Mahony injury setback for Clontarf

CONOR MAHONY is out of Clontarf’s AIB League top four semi-final with Buccaneers at Castle Avenue tomorrow — and admits he is doubtful for the final if Clontarf make it.

Mahony was hoping to avenge league final defeats to Dungannon and Shannon while in Cork Con colours, but a thigh injury means he will have to watch the Division One surprise packet of the season from the sidelines.

“We beat Buccaneers with a bit to spare in the league sector of the tournament but this is a one-off game, a semi-final, and anything can happen.

“It is disappointing to have to miss this game but there is a slight hope that I will be able to participate in the final if we get there.

“Still, I can reflect on a good season for the club. We have had a great season. Not many people expected us to top the table but we did. Now, the goal from our point of view is to get to the final.

“Personally, it would be another great opportunity and I wouldn’t really care that much if the opposition was Lansdowne or Ballymena.

“We have put ourselves into a challenging position and it’s up to us to make sure that we take advantage.”

Promoted Dolphin, apparently in the early throes of a possible merger with Sunday’s Well, face their first hurdle in a bid to take the top four play-off trophy ... and it might not be the easy run they expect with rising star Conrad O’Sullivan at the helm for University College Cork.

Paired against the students at Musgrave Park tomorrow, they face a side that has supplied them with an ample number of playing personnel over the last number of years.

Dolphin, celebrating their centenary this season, were promoted to Division One for the second time in their history a few weeks ago. When they beat UCC 18-12 at The Mardyke in December, they were already leading the table and had the best points differential (+ 102) in all three league divisions.

But UCC have lost only two of their last eight games since the return from injury of their captain Conrad O’Sullivan.

He will be keen to push his personal claims for Munster recognition with a further stockpile of points.

Dolphin have 10 former UCC players in their senior squad this season but have recorded only three victories in their last eight home matches against league clubs from their own province.

Dolphin’s ace points scorer, outhalf John O’Mahony, has kicked 1094 points in the All-Ireland league. The former UCC player is one of four players to have scored more than 1000 points in the league and lies in third place in the overall general classification.

Division two runners-up Old Crescent take on DLSP in the second of the divisional semi-finals, while Waterpark meet Wanderers in the Division Three final.

Meanwhile, the IRFU have named officials for the weekend fixtures:

Div 1 semi-final Lansdowne v Ballymena (David McHugh), Div 2 semi-final: Dolphin v UCC (Simon McDowell), No1 TJ Gareth Doyle No 2 TJ Paul Eakin; Division 3 Final: Waterpark v Wanderers, No1 TJ Marshall Kilgore, No2 TJ Charlie Beverland; J2 Final: Old Belvedere v Garryowen (Allen McDowell).