SHANNON’S season took a further dip at Temple Hill on Saturday when old rivals Cork Constitution had an easier passage than expected to the AIB Cup quarter-finals.

MOST of the drama was crammed into the final few minutes of this AIB League 1A derby at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

IF Clontarf win a first AIB League title this season, they cannot be accused of taking the easy route.

CORK CONSTITUTION and Old Crescent demonstrated at Clifford Park yesterday that the ODM Munster Senior Cup is still very much alive.

THESE two great rivals have a habit of producing the unexpected.

A COUPLE of converted tries in the dying minutes enabled Cork Constitution to come from 19-11 behind with time running out to overtake UL Bohs in an exciting AIB League clash at Annacotty yesterday.

SHANNON’S renowned spirit has rarely been seen to greater effect than at Clifford Park yesterday when they overcame a strong Cork Constitution side and the handicap of playing the last 20 minutes with 14 men to advance to the ODM Munster Senior Cup final.

CORK CONSTITUTION’S director of rugby, Paul Derham, makes no apologies for his club’s insistence in successfully seeking a postponement of the ODM Munster Cup semi-final against Shannon.

BY their own admission, Cork Constitution got out of jail and sneaked through to the AIB League final against old rivals Garryowen at Musgrave Park next Saturday.

Cork Constitution 28 Lansdowne 20

HARDLY the scoreline you would expect from two of the AIL’s Division One high-flyers, but there were extenuating circumstances in this top-four clash on Saturday afternoon last on the back pitch at Thomond Park.

Cork Constitution 37 St. Mary’s College 12

Shannon 17 Cork Constitution 20

Munster coach Declan Kidney is giving the youngsters on the panel plenty of opportunities.

MUNSTER have suffered a major blow to their Heineken Cup hopes with the news that jinxed former All Black Christian Cullen may be out of action until at least February.

Euskarians (Basque) Development 26 Munster Development 42

DAVID PUSEY will make his debut for Cork Constitution when he plays in the Munster Senior League final against Shannon at Musgrave Park, tomorrow (2.30 pm).

SHANNON will go for broke this weekend in search of another conclusive AIB League victory at Stevenson Park.

THE Munster Senior Cup was once the most coveted rugby prize in the province. It’s still important but events at provincial level have overtaken just about everything at club level.

Cork Constitution 34 Dolphin 17