DERBY DAYS: RUGBY 2009/10 AIB LEAGUE:The Leinster v Munster clash will attract most attention this weekend, but local bragging rights and league points will be at stake in three historic club fixtures, writes DAMIAN CULLEN

THERE’S A big rugby derby in Ireland at the weekend. In truth, it would be hard not to know about it. Leinster and Munster are big players in Irish sport – eating up column inches, and radio and television time, in the days before and after they meet.

It can be very difficult to get noticed when standing between such giants – even if the games are, historically at least, just as important. And even if, they are taking place, not just in Dublin, but also Cork and Limerick.

In the weekend’s northside v southside battle, Clontarf – currently surely the strongest club side outside of Munster – visit St Mary’s College at Templeville Road on Saturday afternoon.

And, on the same day, at Munster rugby’s second home, Dolphin host Cork Constitution – a neighbouring club who have far outperformed them for several decades.

Dolphin have been living in the shadow of Cork Con since the 1940s and ’50s – when they won several Munster Senior and Junior Cups and Munster Senior Leagues – and they missed a golden opportunity to show their rivals just how much they love to get one over them when, last Valentine’s Day, their Ballintemple-based neighbours won 18-16 in the AIB Cup quarter-final – to end Dolphin’s long unbeaten home run in league and cup rugby.

While Dolphin beat their city rivals 30-13 in the Munster Seconds League South last weekend, the AIB League Division One is a different matter altogether, and, like Clontarf, Cork Con will be looking to lay down an early marker as to their title credentials.

Still, derby meetings don’t tend to follow the usual guidelines. In last February’s clash, with time running out at Musgrave Park and Dolphin two points in arrears, Barry Keeshan – who otherwise had an impressive performance – agonisingly hit the upright with a late, late drop-goal attempt, before putting a penalty wide with the last kick of the game.

Cork Con know they won’t have anything easy this time either.

The biggest club clash is, however, the one that defies even the worst Limerick weather that can be thrown at it.

No matter what talent is on show, these clashes often descend into wars of attrition.

When others are falling by the wayside, Garryowen and Shannon don’t lose eye-contact.

Probably the best example if this was back in April, 1963, when sporting fixtures all over the country were called off due to the terrible weather conditions – including, in Limerick, a Munster Junior Cup semi-final between Young Munster and Abbeyfeale and a big Munster Senior League tie between Old Crescent and Highfield.

The Garryowen versus Shannon game proceeded, though it was a hour late starting due to difficulty finding a referee who would also stand the conditions that prevailed. Garryowen won 6-5.

Both clubs are as old as the GAA, but Shannon RFC spent almost 70 years as a junior club, and so was inextricably linked with Garryowen for many years by the tradition of supplying many talented players to Garryowen’s senior sides.

Ironically, for many, both clubs are now merely seen as feeder clubs for the all-powerful Munster team.

Long before the provincial side became the Goliath it is now, Shannon took to the new national league system – which kicked off at the start of the 1990s – more than any other club.

In two decades, they have claimed the league title on nine occasions, with the 36-time Munster Senior Cup champions Garryowen taking the Irish league title three times – with their treble-winning 2007 season (quadruple including the Munster Junior Cup) breaking a 13-year gap from their second league title.

And, almost as celebrated as that AIB League final defeat of Belfast Harlequins two years ago, was Garryowen’s stunning victory over their local rivals last year in in the league semi-final.

Shannon hosted Garryowen in May, 2008, in the knowledge that they had never lost a home league semi-final.

Four well-taken tries and 11 points from the boot of fullback Conor Kilroy later, a Keith Earls-inspired Garryowen had romped to a 31-6 victory.

Shannon had to wait until last April to regain the bragging rights with a 16-12 victory in which the forwards, as is normal in these grudge matches – had to battle for every inch gained at Coonagh.

And, in between those league semi-final meetings – as is fitting to the rank of the fixture in Irish club rugby – the sides met under lights in the first All-Ireland League match at the new-redeveloped Thomond Park.

More than 4,500 spectators turned up and not one could have left disappointed with the spectacle, with a 17-17 draw being the final result.

This weekend it all begins once again and the 2009/10 domestic league format has been radically altered, with Division One now divided into two sections, with the top eight clubs in Division One A (based on the standings at the end of last season). Each team will play the other seven, home and away, with the top three progressing to the play-offs – along with the first-placed side from Division One B.

Those semi-finals are a long way off, however and first up – along with UL Bohemian versus Blackrock College – are derby games in three cities.

With domestic rugby constantly struggling to gain recognition and profile, it seems appropriate there’s such a local and traditional feel to to the opening shots of the new campaign.

Friday–Garryowen v Shannon, Dooradoyle, 7.30pm

Saturday–Dolphin v Cork Constitution, Musgrave Pk, 2.30pm

–St Mary’s v Clontarf, Templeville Road, 2.30pm

–UL Bohemian v Blackrock, Thomond Park, 2.30pm