Clontarf aiming to finish the job

AIL PREVIEW:STRICTLY SPEAKING it is a misnomer to describe today's Ulster Bank Division 1A match between the first and second-placed sides as a title decider given the various permutations that would see the outcome of the elite club league not decided until after the final round of matches next weekend.

However, Clontarf, who lead St Mary’s College by a point, can be crowned champions if they beat today’s visitors by more than seven points and claim a try bonus to boot. Clontarf would dearly love to wrap things up this afternoon because of a potentially tricky final game, away to an in-form Lansdowne on their artificial pitch. St Mary’s host Young Munster at Templeville Road on the final weekend of the league.

Clontarf have a much better points’ differential, if the clubs were to finish level in the table, and one that Mary’s won’t be able to overhaul.

When these two sides met earlier in the campaign, it took a late try from Mary’s outhalf Philip Brophy and a touchline conversion from Gavin Dunne, to rescue a 22-20 win. But today’s clash has a cup final feel to it. St Mary’s welcome back inspirational number eight and captain Hugh Hogan, who missed the last two games through injury.

They petitioned the IRFU to have Leinster prop Jack McGrath ruled eligible for the game but their plea was turned down by the union. A player must have started three matches to qualify to play in the final four games in the league and McGrath had only run-on from the beginning in two games.

They still boast a very strong pack, anchored by Robert “Chops” Sweeney, a very clever scrumhalf in Matthew D’Arcy, pace aplenty in the three quarter line and a fine place-kicker in fullback Gavin Dunne. The ruling that allows for 12 rolling substitutions during the game amongst the five named replacements ensures that a player like Leinster academy prospect Ciaran Ruddock is likely to see plenty of game time.

Clontarf were given a confidence fillip with the news that athletic flanker Simon Crawford will play but in-form tighthead prop Ben Barclay will miss out. So too promising Leinster academy centre Collie O’Shea (groin). Noel Reid was on the bench for Leinster at the RDS last night and is expected to start today at outhalf.

Two excellent sides; it promises to be an absorbing tussle.

CLONTARF: R Lane; M McGrath, K Lett, E Ryan, T McCoy; N Reid, S Cronin; K Dorian, A Dundon, N Treston; J Chipman, B Reilly; S Crawford, B O’Mahony (capt), F Cogan.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE: G Dunne; D Hudson, S Grissing, M O’Driscoll, C Hogan; P Brophy, M D’Arcy; C McMahon, Richie Sweeney, Rob Sweeney; D Hall, S Bradshaw; M O’Flanagan, G Austin, H Hogan (capt).