Cork Con v Young Munster - Temple Hill 1.0 (Network 2)
Potentially a humdinger of an all-Munster semi-final, and with all the edge that accompanies such an occasion. Munsters, the best supported club in the country, are set to bring 4,000 to 5,000 fans which should make for a fairly even split and ensure a real bear pit of an atmosphere. "They're playing outstandingly well lately, not only in winning games but in the manner they're winning games. They're scoring tries and you'd have to be wary of a side that can score 42 points without reply against Garryowen." This is "a completely new ball game," according to coach Hickey, with no second chance. Number eight Ultan O'Callaghan is back in the fold again. He came through training on Thursday night, but Hickey will wait until as late as possible to see if he's okay and he'll be a particularly vital cog alongside the outstanding Aussie recruit Craig Taylor given the big physical presence of Munsters' marauding Maoris Matt Te Pou and Mutu Ngarimu. Funny to think a Con-Munsters semi-final could come down in part to a collision between an Aussie and a Maori.
Were O'Callaghan to be ruled out, his brother Donnacha will move to the back row and Ken Murphy will partner Mick O'Driscoll. It helps Con's cause that Ronan O'Gara is around for one more game and while Anthony Horgan is a serious loss the return of John Kelly and the emergence of their Clonakilty capture Derek Dillon as a potent weapon is a real boon.
Munsters' edge has been similarly sharpened by Finbarr Hogan. You look through the two teams and there clearly isn't much in it. Munsters are more of the form side but this fixture has gone to the home side, albeit by a score for the last four years and Con have lost only once in Temple Hill in all that time. They also still look the best allround side in the country pound for pound.
Last four seasons (most recent on right): Cork Con 16 Young Munster 9; Young Munster 17 Cork Con 11; Cork Con 21 Young Munster 17; Cork Con 21 Young Munster 15.
Five-game formguide: Cork Con - W L W W W. Young Munster - W W L W W. Leading try scorers: Cork Con - Craig Taylor, Derek Dillon 7 each, Brian Walsh, Anthony Horgan 6 each. Young Munster - Finbarr Hogan 7, Paul O'Connell, Mike Mullins 5 each.
Leading points scorers: Cork Con - Ronan O'Gara 106, Brian O'Meara 88. Young Munster - Mick Lynch 136.
Referee: Donal Courtney (IRFU).
Betting (all odds supplied by Paddy Power): 4/7 Cork Con, 16/1 Draw, 5/4 Young Munster. Handicap betting (=Young Munster + 4 pts) 10/11 Cork Con, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Young Munster.
Forecast: Cork Con to win.
Galwegians v Dungannon - Crowley Park, 3.0
A unique pairing between first-time semi-finalists and a slightly curious or unlikely one that it's a Connacht-Ulster match-up (assuredly a first). John Kingston may have spent too much time in Ireland and is trying to pull the wool over Willie Anderson's eyes with the assertion that were they to meet 10 times, Dungannon would win nine of them.
On paper, for sure, Dungannon have the greater list of name players and of late they've really hit the hard ground running, scoring 27 tries in five successive wins that have clearly marked them out as the form side of the play-off quartet. They are the most potent side in the country, having scored 50 tries, with the likes of Tyrone Howe, Ryan Constable and the Cunninghams scoring tries for fun while David Humphreys has been playing like a dream, full of confidence and the only player to have scored 200 points. It's quite a mix.
But then again Galwegians pride themselves on their defence and in many ways there's a hint of a revival of the Connacht esprit de corps of a few years ago which got the province to the Shield semi-final. They probably won't have been tested quite like this all season but no one will possibly enjoy the task more.
The Eric Elwood-Humphreys clash is symptomatic of the general match-up. Galwegians have to work harder for their scores and only Gavin Duffy, in an eye-catching rookie year, looks an obvious match-winner. It's one of the hardest games of the year to call. It wouldn't be a surprise to discover that Dungannon have long since turned a corner and will blow Galwegians away, but home advantage might count for something and Galwegians are more proven in tight contests.
Last three seasons: Didn't meet, didn't meet, didn't meet, Galwegians 15 Dungannon 13.
Five-game formguide: Galwegians - L W L W W. Dungannon - W W W W W.
Leading try scorers: Galwegians - Gavin Duffy 9, Willie Ruane 6, Tim Allnutt 5. Dungannon - Jan Cunninghbam 10, Tyrone Howe, Ryan Constable 9 each.
Leading points scorers: Galwegians - Eric Elwood 169. Dungannon - David Humphreys 205.
Referee: Olan Trevor (IRFU).
Betting: 10/11 Galwegians, 16/1 draw, 10/11 Dungannon.
Forecast: Galwegians to win.
