SATURDAY 21st APRIL 2007
AIB League Division 1:
Blackrock College v U.L. Bohemian,Stradbrook,2.30;
Clontarf v Dungannon,Castle Avenue,2.30;
Cork Constitution v Ballymena,Temple Hill,2.30;
Garryowen v Galwegians,Dooradoyle,2.30;
Lansdowne v Buccaneers,Landowne Road,2.30;
Shannon v Dolphin,Coonagh,2.30;
Terenure College v St. Mary's College,Lakelands,3.00;
U.C.D. v Belfast Harlequins,Belfield,2.30;

Division 2 Semi Finals:
Old Belvedere v Young Munster,Anglesea Road,2.30;
Greystones v Clonakilty,Dr Hickey Park,2.30;

Division 3 Semi Finals:
Ballynahinch v Bruff,Ballymacarn Park,2.30;
Wanderers v Instonians,Merrion Road,2.30;

Division 3 Play Off:
City of Derry v City of Armagh,Judges Road,2.30;

AIB All Ireland League Division One Preview
Shannon v Dolphin

Kick off 2.30  
Coonagh

SHANNON PREVIEW
By Andrew McNamara PRO

Results to Date

14th Oct 2006
Ballymena (6) 11- 22  (17) Shannon
Ballymena: 1 try, 1 pen, 1 dg
Shannon: Tries: Mark Tuohy, David ODonovan, David Quinlan
2 Con, 1 Pen Andrew Thompson (3/4)
   
21st Oct 2006
Shannon (22) 34-6 (6) Buccaneers
Shannon: Try Tony Buckley, Sean Cronin, Mark Tuohy, Stephen Kelly,
Penalty Try, 2 conv,1 pen Andrew Thompson (3/5), 1 Conv Tadgh Bennett (1/1)
Buccaneers: 2 Penalties

28th Oct 2006
Galwegians  (7)   14  15  (10) Shannon
Galwegians: 1 try, 1 penalty try, 2 conversions
Shannon: Try Sean Cronin (2), 1 pen, 1 conv Tadgh Bennett (2/2), A. Thompson (0/3)

4th Nov 2006
Shannon   (8)   11  19 (19)  Garryowen
Shannon: Try, 2 Pen A. Thompson (2/3)      
Garryowen: 3 Tries, 2 Conv

18th Nov2006  
Shannon   (3)   16    3 (3)  St Marys College
Try L. Hogan, 3 Pen, 1 Conv T. Bennett (4/4)
St. Marys College: 1 pen

09 Dec  2006
Terenure College  (13) 13       27 (3)  Shannon  
Terenure College: 1 Try, 1 con, 2 pen                     

Shannon: Try  Stephen Kelly (2), 1 D.G Mossy Lawlor, 1 Pen . Tadgh Bennett (1/2), 3 Conv, A. Thompson (3/3)

17 Dec 2006  
Cork Constitution (3) 17       17 (3) Shannon
Cork Constitution: 2 Tries, 2 Con, 1 pen        
Shannon: Try Sean Cronin, Pen Tadgh Bennett(1/2), 2 Con. Andrew Thompson (2/2), 1 Pen Try

06 Jan 2007  
Shannon    (9) 16   17 (3)  Clontarf
Shannon: try Stephen Kelly, con, 3 pen Tadgh Bennett (4/4)
Clontarf: 2 tries, 2 con, 1 dg
          
20 Jan 2006   
Belfast Harlequins  (10) 19  17 (12) Shannon
Belfast Harlequins: 1 try, 1 con, 4 penalties
Shannon: 2 tries Sean Cronin, 1 try Fergal Walsh, conv Tadgh Bennett (1/3), A. Thompson (0/1)

27 Jan 2006 
Shannon          (17) 31  15 (8) UCD
Shannon: Tries: J.Clogan, F. Walsh, T. Buckley, S. Kelly, A. Finn, 1 Conv T. Bennett (1/4), 2 Conv A. Thompson (2/2)
UCD: 2 tries, 1 pen, 1 conv
 
17 Feb 2006
Shannon   (13)  31     0 (0)  Dungannon
Shannon: Tries S. Cronin, C. McMahon, A. Finn
Try, 1 Con, 3 pen A. Thompson (4/9)  

03 Mar 2006 
UL Bohemians          (5) 15     6 (6)  Shannon
UL Bohs: 2 tries, 1 Conv, 1 Pen        
Shannon: 2 pen A. Thompson (2/5)

24 Mar 2006 Coonagh.
Shannon  (13) 26   17 (10)  Lansdowne
Shannon: Tries David Quinlan, David ODonovan, 1 try, 1 conv, 3 pen Andrew Thompson (4/6)      
Lansdowne: 2 tries, 2 conv, 1 pen

07 Apr  2006 
Blackrock College (12) 15   26 (10)   Shannon
Blackrock: 5 Pen.         
Shannon: Tries P.OConnor, A.Finn, 4 Pen, 2 conv A.Thompson (6/6)
 
21 Apr 2006  
Shannon v Dolphin 
  
Top Points scorers
Andrew Thompson    93 Points
Tadgh Bennett            39 Points
Sean Cronin       35 points
            
Tries &
Sean Cronin    7
Stephen Kelly   5
Mark Tuohy   2
Andrew Finn  3
Andrew Thompson 3
Fergal Walsh  2
David Quinlan  2
Tony Buckley  2
David ODonovan  2
Maurice Lawlor  1
Les Hogan   1
John Clogan   1
Colm Mc Mahon  1
Pat OConnor  1
Pen Try    2
Total             35 (175points)

Penalties 

Tadgh Bennett    9 (27Points)
Andrew Thompson  16 (48 Points)
    Total   25 (75 Points)
     
Conversions Tadgh Bennett   6 (12 Points)
  Andrew Thompson  15 (30 Points)
    Total   21   (42 Points)

Drop Goal Mossy Lawlor  1 (3 Points)

Total Kicks Tadgh Bennett   15/22    68%, Andrew Thompson  30/48   62%, Total   45/70     64%

Total Points to date 295 
Total points against 181
  +/-      +114

Tries for   35   Average /game     2.5
Tries Against  18                         1.3

Number of Players used This Season: 36 (plus 1 replacement not used )
Amongst the players used are 10 from last seasons U/20 side. (6 of which are regulars in the side)

" 2 players have started all 14 games to date, David Quinlan (No.8) , Frankie Mc Namara, Scrumhalf (also started all of last seasons 17 games).

Average points scored        21
Average Points conceded   13

" Shannon have scored first in 6 of their 14 games, and won 3 of these games.
" Shannons opposition have scored first in 8 games, but Shannon have lost only 1 of these matches
" Shannon have won 6 games from 7 in which they were leading at half time.

Updated after Blackrock

DOLPHIN PREVIEW
By Ger Hodkinson PRO

Being involved with a shout of promotion /relegation on the last day is a Dolphin thing- the last time that Dolphin were not worried about the result on the final day of the regular season was six years ago.  There have been some classics, the most famous was when we had to beat Old Belvedere away, the day that Old Belvedere were being presented with the Division 2 title and also hope UCD would not win. Dolphin won 10-7 and UCD drew 33-33.  And then there was of course last year.

Form Guide:
SHANNON - Last Five AIB League Games: W W L W W 
 - Last Five HOME AIB League Games: W W W L W 
DOLPHIN - Last FIVE AIB League Games: L L L L W 
 - Last Five AWAY AIB League Games: L L W L L 

SHANNON 
 Record against:  Munster clubs P  37  W  22  D  2  L  13  62  % success
 Record at home to: Munster clubs  P  30  W  19 D  1 L  10  65 % success

" Ireland Club Internationals David Delaney 05/06, Andrew Thompson, David Quinlan & Andy Finn 2006/07.
" Division 1 Champions 1995,1996,1997,1998,2002, 2004,2005, 2006.
" U/20 All Ireland Champions 2006
" Contracted Players  Jerry Flannery, Peter Stringer, Anthony Foley, Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Mossy Lawlor, Alan Quinlan, Frank Roche, Ian Dowling, but only Tony Buckley, Mossie Lawlor & Frank Roche are available in addition to Donncha Ryan (Development) & Sean Cronin (Academy).
" Top scorers to date  Andrew Thompson 93, Sean Cronin 7 (tries)
" On the same number of league points as Garryowen but have an advantage of 35 over them in points difference.

DOLPHIN  Record against: Munster clubs  P 62 W   33 D 1 L 28 54 % success
 Record away to: Munster clubs P 27 W   14 D 1 L 12 54 % success

" Dolphins only away game in Munster this season.

" Shannon have never played AIB League rugby in Musgrave Park

" Neither side have beaten another Munster side in the AIB League this season.
" For the 2nd time in a month George Finn faces one of his brothers. Lets hope Andy has scored his final try of the season (in the league face anyway) he scored in the 7th minute of extra time in their 26-15 victory over Blackrock two weeks ago.

What was required to stay up over the last 4 years.
2005/06   18 points after 15 games  (Galwegians were 14th with 19)
2004/05   20 points after 13 games (Trinity were 12th with 20)
2003/04   20 points after 14 games (Galwegians were 13th with 20)
2002/03   23 points after 15 games (UCD were 14th with 26) 
 
What is required for Dolphin to stay up.
- Victory over Shannon
- Bonus point against Shannon
- Belfast Harlequins to defeat UCD.
- UCD to defeat Belfast Harlequins by more than seven points.
- UCD and Belfast Harlequins to draw (unless they score 4 tries each or Dolphin lose by 42 points or more)
This is where it gets really technical
- If Shannon beat Dolphin and Cork Constitution defeat Ballymena by more
      than 28 points than the Dolphin losing margin.

What result would relegate Dolphin (if none of the above occur)
- Belfast Harlequins getting two bonus points (losing by 7 or less and scoring 4   
Tries)
- Belfast Harlequins getting one bonus point and Dolphin losing to Shannon by more than 24 points (25 if Dolphin have scored more tries than Belfast Harlequins in the 15 games)- this could increase to 32 depending on the number of points that Belfast Harlequins lose by.)
- If Shannon beat Dolphin and Cork Constitution defeat Ballymena by more than 28 points than the Dolphin losing margin.
- UCD getting 2 bonus points and Dolphin losing by 40 + points

Team News

David OMahony has not yet been able to finalise his side, he is giving players every chance to prove their fitness. The panel is as follows
Forwards
John O'Sullivan, Shane Heffernan, Fergus Gately, Kieran Murray,
Andrew O'Driscoll, Dave Harty, Dave Pomeroy, Rory McGrath, Alan Daly Donnchadha Murphy, George Finn, Henry O'Flynn, James Coughlan.
Backs
Garry O'Keeffe, Tomás OLeary, Barry Keeshan, John O'Mahony, Eric Moloney, Aidan O'Shea, Ed Mills, Kevin Lynch, Barry Kehoe, David Kingston