AIB League Div 3 Final – Close Encounter at HQ.
24/04/02.The famous Connemara All Blacks will make history when they take on Dublin University in the Division Three final of the AIB League at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.(2.30pm)
They are unchanged from the side that shocked Greystones in the semi-final at Dr Hickey Park. Captained by veteran Bernard Keaney, their best known player is 39-year-old player/coach Henry O’Toole at full-back whose coaching assistant Aidan O’Halloran will be well known to Offaly gaelic football supporters while prop Fergal Wood is a cousin of Keith Wood. The sides met in the very first game of the League back in September in a game that ended in 21-21 draw. That was played at The Monastery Field in Clifden and another close encounter is expected on Sunday, Trinity will start favourites to account for the western challenge.
Meanwhile, Highfield have the opportunity to make a quick return to the AIB League when they take on Richmond in a play off for AIL status in Clanwilliam RFC on Saturday (4pm).
Connemara. H O’Toole; A Keogh, M Foyle, P O’Neill, P O’Toole; F O’Rourke, D Keogh; F Wood, T King, G King, F Madden, K Keogh, N Walsh, G Burke, B Keaney (capt).
IRFU Fixtures for the 27th & 28th of April 2002.
Saturday 27th April, AIB League Qualifier:
Highfield v Richmond Clanwilliam 4:00pm.
Millennium J1 Semi-Final, Shannon v Old Belvedere Coonagh 12:30pm.
Sunday 28th April, Under 20 Final. U.C.C. v Bruff, Musgrave 3:00pm .
Millennium J1 Semi-Final, Cork Constitution v Clontarf T.B.A.