AIB League: ‘Stones The Side To Beat

2004 champions Greystones are in prime position to lift their second successive Division 3 title next month, especially having racked up wins against all three of their fellow semi-finalists.

Only Queen’s University – 26-22 victors over the Wicklow men last October – are the only side to have got the edge on ‘Stones this season.

Still, the play-offs being the play-offs, anything is likely to happen and both Instonians and Suttonians travel away tomorrow with upsets on their mind.

Division Three Semi-Finals: Saturday, April 30

Clonakilty (2) v Instonians (3), Shannonvale Cross, 2.30pm

Inst – who thumped Portadown 41-0 in their final league outing two weeks ago to secure a second semi-final spot in three seasons – will be slight underdogs.

Clon edged the Belfast men 13-12 last month, and will be eager to impress after last weekend’s play-off disappointment in Barnhall and a return to the ‘Vale could be just what the doctor ordered.

Dan Whelton’s men are unbeaten at their home venue in a run which includes seven wins and a draw, and although promotion is gone for the Corkmen, the lure of silverware and a day-out at head-quarters should see them back to form.

Inst venture south on a healthy run themselves – five wins from six – and have made one change from the side which thumped Portadown.

Injured former Ireland Under-21 hooker Fergus Gallagher – a try-scorer last time out – sees his place go to youngster Johnny Craig.

Clon winger Shay Donovan has proved himself the form man this season pocketing eight tries while Instonians’ New Zealand-born flanker Craig Simeon boasts an impressive haul of seven.

Referee: David Keane (Leinster)

Greystones (1) v Suttonians (2), Dr Hickey Park, 2.30pm

Former Irish Colleges hooker Daragh Dowling will become the second Suttonians player to reach a landmark 100 AIL caps when lining out against Greystones tomorrow.

The 27-year-old joins second row James Finucane as the Dublin 13 club’s centurions, having made his debut back in the 1996/97 season.

Suttonians – 18-13 losers against ‘Stones at their Station Road home two weeks ago – will be all out to spoil what looks like a canter to the title for the Liam Murphy-led home side.

Sixteen different players have registered a record-breaking tally of 74 tries for Greystones in their sixteen league outings this season – and putting 30-plus points on their opposition is something of a second nature.

With promotion already garnered, fly-half Warren Edwards will have licence to unleash a free-running backline which includes 11-try full-back David McKechnie.

‘Stones also boast attacking flair in the forwards – some-time Leinster squad member Rob Connolly boasts an incredible haul of 15 league tries since October’s kick-off.

The talented 23-year-old should be wary though – since the play-offs were brought into existence four years ago, the team finishing top of Division 3 has yet to go on and lift the trophy at Lansdowne Road.

Ards full-back Stuart Paul bagged an 18-point haul in last year’s semi-final as table-toppers Highfield were dumped out of the title race on the back of a 33-19 home defeat.

Referee: Dermot Moloney (Munster)