Interview: John O'Sullivan asks Dolphin coach Hamish Adams about the factors that has seen his team excel.

Saturday is not quite an addendum to Dolphin's centenary season but in terms of priority promotion to the AIB League Division One was the primary concern. They achieved that goal with a home victory over Malone on April 19th and for the second time in their history will place amongst club rugby's elite.

The absence of several key players through injury and holidays combined with a week long celebration of their new status, while not thrust forward as an excuse, was certainly a mitigating factor in the narrow, last ditch victory over UCC in the semi-final. On Saturday they face Old Crescent in the Division Two final at Lansdowne Road (2.0).

The man who has masterminded Dolphin's exceptional season is New Zealander Hamish Adams, enjoying his second year at the club. Having originally played with Manawatu, he qualified as a physical education teacher and also boasts a Masters in Sports Psychology. He also spent time working as a rugby development officer with the New Zealand rugby union before joining English club Moseley.

Married to an Irish girl the former prop was considering the possibility of a coaching position in Ireland when he espied an advertisement in Rugby World magazine that articulated Dolphin's search for a new coach.

The Cork club were impressed by his pedigree that included winning the Portuguese national championship and he was appointed at the start of last season.

Adams had one or two preconceptions and concedes that he knew about the Irish qualities of passion and fire.

"There was a great willingness to succeed and to learn. There's that culture of playing for the jersey and particularly in Munster the pride in their club and province is very evident. I thought the standard was generally pretty good and the response from the players certainly was.

"These guys, although they are part-time, train twice a week in the gym and two training sessions, along with matches at weekends. It is not a professional set-up so there are time constraints but the team and management have worked hard to improve all season.

"I'd like to pay tribute to Dai Wood (assistant coach) and Alan Miller (team manager) both of whom have completed a huge amount of work. We have taken on a very professional approach."

Adams admits that the UCC game was "a hiding to nothing" for the club but that a final requires little motivation. Club captain Dave Pomeroy missed the game against the students because of holidays, that were pre-booked prior to the start of the season. He's back in time for Saturday's game.

The news isn't too good on the injury front. Overseas player Mike Pittman, Barry O'Neill (centre), Shane O'Halloran (wing), Len Twomey (wing) and Darren O'Farrell (hooker) were all absentees the last day and it appears that only O'Neill will be fit to face Old Crescent. Adams is philosophical, as most coaches tend to be at this stage of a long season.

"The seconds team has been very successful and this has allowed the players to make an easier step up to the firsts. The guys that have come in have done a good job."

When Dolphin faced Old Crescent in the league proper the match ended in a 16-16 draw and the fact the Limerick club were pipped for promotion by Saturday's opponents should give the match added spice. Adams conceded: "We're under no illusions and are aware that Crescent will be out to prove a point. Our responsibility is to do our best."

He acknowledges that next season the club faces a huge task in Division One as historically many promoted teams have perished among the elite, returning to whence they came within 12 months. There is a real need to recruit and Adams is currently talking to several players with regard to joining his squad.

"It's important to get the balance right. There is no point in flooding the club with new players because it would ruin the integrity of the team that we have established. It's about finding the right players that will fit in with what we're trying to do in a playing context."

Dolphin will travel up and home on the day of the match, pausing only for a midday meal in the Stillorgan Park Hotel before taking to the pitch at Lansdowne Road. It's not down to parsimony but rather the desire of the players to return home for the Michael O'Connell (a Dolphin player seriously injured last November) 5K walk that begins at Musgrave Park on Sunday afternoon.

Dolphin, a club that gave Ireland Phil O'Callaghan, Michael Kiernan and Terry Kingston amongst others - former Ireland, Cork Con and Lansdowne scrumhalf David O'Mahony wears the Dolphin jersey on Saturday - will be out to secure a momentous end to a monumental season.