AIB League Round-up: Cork Constitution will finish on top of the AIB League but the rest of the placings will go down to the final weekend as three clubs battle for the two remaining play-off spots.
After their four-try victory over Lansdowne, Buccaneers do appear safe - they just have to get a point away to Dungannon on April 17th.
The other teams in the shake-up, Belfast Harlequins and Ballymena, face each other in a winner-takes-all showdown on the same date.
Harlequins were too strong for Clontarf on Saturday, picking up a bonus point in the process. James Downey produced a try-scoring performance for the Dublin club, despite playing most of Friday night's Celtic League match for Leinster against Glasgow. However, Harlequins were always in control with Willem Slabbert crossing for their fourth try late on. Ballymena saw off Dungannon thanks to the boot of Dirkie Strydom.
The main match of the weekend was undoubtedly at Temple Hill where Cork Constitution and Shannon, the most consistent teams this season, sorted out the pecking order at the top.
A lightning start to the second half by Con, when wingers Cronan Healy and Tomás O'Leary both crossed the try-line, turned over a 15-15 half-time deficit. Pat McCarthy added the vital conversions.
Shannon refused to be brushed aside with Mossie Lawlor claiming his second try of the match but they failed to copper-fasten a home semi-final as Tom Cregan missed a penalty in the fourth minute of injury-time for the bonus point. The Limerick club have now completed all their matches and could slip back to third place if either Harlequins or Buccaneers rack up a cricket score in the last round.
In all likelihood, however, there will be a Cork and Limerick decider in May.
Leinster's last hope of making the semi-finals was extinguished by Garryowen's 34-25 defeat of Blackrock at Stradbrook.
The last Saturday of the season promises to be interesting as five clubs are still not sure of survival. Dungannon and Lansdowne were plunged back into trouble after St Mary's and Galwegians both recorded victories.
Despite a raft of injuries, Brent Pope's St Mary's beat UCD 14-6 with David Clare getting over for a try and Barry Lynn kicking three penalties. Galwegians recorded only their third victory of the season away to Carlow to throw themselves a late lifeline. They face St Mary's, at home, with the loser heading to Division Two next season.
Considering the current uncertainty regarding the league's future the value of these last set of games becomes more significant than ever.
