DOUBTS about the availability of Thomond Park for the Insurance Corporation All-Ireland League match between the holders Shannon and Cork Constitution on Saturday have been resolved. The doubts centred on the work being undertaken on the ground for the installation of floodlights.
This match is certain to a draw a very big crowd and Shannon, understandably, had great anxiety that they would have to switch the fixture to another venue in Limerick, effectively losing home advantage and also revenue.
Both clubs won their opening engagements but, because of a few injury doubts, neither has finalised selection. Shannon are awaiting a fitness report on their captain and centre Conor McDermott, who missed the match last week, and Mick Galwey and Aidan Quinlan are both nursing injuries but are expected to be fit. Constitution have a doubt about prop Ian Murray, who was injured in the win over Instonians.
Two players who were in the Oxford side that lost to Cambridge could be in action in the AIL on Saturday. Terenure College have left the scrum-half position open in their side to play Garryowen at Lakelands Park and that berth rests between Niall Hogan, who is now available for the rest of the league, and Derek Hegarty, who has been filling the post in recent times. Ronan Browne, who also figured in the varsity match yesterday, is named on the left wing in the Old Wesley side to meet Blackrock College.
Leinster prop Peter Bruce, who missed the win over Ballymena, returns to the Terenure team, but Garryowen have had to delay selection. They are hoping that their Ireland scrum-half Stephen McIvor and number eight Ben Cronin, who missed the game against Blackrock, will be fit. But there is a big doubt about outside-half Killian Keane, who has ankle and neck injuries. Former international wing Jack Clarke is included in the panel from which the back line will be chosen.
The inclusion of Browne for Andrew Leeson is the only alteration in the Old Wesley team from the side that defeated Old Belvedere last Saturday. Blackrock, not surprisingly after their win over Garryowen, are unchanged.
Old Belvedere will be without back-row Hugh McDonnell for three weeks as he was concussed last week. In his absence Fergal O'Beirne moves to number eight and John Quinn comes in on the flank for the home match against Young Munster. Young Munster will field an unchanged team from that which lost to Shannon if hooker Mark Fitzgerald comes through a fitness test after being injured last weekend.
St Mary's College make just one change in their side to travel to Instonians from that which defeated Old Crescent. Former Oxford University and current Connacht back-row Mark Reilly is named on the flank for Mark Cuddihy. Instonians have problems behind the scrum and have not settled on their back line. Definitely out is scrum-half Kenton Hillman.
Lansdowne have included their captain and hooker Mark McDermott in the team to travel to Old Crescent. McDermott missed the win over Dungannon because of a groin injury. In fact, due to representative commitments and the injury, he has not yet played for the side this season. He is due to take over from Bobby McCoy. Shane Leahy, who came on as a replacement last Saturday, is named in the second row in place of Stephen O'Connor.
Old Crescent still have injury problems cent red on scrum-half Shane McCarthy, who is definitely out and likely to be replaced by Fergal Downes. They are hoping that Len Dinneen and Brian Toland will be fit to play in the pack and that centre Leo Doyle, another who missed the match against St Mary's, is fit to resume.
Dungannon despite the defeat by Lansdowne, will be unchanged against Ballymena at Eaton Park. Ballymena, already hit by the unavailability of Sheldon Coulter, Stephen Ritchie, Simon Booth and Alan Robinson, four inter-provincials, will also be without their captain Colin Wallace, who damaged knee ligaments against Terenure.
