SHANNON, in pursuit of a hat-trick in the Insurance Corporation All-Ireland League, after becoming the first club to win it in consecutive years last season, do not know if they will have the services of their Ireland flanker Eddie Halvey for the opening engagement of the new campaign against Young Munster at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday.

Halvey, who joined Saracens last season and then returned to Shannon at the start of this season, has not as yet been given clearance by the English club. And until such time as that clearance comes through Halvey is not eligible to play for Shannon in the AIL.

Shannon have sought clarification on the issue from the IRFU and been informed that the club would be ill advised to play Halvey until he is cleared officially. Shannon are making a very concerted effort to have the problem cleared up before the match on Saturday. Halvey has Just regained full fitness after a troublesome ankle injury.

Shannon, consequently, have not finalised their back five but will be without their captain, centre Conor McDermott, who has an ankle injury. Alan McGrath and Andrew Thompson are in the centre with Jason Hayes and Billy O'Shea on the wings. Mick Galwey is nursing an injury but is expected to be fit. The scrum-half berth will be filled by Brian MacGoey in the absence through injury of Ian Sherwin. Young Munster have Ger Fitzgerald is at scrum-half as Derek Tobin is ruled out until after Christmas because of a virus.

Ireland A second-row Shane Leahy, who is moving to Limerick next month to take up a business appointment, and is joining from Garryowen from Lansdowne has been named in the Lansdowne team to meet Dungannon on Saturday. But Leahy is also included among the eight players from whom Garryowen will select their tight five to meet Blackrock College.

Technically, Leahy is a Lansdowne player until he moves to Limerick. But I understand that this is the subject of appeal to the IRFU as Leahy feels that it will be virtually impossible for him to play in Dublin over the coming weeks prior to his permanent move to Limerick.

Lansdowne have named Leinster outside-half Richard Governey at full-back with Eric Elwood at out-half.

Dungannon will be without their Ireland centre Mark McCall, who has a thumb injury. He joined Dungannon this season from Bangor. Charlie Simpson and Keith Walker take over the second-row berths held down previously by Paddy Johns and Jeremy Davidson, both now playing in England.

Garryowen will finalise their back five later in the week for the visit of Blackrock. Ireland scrum-half Stephen McIvor is under treatment for a back injury but is expected to be fit. However, hooker Paul Cunningham, a member of the Ireland squad, is ruled out because of back trouble and faces a protracted period of inactivity. Blackrock will be without Dean Oswald and will be led by former All Black Mike Brewer, who has completed a two-weeks suspension.

Old Wesley have named John Quirke at hooker for Matt King in the side to meet Old Belvedere and Shane Gill, now recovered from a troublesome injury sustained last season, is fully fit and plays at number eight. Former Shannon hooker Paddy Kenny makes his AIL debut for Old Belvedere as does former Blackrock flanker Fergal O'Beirne.

St Mary's College, who meet Old Crescent, have named Eoin McCormack at scrum-half in preference to Connacht interprovincial Conor McGuinness. Sob McCormack teams up with Fergal Campion, fully recovered from the leg injury sustained playing in the Students World Cup. Old Crescent include former Dolphin captain Barry O'Neill in the centre and former Cork Constitution captain Len Dinneen in the back row. Brian Toland is out because of injury.

Ballymena will be without no fewer than four interprovincials for the visit of Terenure College. They are hooker Stephen Ritchie, wing Sheldon Coulter, second-row Alan Robinson and prop Stephen Booth. They will also be without flanker Derek Topping. Ireland wing James Topping moves from wing to centre. Richard Kernohan takes over the hooking duties from Ritchie. Coulter could be out for quite a while because of a virus.

Terenure have Shane Cullen at outside-half instead of Joey Muldowney and Gerry Walsh deputises at prop for Peter Bruce, who is injured.

Instonians will have former Oxford Blue and Ulster interprovincial Innes Grey in the centre for the trip to Cork Constitution.