Today
First Division
Dolphin v Blackrock
Regular tight-head Eddie Knowles and flanker Dan Sheehan retain their places in Dolphin's line-up after impressive re-appearances as substitutes in the win over Old Belvedere. The newly-promoted Corkmen are going well, and due to the cancellation of the Garryowen-Terenure game, coupled with difficult games against the top two for those above them, victory here could propel Dolphin into the top four.
Blackrock are at a low ebb, ongoing injury problems obliging them to play Leo Cullen in the second row. Dolphin will hammer away off the rucks, where Blackrock have been weak, and kick to the corners. For Blackrock to withstand and make their own running game tick, it'll need a collective mental effort the like of which Blackrock have yet to produce.
Lansdowne v Old Crescent
A tricky enough first assignment for new Lansdowne coach Michael Cosgrave. Lansdowne have some good players and if they can get a foothold in the set-pieces have the weapons - Colin McEntee off the base of the scrum and Kurt McQuilkin through the middle - to provide good attacking platforms. You sense they should just about get there, although Crescent, like all Limerick sides with their backs against the wall, will be resilient.
Cork Constitution v Shannon
Ultan O'Callaghan, Constitution's primary back-row ball carrier, is a huge loss, especially against this Shannon back-row. It's typical of Constitution's unfortunate season - 29 players have been used in four games - and in characteristically phlegmatic mode Ray Coughlan reckons that "the number of players forced to watch from the sidelines should swell the crowd inordinately."
Though the intelligent Kiwi lock Roger Newell returns and along with ex-UCC number eight Conor Kehelly, has buttressed the pack. However, it's still a relatively lightweight eight with a wing-forward pairing of Jerry Murray and Jim Canning more suited to an end-of-season dry day than this. In the absence of John Kelly, Niall Murray is also doubtful. Constitution will need a very good start to have a hope of an upset.
Shannon, it is felt, aren't firing on all cylinders, yet 12 tries with none conceded in two outings suggests otherwise. Shannon to win.
St Mary's v clontarf
The postponement of their game last week means John McWeeney has ultimately missed only one league tie since pulling a hamstring when scoring against Terenure. The return of the international left-winger constitutes the only change from the side which ran up 70 points against Dungannon.
Brent Pope will not be harbouring too many delusions of grandeur on his return to his old stomping ground for this, the first AIL meeting between the clubs, and Mary's should have the potency off the fringes and out wide to win assuredly.
Ballymena v Dungannon
A highly charged, parochial affair which might nullify Ballymena's apparently greater individuality. Dungannon are confident, well organised and should be very spirited and tough to put away. But with conditions as they are, Ballymena's power up front and imposing scrum (five pushovers and two penalty tries in four games) should settle the issue without recourse to too much use of their strike runners.
Y Munster v O Belvedere
In keeping with the in vogue "using our squad system", Young Munster have brought in Justin O'Connell for Mick O'Halloran in the second-row. It may or may not betray a hint of over-confidence in their ranks, though they'd be entitled to that after an untypically bright, unbeaten start. On the face of it, Belvedere forfeited victory at home to Dolphin last week. This hardly falls into that category.
Second Division
Greystones v Wanderers
A youngish, remodelled Greystones side, under a new coach after a summer haemorrhage, look to be in something of a false position given three tight enough wins in which they've yet to score more tries than their opponents. But that could still conceivably be the case after today. James Cullinane fills the tight-head vacancy for Wanderers.
Old Wesley v DLSP
Not quite the foregone conclusion which a cursory glance at the table - Old Wesley are fifth, DLSP 13th - might suggest. In a division where so many teams seem equal, an improved kicking ratio from Tommy James could see DLSP open their account. But they're not quite the same proposition away from Kilternan.
Buccaneers v UCC
UCC's rise to second place for this unlikely top-of-the-table clash speaks volumes for the colleges organisation off the pitch. Were they to stay there until season's end and win promotion (in moments of quiet contemplation, probably a scary thought for them) it would arguably be the achievement of the league in its eight years. But at home and in these conditions, Brian Rigney, Noel Mannion and co should have the ability to outmuscle the students.
Galwegians v Bective Rangers
Theoretically, at any rate, Galwegians have named the returning Pat Duignan on the wing - testimony to the strength of their all-interpro back-line. The pack too is at full strength and though Bective ought to be doing better than they are it's hard to see them opening their account here.
Monkstown v City Of Derry
Sydney Parade was inspected and passed fit yesterday. The loss of influential scrum-half Conor Heaney, especially, and winger Neil Ryan are blows, but Hugh Maguire is back at number six, Andrew McMaster has steadied the ship at out-half and they should record their second successive home win.
Instonians v Malone
Two relatively unpredictable, fair weather sides. Neither side has won away yet and on a line through Wesley, Instonians (who led UCC by 12 points last week) could win a closely-fought affair.
In Division Three, Bohemians' game at home to unbeaten NIFC has been cancelled due to the waterlogged state of the Thomond Park pitch. As leaders Ballynahinch are idle, this means that Trinity, Portadown and UCD can force a fiveway tie at the top by winning away to Corinthians, Suttonians and Highfield, while bottom-placed Collegians host Queen's, who are also pointless.
Matches Off: First Division - Garryowen v Terenure College. Second Division - Skerries v Sunday's Well.
