Division One And Two Previews

Today (2.30)

Garryowen v Ballymena (Dooradoyle) - A huge potential winner-takes-all clash. Garryowen are facing into their third game in eight days, but are likely to make only one enforced change at most from Wednesday's winning team, with Dave Peters standing by for the doubtful Shane Leahy. Ballymena are unchanged from the team which suffered a crushing first home defeat of the season to Lansdowne.

Both sides are likely to be fairly gung-ho in the pursuit of tries (with outhalves Jeremy Staunton and Simon Broughton each eager to play a fluid game). Ballymena are a much better and more varied side than last year, and it could well go either way, but no Ulster team has ever won in Dooradoyle and Garryowen's bottomless spirit always somehow gets them into the shake-up.

Last two seasons: (1997-98) Garryowen 66 Ballymena 29; (1998-99) Ballymena 13 Garryowen 19.

Last five games: Garryowen - L W W L W. Ballymena - L W W W L.

Leading try scorers: Garryowen - Jeremy Staunton 6, Killian Keane, Dominic Crotty 3 each. Ballymena - Dion O'Cuinneagain, Simon Broughton 5 each.

Leading points scorers: Garryowen - Killian Keane 76. Ballymena - Simon Mason - 100.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Leinster).

Odds (courtesy of Paddy Powers): 1/2 Garryowen, 18/1 Draw, 6/4 Ballymena. Handicap odds = Ballymena +6pts: 9/10 Garryowen, 16/1 Draw, 9/10 Ballymena.

Forecast: Garryowen to win.

Lansdowne v Young Munster (Lansdowne Road) - After back-to-back wins, Lansdowne now stand on the threshold of a dizzying three on the spin. With the everready Brian Glennon again filling in on the wing for Robbie Dolan, Angus McKeen's recall constitutes their only change from the win at Ballymena. By contrast, though Munsters still have the motivation of a shot at the play-offs and have not lost in four visits to Lansdowne Road, they have undoubtedly been victims of the fixtures pileup. The resting of Mike Mullins suggests they know their chance has gone.

Last two seasons: Lansdowne 9 Young Munster 16; Young Munster 8 Lansdowne 3.

Last five games: Lansdowne - L W L W W. Young Munster - W L W L L.

Leading try scorers: Lansdowne - Ray Niland 3. Young Munster - Tom Cregan 3.

Leading points scorers: Lansdowne - Barry Everitt 130. Young Munster - Tom Cregan 139.

Referee: Dave Tyndall (Leinster).

Odds: 1/3 Lansdowne, 20/1 Draw, 9/4 Young Munster. Handicap odds = Young Munster +9pts: 9/10 Lansdowne, 16/1 Draw, 9/10 Young Munster.

Forecast: Lansdowne to win.

Buccaneers v Dungannon (Moher Road) - The day's most relaxed affair after they each arrested unnerving losing runs last week. Memories of the relegation/promotion play-off of two seasons ago in which Dungannon lost out could mean they will be more motivated. The visitors are again without their big-name trio of David Humphreys, Jonathan Bell and Jonathan Davis, while Buccaneers are missing the suspended Donal Rigney and Colm Rigney, so Bob Keady partners Gavin Webster in the second row.

Last two seasons: (97-98 promotion/relegation play-off) Buccs 11 Dungannon 17; Dungannon 10 Buccs 27.

Last five games: Buccaneers - W L L L W. Dungannon - L L L L W.

Leading try scorers: Buccaneers - Rob Lee 5, Mike Devine 4. Dungannon - Jan Cunningham 4.

Leading points scorers: Buccaneers - Simon Allnutt 62. Dungannon - David Humphreys 113.

Referee: Olan Trevor (Munster).

Odds: 1/2 Buccaneers, 18/1 Draw, 6/4 Dungannon. Handicap odds = Dungannon + 6pts: 9/10 Buccaneers, 16/1 Draw, 9/10 Dungannon.

Forecast: Dungannon to win.

Shannon v Clontarf (Thomond Park) - After clear signs of chasm between the contracted and non-contracted players, Shannon are possibly better off (and Clontarf worse off) to some degree in that the hungry young Shannon wannabes have been released in this last couple of games. Significantly, too, they will have learnt from their first-half mauling against Constitution and been encouraged by their second-half performance.

However Eddie Halvey and the rest of the Munster first-choice players will be a loss, and for all their limitations Clontarf (with Richie Murphy recalled and Bernard Jackman returning) do have significantly more to play for.

Last two seasons: Shannon 31 Clontarf 6; Clontarf 9 Shannon 24.

Last five games: Shannon - W L L L L. Clontarf - W L L W L.

Leading try scorers: Shannon - Eddie Halvey 4. Marcus Horan, Mick Galwey 3 each. Clontarf - Ronan O'Reilly 4..

Leading points scorers: Shannon - Conor Burke 78. Clontarf - Richie Murphny 85.

Referee: Bertie Smith (Munster).

Odds: 2/5 Shannon, 18/1 Draw, 7/4 Clontarf. Handicap odds = Clontarf +8pts).

Forecast: Clontarf to win.

DLSP v Terenure College (Kilternan) - Terenure, formerly top of the table, could miss out with defeat here. DLSP, mindful that Clontarf could sneak four points down in Thomond, will be going all-out for a win and at the very least a bonus point to avoid the play-off.

Terrenure are a cohesive outfit and unchanged again, whereas Mark Kavanagh and Stephen Cullen replace Karl Condron and Stephen O'Donnell for DLSP. The home team, who won their last two home games, might sneak it.

Last two seasons: Didn't meet.

Last five games: DLSP - L W W L L. Terenure - W W L W L.

Leading try scorers: DLSP - John Corr 3. Terenure - Richie Governey 3.

Leading points scorers: DLSP - Mark Kavanagh 30. Terenure - David Lynagh - 103.

Referee: Dave McHugh (Munster).

Odds: 9/4 DLSP, 20/1 Draw, 1/3 Terenure. Handicap odds = DLSP +9pts: 9/10 DLSP, 16/1 Draw, 9/10 Terenure.

Forecast: Terenure to win.

St Mary's College v Cork Constitution (Temple Hill) - St Mary's, of all the contenders, look to be ideally pitched, in that they are now playing on their fourth successive Saturday, with an unchanged side for the third successive game and on the back of big psychological win at Shannon. Constitution are the division's form team yet might find that only another one will do five-pointer will do. They will miss Jerry Murray and their chances hinge to a significant degree on the availability of John Kelly, doubtful with a back strain.

Last two seasons: St Mary's 38 Cork Con 23; Cork Con 38 St Mary's 0.

Last five games: St Mary's - L W W L W. Cork Con - W L W W W.

Leading try scorers: St Mary's - John McWeeney 8. Cork Con - Cian Mahony, Brian Walsh 4 each.

Leading points scorers: St Mary's - Mark McHugh 113. Cork Con - Ronan O'Gara 106.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Leinster).

Odds: 1/2 St Mary's, 18/1 Draw, 6/4 Cork Con. Handicazp odds = Cork Con +6pts: 9/10 St Mary's, 16/1 Draw, 9/10 Cork Con.

Forecast: St Mary's to win.

Division Two

Sunday's Well v Dolphin (Musgrave Park) - The Well have dropped like a stone with six defeats on the spin, while Dolphin have kept a degree more form.

Last season: Dolphin 26 Sunday's Well 6.

Last five games: Sunday's Well - L L L L L. Dolphin - W W W L L.

Referee: Padraig Gilmore (Connacht)

Forecast: Dolphin to win.

Galwegians v Greystones (Crowley Park) - Ciaran Fitzgerald's farewell to the 'Stones, and possibly for the Narbonne-bound Eric Elwood as well, but a much bigger game for John Kingston's men. After a heart-breaking defeat at Harlequins, Galwegians need to win.

Last season: Didn't meet.

Last five games: Galwegians - W W W W L. Greystones: L W L W L.

Referee: Leo Mayne (Munster).

Forecast: Galwegians to extend their 100% home record.

Portadown v Malone (Chamber's Park) - Only local pride at stake though useful match practice for Portadown in advance of their play-off.

Last season: Malone 18 Portadown 3.

Last five games: Portadown - L L L L L. Malone - L L L W L.

Referee: Eddie Walsh (Connacht).

Forecast: Portadown to win.

UCC v Wanderers (Mardyke Grounds) - The students have conceded 19 tries in three successive games against promotion aspirants whereas results haven't reflected the improvement brought about at Wanderers by Kelvin Leahy.

Last season: Wanderers 13 UCC 15.

Last five games: UCC - W L L L L. Wanderers - L L W L L.

Referee: Ger Bennett (Munster).

Forecast: Wanderers to win.

Blackrock College v Old Crescent (Stradbrook) - Weariness would be understandable but Blackrock's tyros continue to cut a swathe through the division. Crescent, a form team, could be cast off to the play-off if they return to Limerick empty-handed today.

Last season: Didn't meet.

Last five games: Blackrock - W W W W W. Old Crescent - W W W W W.

Referee: Gareth Doyle (Ulster).

Forecast: Blackrock to win.

City Of Derry v Belfast Harlequins (Judge's Road) - Harlequins appear to have ridden their luck, especially in those narrow late wins over UCD and Galwegians, but the bonus point against Belvedere is crucial in that it keeps them out of the Derrymen's reach, though the home side still have a whiff of the play-off at any rate. Even so, they've gone off the boil a little.

Last season: Didn't meet.

Last five games: City of Derry - W L W L W. Belfast Harlequins - L W W W W.

Referee: David Napier (Ulster).

Forecast: Harlequins to win.

Bective Rangers v UCD (Donnybrook) - Despite the departure of the highly-regarded Lee Smith UCD have upped the tempo of their promotion push. Even with another five-point haul here they may need a favour from their rivals Blackrock against Crescent (or Galwegians next week) to avoid the play-offs. Should just make automatic promotion though.

Last season: Didn't meet.

Last five games: Bective - L L W L L. UCD - W W W W W.

Referee: Sean Buggy (Leinster).

Forecast: UCD to extract maximum points.