SHANNON, the All Ireland League champions, go to Musgrave Park tomorrow to meet Cork Constitution in the final of the Munster Senior Cup, a competition sponsored by Carling. A historic double is now attainable by Shannon as no club has won the AIL and the provincial senior cup in the same season.

Like their Limerick neighbours Garryowen, Shannon have won the AIL twice, and indeed the Munster Senior Cup twice in the 1990s. But Shannon stand apart as the only club to win the league title in successive seasons.

Not alone has the club won the national title, but also the Munster Junior Cup, the North Munster under 20 league and the Gleeson league. That is its own commentary on the strength in depth in the club.

By their own high standards recent years have been lean for Cork Constitution, who won the AIL in 1991. They finished third in the League this season and their last Munster Senior Cup win was in 1989, the last year they appeared in the final. But their success that year was typical of the competitive spirit of the club. Shannon went to Musgrave Park in search of four cup wins in a row and led into injury time before Constitution won the title in dramatic fashion.

The intent to do likewise tomorrow will be equally acute and Shannon make the journey - never having defeated Constitution in a cup final at Musgrave Park. They lost in the finals of 1983, 1985 and of course, 1989.

Last week Shannon saw off the challenge of Young Munster in the semi final of the cup and they make just one team change - Ian Sherwin comes in at scrum half for Gavin Russell. Constitution, who defeated second division AIL champions Old Crescent in the quarter final, overcame the challenge of Sunday's Well last week in the semifinal. They stand by the side that won that match.

Constitution have, of course, lost two internationals in recent times, David Corkery and Gabriel Fulcher, but won their last three matches in the AIL and their two cup matches without the international duo.

The forward battle will certainly be intense tomorrow and whoever wins the better possession could well win the match. On the grounds of experience, Shannon certainly have the edge up front with four internationals among the back five, Mick Galwey, Brian Rigney, Anthony Foley and Mick Fitzgibbon.

The odd man out is blind side flanker Kieran Maher but he is vastly experienced. That back five could present Constitution with a lot of problems.

Constitution will be hoping to win the possession on which their international half backs David O'Mahony and Paul Burke can prosper and exert influence.

Although Shannon go into the match as favourites, they will have to produce a quality performance to prove the rating justified against such renowned cup fighters.