these sides have meet only once before when Shannon won two years ago. Less than 120 metres separate the club houses of these two Thomond Park tenants, but it s Shannon s home game on Saturday. Seven places separate the sides in the league table after three games with Shannon winning their three games and UL Bohs winning, drawing and losing their opening savvies. They caused a mild upset two weeks ago after an opening defeat to Cork Con, when they took the scalp of a fancied Clontarf side in Castle Avenue and gained a creditable 20-20 draw against Blackrock last Saturday.

UL Bohs have been steadily building a side of repute over the last number of years and their division two final win last year was thoroughly deserved.

At the start of the season one online bookie had the Red Robins at an incredible 150/1 to win the title which probably demonstrates their lack of knowledge as opposed to UL Bohs ability at actually winning the title.

Whatever the case, this UL Bohs side have the ability to cause the reigning champions difficulties on Saturday. They have quality backs throughout from full back Cathal Garvey to scrum half Chris Delooze. Their forward unit is also a solid structure and their lineout options are varied. The effect of Celtic league action on Friday night will have little impact on their team selection and that consistency will be an added bonus.

Top of the table Shannon have shown several sides to their abilities in the league thus far. Their opening game with St Mary s was their best performance thus far while against Galwegians it was a far more lack lustre showing. Last week it took until the 75th minute to ensure victory against Dublin University, but the horrendous weather conditions played a big role in that particular game. Shannon showed tremendous determination to eventually win by 19-6 to keep their unbeaten run intact.

Celtic league on Saturday evening will have a bearing on Mick Galwey s team selection with Ian Dowling, Tony Buckley, Frankie Roche and Stephen Keogh all travelling to Glasgow.

It would appear that Jerry Flannery s outings in a Shannon jersey will be limited throughout the season after his inspirational show last weekend against Castres. His performance seems to have taken many pundits by surprise, but those that know him and his quality knew that his talents were more than suitable for the big stage. The man who filled the No.2 jersey for Shannon last week, 19 year old Sean Cronin showed exactly why he is a former schools and U19 international. In his very first AIL outing he belied his relative inexperience at this level having an exceptional game and there s nothing to suggest that he won t retain the spot this weekend.

Shannon s back five have a settled look about it with Donnacha Ryan and Padraic O Brien two very compatible second rows. Antoin Meany was drafted into the side to counteract Colm Mc Mahon s injury and has stepped up to the mark admirably, while John O Connor and Eddie Halvey continue to ooze class.

Mossy Lawlor has been in sparkling form at fullback and his 40 metre drop goal last weekend demonstrated his tremendous ability to multi task. Eoin Cahill has taken to the captaincy with like a duck to water and his game has suffered little with the extra burden. His try last week, the clincher for Shannon, was set up by his centre partner Brian Tuohy. This partnership will almost certainly be retained. Although only 31, Andrew Thompson is one of the longest serving players in the All Ireland league and his play has diminished little. His calming influence form the Outhalf berth has been a big factor on Shannon s progress so far and he will most likely partner Frankie Mc Namara in the play making positions.

Shannon have no major injury worries for this crucial game on Saturday, but will have to await the outcome of Munster s game on Friday evening to select a side.

There s no doubt that both sides will be fired up for this AIB league game on Saturday. As well as the points on offer, there s the bragging rights around the streets of Limerick for the respective support. The game should provide plenty of entertainment and the rugby folk of Limerick could do worse than to come out and see the best the AIB league has to offer.

The club are hosting pre match buffets for the League programme. For a mere 20 you get entry into the match, a free drink at the bar and of course, a sumptuous buffet lunch. This is an entirely non profit venture and the aim is to create more of a social focus for our members and supporters on match days. Numbers will be strictly limited, and pre booking is vital. Contact Tadgh Crowe @087 6524958 early to ensure your place for Saturday.

On Saturday the thirds are at home to Young Munster with a 12.30 start while on Sunday the seconds play Thomond, also in Coonagh at 2.30.

Our ladies were disappointed when Boyne failed to travel for their AIL game, but this Sunday it s their annual joust with old nemesis UL/Bohs in Annacotty with a 2.30 start.

In the only underage game of last weekend, our U/18 s had a good 18-0 win over Ennis in the league. It was a welcome return to winning ways and the coaches were happy with the performance in general. Lorcan Carroll, Ian Houlihan and Keith Ellis were in fine form and contributed enormously to the win. Next up for the 18 s are St Mary s on Sunday away at 11.30pm while the U/15 s are away to Newcastlewest at 11.30 and the U/13 s are also away to Thomond at 11pm.

Clonakilty Maintain League Position.

Clonakilty defeated Queens University in Belfast on Saturday by fifteen points to three to keep their AIB All Ireland League Top Four aspirations alive. This was their second visit to the north in as many weeks having defeated Derry the previous Saturday by 33 points to 27. It had been perceived to be the most difficult start to the league for the West Cork club since their elevation to senior status in 2001. A reconstituted Wanderers with Div One aspirations had come to The Vale and fallen in week one and then those two difficult away assignments, (confirming Clon as the Munster club across all three divisions with the best record in Ulster), placed Clon in second place.

The game was played in appalling conditions with incessant driving rain which ruined the game as a spectacle. Tries from Darragh Lynch and the leagues leading try scorer, Noel O Sullivan, added to a penalty and conversion from Gary Cribb saw off a game challenge from the students whose three points came from a penalty at the end. It was a game which because of the conditions made analysis impossible. Ninety five per cent of the match was played between the 22s which indicated that neither side had dominated but it was Clon that took the chances and their greater experience told in the end.

Having won three out of three Clon are comfortably positioned in second place, just one point off the leaders and will look forward to the visit of Skerries to The Vale this Saturday for the last league game before the break for the internationals. This game kicks off at 2.30pm and there is sure to be a large crowd. Extra Car-Parking and refreshment facilities will be available.

The Bulldogs continued where they left off last week with a comprehensive 45 – 0 win over newcomers Glenbeigh. Glenbeigh had beaten UCC the previous week and this will be a confidence booster for Clon as they take on that opposition this Sunday in The Vale. The under 16s also won again defeating Cork Constitution in Cork by 27 points to 12 but The Ladies unfortunately went down 29 – 0 to a very strong UL Bohemians.

This weekend s fixtures: –

Loose Head