First Division
St Mary's v Blackrock, Templeville Road
A worrisome backdrop for both teams - St Mary's hardly having any margin for error after a third defeat away to Buccaneers, while Blackrock's early optimism has been deflated by three losses on the spin.
St Mary's field as selected. For Blackrock Paul Flavin has been given a two-week suspension (he is replaced by Tom Stapleton). Alan McGowan is declared fit while Eddie Robinson returns at centre, enabling Brian Carey to revert to full-back and Tom Keating to the wing.
The needs and abilities of St Mary's, in a potentially high-scoring match given reasonable conditions, seems the greater and home advantage might tilt it their way given they've only lost twice at Templeville in the last two seasons while Blackrock have only won twice away in that timespan.
Last season: St Mary's 41 Blackrock 23.
'98/99 formguide: St Mary's - W L L W L; Blackrock - W W L L L.
Leading scorers: St Marys's - Richie Ormond 24 pts; Blackrock - Alan McGowan 44.
Leading try scorers: St Mary's - Conor McGuinness 2; Blackrock - Aidan Guinan 3.
Odds (all Paddy Powers): 4/7 St Mary's, 16/1 draw, 11/8 Blackrock. (Handicap): 5/6 St Mary's (-5), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Blackrock (+5).
Referee: D McHugh (Munster).
Forecast: St Mary's to win.
Shannon v Lansdowne, Clanwilliam
Match of the day, as much for its unique setting. Top v bottom is how Shannon coach Pat Murray mischievously bills it; slow-starting champions v leaders would be more accurate. Shannon unveil all their big guns, with Quinlan, Thompson and Horan in from the start, backed up by a strong bench. Though Lansdowne's pack is unchanged, they're missing big-game backs in Shane Horgan (hamstring) and Gordon D'Arcy (on Irish under-19 duty in Treviso).
Brian Glennon and Niall Gunne come in, with Rory Kearns reverting to full-back, amid hints that Lansdowne's gumption may be letting them down.
At more or less full-strength, perhaps significantly this is a previously rusty Shannon's first back-to-back outing of the campaign and they owe Lansdowne one from last season. Though it may be close, if the setting inspires them, one senses this could be a lift-off to their season.
Last season: Lansdowne 18 Shannon 14.
'98/99 formguide: Shannon - L W W; Lansdowne - W W W L W.
Leading scorers: Shannon - Andrew Thompson 21 pts; Lansdowne - Rory Kearns 51.
Leading try scorers: Shannon - Marcus Horan, Colm McMahon, Paul McMahon 1 each; Lansdowne - Colin McEntee 3.
Odds: 8/11 Shannon, 16/1 draw, 6/5 Lansdowne. (Handicap): 5/6 Shannon (-3), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Lansdowne (+3).
Referee: M Whyte (Leinster).
Forecast: Shannon to win.
Clontarf v Young Munster, Castle Avenue
To their credit, Clontarf are eking their way toward salvation on limited resources and field as selected. Munsters haven't really clicked yet and though disrupted by Peter Boland's withdrawal yesterday due to a recurring leg injury, the ensuing reshuffle (Mick Lynch moves to full-back to accommodate the debut of well regarded Kiwi centre Richard Larkin) may be the injection they need, as with Brian Buckley replacing Declan Edwards in the back-row.
Munsters lack a Richie Murphy-type goalkicker and have been tryless for their last two outings. They'll either be depressed about last week's one-point defeat by Shannon or geed up by it. In time-honoured fashion, it's more likely to be the latter - meaning bad news for the home side in a forward-orientated, low-scoring game.
Last season: Young Munster 25 Clontarf 15. '98/99 formguide: Clontarf - L W L L W; Young Munster - L W W L.
Leading scorers: Clontarf - Richie Murphy 46 pts; Young Munster - Aidan O'Halloran 13.
Leading try scorers: Clontarf - Rion Vorster, Ollie Winchester 2 each; Young Munster - Ger Earls 2.
Odds: 6/5 Clontarf, 16/1 draw, 8/11 Young Munster. (Handicap): 5/6 Clontarf (+3), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Young Munster (-3).
Referee: R McDowell (Munster).
Forecast: Munsters to win.
Cork Constitution v Buccaneers, Temple Hill
Constitution expect to be unchanged from last week's self-induced, defeat from the jaws of victory effort in Garryowen, though welcome back Frank Sheahen (recovered from the knee problem sustained by a hand trip in the subs' half-time muckabout in Perpignan) and Philip Soden to the bench. Buccaneers, too, will be unchanged from the side which beat St Mary's.
Constitution's halves are reputedly off-colour, and the weather may again suit the Buccaneers' juggernaut but recent events suggest Constitution's need is, and will be, the greater. On top of which, Buccaneers' coach Eddie O'Sullivan concedes that their three wins were all roared on by big crowds at home "whereas in our one away game at Clontarf we were totally wiped out, so I'll be interested to see how we play."
Last season: Didn't meet.
'98/99 formguide: Cork Constitution - L L W L; Buccaneers - W L W W.
Leading scorers: Constitution - Ronan O'Gara 31 pts; Buccaneers - Simon Allnutt 34.
Leading try scorers: Constitution - Brian Walsh 2; Buccaneers - Brian Rigney 2.
Odds: 4/5 Constitution, 16/1 draw, 1/1 Buccaneers. (Handicap): 5/6 Constitution (-2), 16/1 draw, 5/6 Buccaneers (+2).
Referee: G Black (Leinster).
Forecast: Cork Constitution to win.
Terenure v Garryowen, Lakelands Park
Terenure make a statement of faith in the starting line-up which initiated the win over Lansdowne two weeks ago, despite the availability of Gavin Hill, while Garryowen - again without Ben Cronin and Rob Durno - won't finalise theri side until today. Garryowen's best work and three wins have been at home, their one defeat coming in Templeogue while Terenure were winning their sole home game thus far nearby.
Admittedly Garryowen are scoring more freely and have a proven kicker in Killian Keane, whereas Terenure haven't managed more than one try or 16 points in their outings so far. Even so, with a home advantage, they may have a bit more power up front and a reproduction of their second-half effort over Lansdowne would surely suffice.
Last season: Garryowen 38 Terenure 26. '98/99 formguide: Terenure - L L W; Garryowen - W W L W.
Leading scorers: Terenure - Craig Fitzpatrick 14 pts; Garryowen - Killian Keane - 44.
Leading try scorers: Terenure - Ciaran Clarke, James Blaney, Brian Hogan 1 each; Garryowen - Melvin McNamara, Kieran Ronan 2 each.
Odds: 5/6 Terenure, 16/1 draw, 5/6 Garryowen.
Referee: B Smith (Munster).
Forecast: Terenure to win.
Division Two
Sunday's Well v Dungannon
Match of the day in Division Two (it usually involves Willie Anderson's big-name outfit) given it involves two of the apparently prime candidates for promotion. The news that man-of-the-moment David Humphreys, Jonathan Bell, Stephen Bell, Justin Fitzpatrick and Allen Clarke are all in harness for the first time in Dungannon shirts should add to the Cork public's interest. And to Dungannon's chances of another win, especially as the Well are without main line-out winner Davey Jones (Highfield acquisition Noel Power comes in for his AIL debut for the home side), though Munster winger John O'Neill returns.
Forecast: Dungannon to win.
Bective Rangers v UCC
Arguably the closest call of the day in Division Two. Aside from last week's thumping at home to Old Crescent - slanted by the respective efforts of the placekickers - typically there hasn't been more than three points in Bective's other three games. UCC's Euro final run may have been distracting but they've been well rested from AIL action and their confidence should be higher.
Forecast: UCC to win.
City Of Derry v Old Belvedere
Belvedere have possibly benefitted from having had only one away game so far, though they showed they could slug it out with DLSP last week. Even so, City of Derry have had much the tougher programme so far (all three defeats have been to Munster outfits) and will be itching to nail down a first home win of the season.
Forecast: City of Derry to win.
DLSP V Skerries
DLSP, after two games without a win, ought to enjoy their return to the more rarified air of Kilternan. Perhaps not so Skerries, whose results from an unexceptional opening programme have been ominously poor after last season's highs. A fixture which would seemingly veer heavily toward the home side, given that's where both sides have persistently recorded their better wins in recent years.
Forecast: DLSP to win.
Malone v Old Wesley
On paper, the mis-match of the day in this flight, given Malone are the division's only unbeaten side and were rested last week. Not so this young and inexperienced Wesley side, whose worrisome freefall continued with a clearcut defeat at home to Greystones - their third on the spin. Malone should have too much power up front for them.
Forecast: Malone to win.
Old Crescent v Ballynahinch
Another apparent mis-match. That one blip at the 'Well apart, Crescent have made a promising and determined start in their quest for regaining a place in Division One - racking up a couple of good home wins in the process. Despite an improved effort at Portadown, Ballynahinch remain the division's only pointless side and again the fixture schedules haven't been kind to them.
Forecast: Crescent to win.
Wanderers v Greystones
Although four of Wanderers' five games have been away, a couple of tight wins at Bective and Dolphin may be contributing to a slightly flattering top-four position. Greystones, it is true, haven't been setting the world alight but they're a well-coached, and bright, young side for whom three successive wins suggests their season is on the up, and have an apparent points machine in winger Eoin Costigan.
Forecast: Greystones to win.
Portadown v Dolphin
The hard-edged Portadown outfit may have suffered a slight reaction to their highs of the Dungannon win, at home to Ballynahinch last time out. A mucky day may suit Dolphin to a degree but equally Portadown, while Dolphin's form has been singularly poor so far.
Forecast: Portadown.
