Sport

Bruised and battered clubs play the waiting game

MONDAY'S bank holiday, allied to outstanding injury problems, means that the vast majority of the clubs involved in the All-Ireland…

By EDMUND VAN ESBECK
Wed Apr 10 1996 - 01:00

MONDAY'S bank holiday, allied to outstanding injury problems, means that the vast majority of the clubs involved in the All-Ireland League programme next Saturday have deferred selection.

First division leaders Shannon, who travel to Instonians, have four players under treatment after their win over Old Belvedere last Saturday. They are full back Pat Murray, prop Donal Costello, second row Brian Rigney and number eight Anthony Foley.

Second placed Garryowen do not have a match this weekend, while the other contenders, St Mary's College, and their opponents, Lansdowne, have delayed selection.

Old Belvedere will be without their Leinster wing Paddy Gavin for the match against Blackrock College. Craig Colgan, who came on as a replacement against Shannon last Saturday, has been named on the right wing. Willie Norse reverts to outside-half the position filled by John Philpott last Saturday when the back line was rearranged because of Gavin's absence.

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Young Munster, following their win over St Mary's College last Saturday, will be unchanged for the visit to Ballymena. Ballymena will be without outside-half Ricky McIlmoyle, who has damaged knee ligaments. Prop Simon Booth is also under treatment.

Cork Constitution will name their side to play Old Wesley today. They hope that outside-half Paul Burke will have recovered from the bruised knee sustained in Hong Kong and which kept him out of the side that lost to Ballymena.

Old Wesley have left the outside-half berth open pending a fitness test on Adrian Hawe. He has missed the last two league matches because of a calf muscle injury and Stuart Wilson has deputised. If Hawe proves his fitness he is likely to come into an otherwise unchanged team from the side that defeated Blackrock College so comprehensively last Saturday.

Second division leaders Old Crescent, already assured of promotion but with sights firmly set on the divisional championship, will be without captain and scrum-half Diarmuid Reddan for the visit to NIFC. Reddan will be attending his brother's wedding. Old Crescent will decide on his deputy and finalise their side today.

Greystones, who meet Dungannon in a vital promotion match at Dr Hickey Park on Saturday, have also had to defer selection because of injuries, as have Dungannon who will be without outside-half Keith Megarry, and flanker Jon Patterson is doubtful.

Dolphin name an unchanged pack from the eight that helped them to their initial league last Saturday by beating NIFC for the visit to Terenure College. Injuries to Paul McNamara and Brendan Keary have delayed selection of the back division.

Having lost their international centre Kurt McQuilkin, Bective Rangers suffered another injury blow last Saturday when centre Robbie Noble broke a leg. They move Geoff Barry into the centre for the match against Wanderers. Gary Purcell has been chosen on the wing.

Ireland captain Niall Hogan and Jonathan Bell are unavailable for the Ireland squad for the Students World Cup in South Africa from June 29th to July 20th. Nonetheless, the squad includes five internationals.

Wing Darragh O'Mahony, back row forward Anthony Foley and hooker Shane Byrne were in the Ireland squad that competed in the World Cup in South Africa last summer. Byrne, who has yet to win a cap at senior level. travelled to South Africa last season as a replacement for Keith Wood.