REGARDLESS OF results this afternoon, it looks like this season’s Ulster Bank League Division One A title will be won or lost in Castle Avenue on April 14th.

League leaders Clontarf are only ahead of St Mary’s College on points difference, granted it is a significantly better margin of 53 points, but their meeting in a fortnight seems like a straight AIL final in the this first year without play-offs for some time.

It won’t be a straight shootout, however, if Cork Constitution do a job on a St Mary’s side that is missing captain Hugh Hogan for the trip to Temple Hill. At least winger Darren Hudson has been released by Leinster. Con lie fourth in the table, 11 points adrift with three rounds remaining.

Clontarf are also missing a highly-influential forward in Simon Crawford for their match at home to Garryowen. Hogan and Crawford sustained shoulder injuries playing for the Ireland club team. The former is due back soon but Crawford’s recovery time is less certain. Garryowen could yet upset the status quo as they seek form ahead of the All-Ireland Cup final against Ballymena.

Young Munster, despite last week’s home defeat to Clontarf, remain in contention, six points adrift of the two Dublin clubs, but they must win at Lansdowne. Unlikely.

The bottom four clubs are also intertwined today. Dolphin are safe on 32 points which should help Blackrock achieve their fourth win of the campaign. The presence of Leinster backs Brendan Macken and Andrew Conway should provide the spark that keeps Blackrock in Division One A despite the recent departure of coach Eric Miller.

Defending champions Belvedere are one point below them, at the bottom, but they can drag Shannon into the scrap for survival with a win at Anglesea road.