AIB League Finals Take Centre Stage

All roads will lead to Limerick’s Thomond Park and Dooradoyle this Saturday as another action-packed AIB League season comes to a climax with the play-off finals in Division One (Clontarf v Shannon), Division Two (Ballynahinch v UCC) and Division Three (Corinthians v Old Wesley).

2008/09 AIB LEAGUE FINALS: Saturday, May 9

DIVISION ONE FINAL – Clontarf v Shannon, Thomond Park Stadium, 4pm (live RTE Two)

* Tickets on sale from the Munster Rugby ticket office from Tuesday, May 5 – Friday, May 8 (10am- 4pm) (tel: 0818 365555; tel: 061 421100). They will also be available to purchase on the day outside Thomond Park.

Prices – Stand: €;10; Terrace: €;7; Children: €;3

DIVISION TWO FINAL – Ballynahinch v UCC, Dooradoyle, 2pm

* Tickets on sale at the gate (Adult: €;10; Children €;5)

DIVISION THREE FINAL – Corinthians v Old Wesley, Dooradoyle, 12pm

* Tickets on sale at the gate (Adult: €;10; Children €;5)

All four provinces will be represented in next weekend’s AIB League finals, with Leinster and Munster tied with two clubs apiece and Ballynahinch and Corinthians flying the flag for Ulster and Connacht respectively.

And just like last weekend’s Leinster v Munster Heineken Cup clash, when John Fogarty and his brother Denis were on opposing sides, two more brothers are set to play against each other in the AIB League Division Two final.

UCC scrum half and captain Sam Cronin will be leading the Cork students into battle against his brother Jerry Cronin, the Ballynahinch tighthead prop who has looked impressive in his first season with the Down club.

The Division One decider between Shannon and Clontarf is a repeat of the 2006 final which Shannon walked away with on a 30-3 scoreline.

Another Cronin, the unrelated Sean, burst onto the scene in that game at Lansdowne Road scoring a memorable try.

Current Shannon captain Fiach O’Loughlin will also need no reminder that he was Clontarf’s scrum half that day and that his brother-in-law, Shannon and AIB League legend Andrew Thompson, got by him for a late try.

IrishRugby.ie will have match previews, video and audio interviews and more in the build-up to Saturday’s play-off finals.