A look ahead at the weekend's fixtures
Saturday
AIB Senior Cup Final
Shannon v Blackrock,
Dubarry Park (3.30, live on RTÉ 2)
THE MAIN focus for the Shannon coaching team of Mick Galwey and Ian Sherwin all week has been arriving at a team selection for this match.
Given a long list of injury concerns it has been far from clear-cut.
There remain issues about the frontrow as first-choice props Killian O'Neill and Kevin Griffin are carrying injuries.
Openside flanker Colm McMahon missed the last game but is hopeful of being available, according to a club spokesperson.
There is also an issue at centre with regard to who will partner John Clogan.
Undoubtedly the biggest loss is Shannon's leading points scorer Andrew Thompson, who has been in excellent form this season.
Blackrock are without injured underage international wing Niall Morris but are otherwise pretty full in terms of personnel.
Fionn Carr has recovered from a hamstring injury and will take his place at fullback in a backline with plenty of pace and finishing ability. The key will be the performance of the Blackrock pack led by captain Des Dillon, the evergreen Shane Byrne and two young openside flankers in Paul Ryan and Zac Farivarz.
Shannon won this season's league match between the teams at Coonagh earlier in the season but things should be a good deal tighter today.
The firm pitch will suit Blackrock but Shannon's attitude and ability to produce on the big occasion might just get them over the finishing line.
SHANNON (possible): A Finn; D O'Donovan, J Clogan, R Mullane/J Manuel, S Kelly; M Lawler, F O'Loughlin; K Griffin/L Hogan, S Cronin, K O'Neill/G McNamara; P O'Brien, F Walsh; P O'Connor, C McMahon/M Mullane, D Quinlan (capt).
BLACKROCK: F Carr; S Monahan, G Brown, B Canavan, D Rowan; K Tonetti, D Madigan; K Moloney, S Byrne, R Burke Flynn; D Dillon (capt), P Huntley; P Ryan, Z Farivarz, P Graham.
Referee: P Fitzgibbon (Munster).
THE AIB Junior Cup final between Leinster clubs, Tullamore and Navan, will precede the senior match at the same venue with a 1.30pm kick-off.
Leinster Cup final
Clontarf v St Mary's,
Donnybrook (2.30)
IAN KEATLEY will start at fullback, with Peter O'Brien moving in the opposite direction to outhalf as Clontarf coach Andy Wood looks to exploit the running skills of the former Ireland Under-20.
It'll be Keatley's competitive bow at fullback but he's such a fine footballer that he is likely to have little problem adapting to the new role.
Wood pointed out: "He's a very good broken field runner and while the role is new he is looking forward to the challenge."
Max Rantz McDonald is the only front-line absentee as he has failed to recover from a hamstring injury.
St Mary's will be looking to overturn a 31-15 defeat at home to today's opponents in the early part of the league.
They have improved appreciably since then and it'll be interesting to see if a pack that includes a decent ball-carrying frontrow can give their backline a reasonable platform.
Clontarf won't be distracted by their chase for a place in the Division One play-offs that will resume next weekend, while St Mary's are a much better side than the one that lost so tamely. It promises to be a much closer affair.
CLONTARF: I Keatley; P Howard, D O'Shea, C Keegan, M Hewitt; P O'Brien, P O'Donohue; AJ Clarke, N Carson, N Treston; J Duffy, A Trenier; S Crawford (capt), C Elvin, M Garvey.
ST MARY'S: P Brophy; D Fanning, K Douglas, M Sexton, R Doherty; F Lynch, M D'Arcy; J Gomez, Richard Sweeney, Robert Sweeney; G Logan (capt), C McInerney; P Nash, H Hogan, K Sheahan.
Referee: E O'Dowd (Leinster).
AIB League Division Two semi-final
Young Munster v Belfast Harlequins, Clifford Park (2.30)
THEIR MEETING in this season's league stage of the campaign ended in a 12-12 draw at Deramore Park. This time the Ulster club must travel to Limerick. Young Munster finished second in the league proper and will play at the elite club level last season. Both teams are slap bang in form, having won their last five matches apiece but home advantage could give the Cookies the edge.
Referee: P Haycock (Leinster)
AIB League Division Three
semi-finals (2.30).
Bruff v Banbridge,
Kilballyown Park.
THERE'S NO doubt Bruff could lay claim to being the outstanding team in Irish club rugby this season, winning 14 of 15 matches in the league and drawing the other game en route to promotion.
When the two teams met at Rifle Park, Bruff were comfortable 22-0 victors and must be taken to repeat the dose at home.
Referee: D McCormack (Munster)
Instonians v QUB,
Shaw's Bridge.
IT'S A case of play it again as the two clubs return to the venue where they met in the league aspect of the campaign.
On that occasion Instonians prevailed by the narrowest of margins, 22-21, and it's likely there won't be much between the sides again today, although the students have slightly better form going into the game.
Referee: M Black (Ulster)
Sunday
AIB League Division Two semi-final
Buccaneers v UCC,
Dubarry Park (2.30)
WHEN THE two clubs clashed earlier in the season the honours went to the students at the Mardyke but for this match they must travel and over the course of the last five games find themselves second best in terms of results.
Buccaneers have won all five whereas UCC have lost a couple. The Connacht club will play in Division One next season and should also make it to the Division Two final.
Referee: A Rogan (Leinster).
