St Mary's College v Terenure College - Templeville RoadAs `nothing' end-of-season games go, this is quite meaningful. Bragging rights over the summer counts for pretty much everything and, accordingly, Denis Hickie, Malcolm O'Kelly, Eoin McCormack and Eoin Keane are all back in the Mary's starting line-up after missing the anti-climactic midweek collapse to Old crescent. With Steve Barretto again ruled out and understudied by James Nolan, Kevin Putt's only change is a recall for himself with Derek Hegarty moving to the wing in place of the absent John Coffey. Whereas St Mary's are coming off the disappointment of missing out on the play-offs today's visitors would have eyed this one up for a while.
Last three seasons: Terenure 18 St Mary's 12; St Mary's 19 Terenure 13; Terenure 18 St Mary's 17.
Five game formguide: St Mary's - W W L W L. Terenure - L L L W L.
Leading try scorers: St Mary's - Peter McKenna 6, Denis Hickie, Eddie Hekenui 4 each. Terenure - David Coleman 6, Mark O'Kelly 4.
Leading points scorers: St Mary's - Mark McHugh 113. Terenure - Richard Governey 79.
Referee: Gareth Doyle (IRFU).
Betting (all odds by Paddy Powers): 4/6 St Mary's, 16/1 Draw, 11/10 Terenure. Handicap betting (= Terenure + 3 pts) 10/11 St Mary's, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Terenure.
Forecast: Terenure to win.
Young Munster v Belfast Harlequins - Clifford Park
With Munsters only a point above the top four threshold Matt te Pou's team have little room for manoeuvre, which could be bad news for Harlequins. Harlequins are likely to start with the team which finished last week against Dungannon, meaning Niall Malone reverts to outhalf in place of Paul Hancock with Robin Morrow switching to full back and Andy Park coming in on the wing. Harlequins will be fighting for their lives but Munsters' were unrelentingly focussed and methodical over the 80 minutes last Sunday and now have momentum.
Last three seasons: Didn't meet, didn't meet, didn't meet.
Five game formguide: Young Munster - W W W L W. Harlequins - W L W L L.
Leading try scorers: Young Munster - Finbar Hogan, Mike Mullins 5 each, Paul O'Connell 4. Harlequins - Robin Morrow, Gerard O'Loan 5 each.
Leading points scorers: Young Munster - Mike Lynch - 119. Harlequins - Paul Hancock 74.
Referee: Olan Trevor (IRFU)
Betting: 1/6 Young Munster, 20/1 Draw, 7/2 Harlequins. Handicap betting (= Harlequins + 14 pts) 10/11 Young Munster, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Harlequins.
Forecast: Young Munster to win.
Clontarf v Blackrock College - Castle Avenue
Fittingly Clontarf boy Brian O'Driscoll will, after all, make his sole `away' appearance of the season in what should be a free-flowing if largely irrelevant end-of-season encounter. With Blackrock missing six first-choice players Paul Drew is in for Nathan Turner, Niall Treston returns at tight-head, Ross Murphy replaces Bob Casey and Trevor Hogan returns for John Ryan in the back-row. For Clontarf Donovan Rossi moves to centre in the absence of Dave O'Brien.
Last three seasons: Blackrock 13 Clontarf 29; Blackrock 15 Clontarf 28; didn't meet.
Five game formguide: Clontarf - L L L W L. Blackrock - L W L W W.
Leading try scorers: Clontarf - Bobby Baggott 4. Blackrock - Alan McGowan 4.
Leading points scorers: Clontarf - Richie Murphy 133. Blackrock - McGowan 196.
Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU).
Betting: None.
Forecast: Blackrock to win.
Shannon v Old Crescent Thomond Park
Old crescent's midweek heroics against St Mary's have certainly given them a lifeline though they also need favours from Lansdowne and Young Munster. Of their casualties, winger Jay Cusack and prop James Cullinane are bigger doubts than Brian Toland and Wayne Munn. Perhaps in part due to Sunday's Millennium J1 League final against Con, Shannon have picked a pretty strong team, missing only Marcus Horan, Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan, Peter Stringer and Andrew Thompson of their front-rank team, with Mick Galwey partnering John Langford on his farewell appearance in Irish rugby. All in all Crescent's need is by far the greater.
Last three seasons: Shannon 50 Old Crescent 0; didn't meet; didn't meet.
Five game formguide: Shannon - L W W L L. Old Crescent - L L L L W.
Leading try scorers: Shannon - John Lacey 12, Mossie Lawlor 7, Marcus Horan 5. Old Crescent - Wayne Munn 5.
Leading points scorers: Shannon - Andrew Thompson 111. Old Crescent - Billy Treacy102.
Referee: Bertie Smith (IRFU).
Betting: 10/11 Shannon, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Old Crescent.
Forecast: Old Crescent to win.
Galwegians v Buccaneers - Glenina
Another fairly meaningful `nothing' match, allowing for Galwegians' desire to nail down a home semi-final. As if Connacht rivalry needed extra spice, the provincial senior league title is also at stake here. Galwegians are at full-strength, with John Kingston hinting at a return for Willie Ruane, while Greg Austin returns for Colm Glynn in an otherwise unchanged line-up. Having found their rythym last week Galwegians should be the fresher, more focussed team.
Last three seasons: Didn't meet; Buccaneers 21 Galwegians 14; didn't meet.
Five game formguide: Galwegians - L L W L W. Buccaneers - W L L L W.
Leading try scorers: Galwegians - Gavin Duffy 9, Willie Ruane 6, Tim Allnutt 5. Buccaneers - Mattie Walker 4.
Leading points scorers: Eric Elwood - 160. Buccs - Eamonn Molloy 50.
Referee: Dave McHugh (IRFU).
Betting: 1/5 Galwegians, 20/1 Draw, 3/1 Buccs. Handicap betting (= Buccs + 10 pts) 10/11 Galwegians, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Buccs.
Forecast: Galwegians to win.
Dungannon v Garryowen - Stevenson Park
After scaling the heights last Tuesday against Ballymena there could be a slight relapse save for Willie Anderson's cajoling and the number of professionals in Dungannon's ranks. Garryowen look to be running on empty after hitting the wall two games ago and are now missing Eoin Kelly, David Wallace, Paul Neville, Tom Tierney and Jeremy Staunton. They could, at last, try swinging from the hip in a high-scoring adieu to the campaign but Dungannon (23 tries in four games, all but four by backs) look ominously better equipped.
Last three seasons: Dungannon 10 Garryowen 37; didn't meet, Dungannon 21 Garryowen 15.
Five game formguide: Dungannon - L W W W W. Garryowen - W W W L L.
Leading try scorers: Dungannon - Jan Cunningham, Tyrone Howe 9 each, Ryan Constable 8, Bryn Cunningham 5. Garryowen - Steve Mackay, Killian Keane 3 each.
Leading points scorers: Dungannon - David Humphreys 176. Garryowen - Jeremy Staunton 156.
Referee: Tony Redmond (IRFU).
Betting: 1/8 Dungannon, 20/1 Draw, 5/1 Garryowen. Handicap betting (= Garryowen + 16 pts) 10/11 Dungannon, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Garryowen.
Forecast: Dungannon to win.
Lansdowne v DLSP - Lansdowne Road
Taking last Tuesday's 33-17 Lansdowne win over Shannon as a barometer, DLSP look to have a much tougher game than Crescent and will most probably need a win here. Lansdowne remembered Mark Woods and rediscovered their running game in the nick of time and now having climbed to safety could be more dangerous. The key to DLSP's survival could be another defensive effort akin to Tuesday's against Con.
Last three seasons: Didn't meet, didn't meet, DLSP 6 Lansdowne 6.
Five game formguide: Lansdowne - W L L L W. DLSP -
Leading try scorers: Lansdowne - Ray Niland 3. DLSP - Mihai Vioreanu 7, Eddie Devitt 4.
Leading points scorers: Lansdowne - David Quigley 96. DLSP - Damien McCabe 70.
Referee: Donal Courtney (IRFU).
Betting: 10/11 Lansdowne, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 DLSP. Forecast: DLSP to win.
Cork Constitution v Ballymena - Temple Hill (Live on Network 2)
A curious choice for RTE given it's one of the day's seemingly less meaningful games though the presence of the cameras may explain Con's strong selection. Along with the injured Ultan O'Callaghan, only Frankie Sheahan and Donnacha O'Callaghan are rested, so John Fogarty and Ed Thorpe slot into an otherwise first-choice selection with Ronan O'Gara et al. Compounding Mark Blair's long-standing absence for Ballymena, they could also be without Gary Longwell for what is a must win situation, though they will also know even victory might not be enough.
Last three seasons: Ballymena 6 Cork Con 19; Cork Con 21 Ballymena 12; Ballymena 26 Cork Con 9. Five game formguide: Cork Con - W W L W W. Ballymena W L L W L.
Leading try scorers: Cork Con - Derek Dillon 7, Craig Taylor 6Brian Walsh, Conor Mahony 5 each. Ballymena - Shane Stewart, Rhys Botha 7 each, Scott Young, Russell Nelson, James Topping 5 each.
Leading points scorers: Cork Con - Ronan O'Gara 93. Ballymena - Neil Doak 121.
Referee: Dave Tyndall (IRFU).
Betting: 2/5 Cork Con, 16/1 Draw, 7/4 Ballymena. Handicap betting (= Ballymena + 6 pts) 10/11 Cork Con, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Ballymena.
Forecast: Cork Con to win.
