Shannon join the clan

Just what Ulster wanted, if not what the AIB League organisers and Ballymena might have desired. Ironically, given Ulster's pleas to have their players rested next weekend, Ballymena's Division One tie at Galwegians today was postponed yesterday due to the waterlogged state of both Crowley Park and the Sportsground.

This leaves Ballymena only half-way through their scheduled fixture list of six games, with their re-arranged game at Cork Constitution this day fortnight cancelled a second time. Still, it will be a welcome respite for Ballymena's Ulster contingent.

It is also unlikely to diminish Harry Williams' desire for next Saturday's games involving his players to be cancelled as well, as he has formally requested. It is believed that the players, too, would rather be allowed to concentrate on the European Cup final this day fortnight. Both Ballymena and Dungannon fear Williams may seek to withdraw his players in any case.

The rain clouds continue to hang over the rest of today's AIL programme, and two games in Division Three have also been postponed: Trinity at home to Highfield and Corinthians v Bohemians. Co-incidentally, the Irish squad are due to have sessions at Corinthians and Galwegians on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning respectively, when the roadshow takes in a novel visit to the west.

In another irony to today's AIL programme, one game almost certain to go ahead is Shannon's first "home" game of the season, against Lansdowne in Clanwilliam. The Tipperary junior club pride themselves on their well-regarded, sand-based pitch. Though hit by the January monsoons like everywhere else yesterday, like all sand-based pitches it generally only requires a few hours' drying out to be in good condition.

This week it's been all hands on deck for the first AIL game to be staged in the county and thus the biggest game ever to be held in Clanwilliam. In addition to the tonnes of sand which was added to the pitch during the summer, another four or five tonnes has been added this week and the pitch has been well spiked.

According to a club spokesman, Billy Brett, "The weather is causing us headaches, but two dry hours with any bit of a breeze would remove any doubts. In general, our pitch would be a showpiece; one of the best junior pitches in Ireland.

"Aside from that, organising the game isn't too much of a worry and everything should be hunky dory. This place is quite spacious and can accommodate five or six thousand," Brett said.

Founded 117 years ago, Clanwilliam, just north of Tipperary town, lays claim to being the third oldest club in Ireland, but it will never have experienced anything like this. With unprecedented interest in the surrounding towns, as well as from the Shannon hordes, they are bracing themselves for a crowd in the region of 4,000.

The biggest crowd they've held was in the early 1980s, shortly after the Kilfeakle sector of the club broke away to form their own club. They were immediately drawn together in a Munster Junior Cup tie.

The way Brett explains it, Clanwilliam's takings on the day will be made from the bar, but with impressive facilities and "an excellent coach" in Pat Cross, they're hoping that this day in the sun (or rain) will act as the best advertisement they could make.

The club caters for around 150 players, fielding five or six sides every weekend. They also have under-age sides from eights to under-18s. After coming fourth in the Munster Junior League, after a few early defeats, Clanwilliam would have mixed feelings about one day progressing to the AIL, in part because their playing pool is mostly drawn from the farming community and so Sunday games are preferable to Saturday ones. Nevertheless, today could be something of a catalyst. Nor is it likely to be the last time they adopt Shannon, given the state of Thomond Park.

Interest is heightened by the presence in Shannon's ranks of two former players and local boys made good, John Lacey and Alan Quinlan, who was still a Clanwilliam player when he captained the Irish youths in Scotland some six years ago. His recall therefore is hardly surprising. There'd probably have been a riot if he hadn't been.

The Ireland under-18 side take on their Italian counterparts in Treviso today, which means Gordon D'Arcy will miss Shannon's game.

The European Universities final between UCC and Grenoble, originally considered a potential curtain raiser to the European Cup final, will now be played at Donnybrook on January 30th (kick-off 11.30 a.m.).

The Division Two game between Bective Rangers and Old Belvedere will take place on Sunday, January 31st, at Donnybrook (kick-off 2.30), while the Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round game between Clongowes and Terenure has been moved forward by 48 hours to Friday, January 29th, at Donnybrook (kick-off 2.30).