AIB League – Malone v UCC Postponed.

Heavy rain has caused the cancellation of the AIB League Division Two game between Malone and UCC scheduled for Gibson Park.

Meanwhile, Shannon PRO, Andrew McNamara has confirmed that
the Shannon team for their opening game against St Marys College will not be announced until Saturday morning. A lengthy injury list coupled with Munster’s Celtic League game on Friday night means that coach Geoff Moylan will have an anxious 24 hours.
Three of the names on the Shannon squad also appear on the Munster bench for that game with Caerphilly. John O’Neill, Eddie Halvey and James Blaney will not know until tomorrow evening, depending on what part they play, if they are available for selection with Shannon.

Definitley unavailable are Mossy Lawlor, Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Micheal Galwey, Alan Quinlan and Anthony Foley because of their representative commitments. These players were well known about in advance, but it’s the long injury list that’s more of a concern for the Shannon management. Tom Cregan’s serious knee injury received in a Munster senior league game two months ago, means the ace goal kicker may well not see action before Christmas. John Lacey has not taken part in a full training session in over six weeks due to an Achilles problem. Frankie Roche sustained a nose injury in last weekends Munster senior league semi-final against Thomond and was operated on yesterday, meaning that he will be unavailable for Shannon’s first two games. Colm McMahon is rated 50/50 at best and will probably undergo a fitness test late Saturday morning. Andrew Thompson has slightly better odds at being available, a wrist injury meant that he missed Shannon’s last two games. Shannon’s new signing New Zealander Clinton Huppert has only this week resumed light training. A cracked bone in his ankle kept him from playing. Brian Buckley is also definitely out; a bout of pneumonia has put paid to his chances.

Nine players who started in The AIB League final are definitely unavailable. And with Thompson and McMahon’s injuries it could well 11. Marcus Horan, Alan Quinlan John Hayes and Brian Buckley all started in the forwards that day back in May. Mossy Lawlor’s elevation to the Munster team this season has meant that he has yet to play for his club. Derek Hegarty has made a very successful move to England where he plays with Leeds Tykes while Melvin McNamara has taken a couple of months out to concentrate on his studies.

Division One: Ballymena v Clontarf. Blackrock College v Dungannon. Co. Carlow v Terenure College. Galwegians v Cork Constitution. Garryowen v Buccaneers. St. Marys College v Shannon. UCD v Lansdowne. U.L. Bohemian v Belfast Harlequins.

Division Two. Ballynahinch v Thomond. Bective Rangers v Portadown. Dolphin v DLSP. Midleton v Greystones. Old Belvedere v Sundays Well. Old Crescent v Dublin University. Young Munster v Barnhall.

Division Three. Ballina v City of Derry. Banbridge v Waterpark. Clonakilty v Connemara. Highfield v Queens University. Monkstown v Corinthians. Naas v Skerries. Suttonians v Instonians. Wanderers v Old Wesley.
(Matches Kick-off 2.30pm).