AIB League: ‘Tarf Travel To On-Song Shannon

Having ended their league campaign with three straight defeats, Clontarf will be hoping for a change of luck for tomorrow’s Division One semi-final trip to champions Shannon.

Coach Phil Werahiko has included Connacht representatives James Downey, Bernard Jackman, Adrian Clarke and Mike Walls for the daunting trip south.

If ‘Tarf are to progress though, the 2003 finalists will have to end Shannon’s eight-game winning run in league competition. Mick Galwey’s Limerick men are also on the cusp of the club’s third Division One final appearance in four years.

Division One Semi-Final: Saturday, April 30
Shannon (1) v Clontarf (4), Thomond Park, 2.00pm

Galwey’s men have been the standard-bearers this season, rising to the top of the pile in January as Shannon’s rise left former leaders UCD and Clontarf in their wake.

The six-time champions have yet to confirm their squad but they must plan without Jerry Flannery and Trevor Hogan who are on Munster bench duty for their Celtic Cup quarter-final.

Since losing 26-17 to Shannon earlier this month, ‘Tarf have slumped over the finishing line, losing to Lansdowne and failing to score away to Belfast Harlequins.

When in the mood, the north Dubliners are a very dangerous side and they ran a Geoff Moylan-coached Shannon close in the 2002 semi-finals before eventually going down 15-12 at Thomond Park.

Players of the calibre of centre Brian Tuohy – the scorer of seven league tries – Dave Delaney at fly-half and a powerful pack should see 2004/05’s Shannon to victory once again.

Shannon: tbc

2004/05 Season Form: WWLWLWWWWWWWW
Points scored: 395; Tries scored: 41
Top scorers: Points: Dave Delaney 112 (1 try, 19 cons, 19 pens, 4 drops); Tries: Brian Tuohy 7
Five-year AIL Record: 04: Champions; 03: Fifth; 02: Champions; 01: Eighth; 00: Eighth

Clontarf: D O’Shea; M Hewitt, C Mahony, J Downey, D Rossi; D Hewitt, M Walls; J Wickham, B Jackman, A Clarke, J Duffy, A Wood, D O’Brien, S O’Donnell, D Tafanel.

2004/05 Form: WWWLWWLWWWLLL
Points scored: 225; Tries scored: 28
Top scorers: Points: Dave McAllister 66 (12 cons, 14 pens); Tries: Donovan Rossi 5
Five-year AIL Record: 04: Ninth; 03: Runners-up; 02: Semi-finalists; 01: Thirteenth; 00: Twelfth

Referee: Simon McDowell (Ulster)