Constitution determined to trim Shannon's sails

Some people just can't get enough. Invariably, the biggest crowd of the weekend will be for Shannon's homecoming party at Thomond Park as AIL champions for the fourth successive year. Meanwhile in Dublin and Galway both Lansdowne and Galwegians will seek to keep a hold on their provincial cups, although in the case of latter, remarkably, tomorrow's final against Corinthians offers Eric Elwood the chance to break his duck in the Connacht Senior Cup.

Not that there are many ducks to be broken by the those greedy Shannon men. All the big hitters are itching to take Shannon one step closer to what would only be their second AIL-Munster Cup double by overcoming Cork Constitution in the Carling Munster Senior Cup semi-finals.

This includes Mick Galwey, who has been receiving intensive physiotherapy on the arm he injured in the warm-up for the AIL final. Though he played in that decider, Galwey missed the Munster quarter-final win over Old Crescent. He will only play if 100 per cent, and if ruled out then Eddie Halvey will step into the second row and Colm McMahon will play at open side.

Constitution were yesterday hit by the withdrawal of centre Alan Byrne. Either of the Kiernans, Tom and Jim, or Kevin O'Riordan will fill the vacancy while the Youghal dual status player continues to deputise for John O'Kelly on the wing. Ultan O'Callaghan has been advised to take the rest of the season off after suffering concussion for the second time this season, although on the plus side left-winger Anthony Horgan returns after a three-month absence due to a knee injury.

Young Munster travel to Cork today seeking to reach their seventh Munster final in the '70s, and standing in their way will be a UCC team many of whose bright young things have contributed to Irish rugby's exceptional year at underage level.

The local edge will be every bit as keen for the all-Galway showdown between Galwegians and Corinthians, their first meeting in the Smithwicks Connacht Senior Cup final since Galwegians won the 1983 decider 6-3. Galwegians, as Division Two champions, will be warm favourites to overcome their mid-table Division Three neighbours and so equal UCG's haul of 27 Connacht Cups.

However, they are again without the unavailable Junior Charlie and Pat Duignan, as well as main lineout winner Jimmy Duffy. Scrumhalf Ian Plaice is very doubtful with a knee injury and Douglas Clancy is an option there. Lock Dermot Casserley is also doubtful with torn ankle ligaments.

In today's semi-final doubleheader in the Leinster Senior Cup at Stradbrook, the second division pair of DLSP and Skerries will each be striving to maximise a rare day in the sun and so reach their first finals at the expense of Division One opposition in Lansdowne and Terenure.

Lansdowne are without Brian Glennon and Niall Greene, while Johnny Woods comes in at out-half. DLSP remain unchanged.

Mike Ruddock has been generally installed as favourite to succeed Kevin Bowring as Welsh coach by the Welsh media, although the current Leinster Director of Rugby yesterday said: "My contractual obligations are to the IRFU and in particular to Leinster, and my focus will continue in that direction."

Nonetheless, if approached, Welsh-born Ruddock would surely find the task of coaching Wales impossible to reject and the IRFU would hardly stand in his way.

Reggie Corrigan was chosen as the AIB League Player of the Year, at the annual Leinster Branch awards banquet in Dublin last night. Leo Cullen received the Leinster Young Player of the Year award. Owen Bourke (Barnhall) is the ACC Bank Leinster League Player of the Year while Lansdowne president Kevin Kelleher was inducted into the Hall of Fame.