Old enemies set for another huge battle

NOEL ‘Buddha’ Healy is almost as famous as Michael Bradley.

He never got an international cap but set a fair share of records, not least the fact that he finished his senior career at the grand “old” age of 40.

Bradley bowed out much earlier with international achievements second to none.

As club players with Shannon and Constitution, respectively, bulky prop Healy shades it in terms of success.

Today at Temple Hill (2.30pm) Con and Shannon battle it out again in a bid to secure home draws in the knock-out stages of the AIB League.

And although Irish clubs have bitched and moaned about the state of play, and rightly so given the loss of support for the national league, today’s game could well set a season’s attendance record.

Bradley won’t be there because he takes charge of Connacht in the Celtic League game against Neath-Swansea in Galway. But Healy certainly will.

Healy fondly remembers some of the great games, and one in particular when he was accused of head-butting Ultan O’Callaghan and was sent off.

“The incident just didn’t happen and Constitution players protested in my favour before I was sent to the line. I think that just about sums up the mutual respect we have.

“Obviously, there’s a huge rivalry. In my early days playing with Shannon seniors our objective was to beat them because they had more internationals in the team than we did.

“It wasn’t an inter-city or provincial rivalry, more an international one to prove that we could be as good as them.

“Since then, Shannon have moved on, we’ve had our own fair share of success in terms of winning trophies and also supplying players to Munster and Ireland.”

Though preoccupied by Connacht’s Celtic League clash and the forthcoming Parker Pen Cup semi-final with Harlequins, Bradley will have more than a passing interest in the outcome of today’s game.

“Shannon have been the most consistent club side in Ireland over a couple of decades. They have made a huge contribution to Munster and Irish club rugby but the rivalry between the two teams has never been a problem.

“It’s what you would expect really, it’s been tough, confrontational but exciting. Not too many of them have produced clear-cut winning margins on either side.”

Bradley predicted another close encounter this afternoon. “When the clubs met in the Munster League final earlier in the season it was 21-9 to Shannon. But the victory came late.

“I think this is going to be closer. There are two good teams and a lot of wise men in both camps on the sideline. I honestly think it will go to the wire and it could be a classic.”

Elsewhere, it is an important weekend in both the upper and lower reaches of the table. Belfast Harlequins are away to Clontarf and despite the 12 points gulf it could be a tricky encounter.

Buccaneers have home advantage against Lansdowne and will seek to keep the pressure on Constitution if the Cork side fall to the leaders.

Lansdowne are far from safe at the other end and will be looking for one of their best displays of the season.

Another troubled side, St Mary’s, take on UCD at Templeville Road and Dolphin (a point above them), who are free this weekend, will be noting the outcome of this one.

Galwegians, at the bottom of the table, have one last chance to redeem themselves. They play County Carlow at Oak Park and will see that as a huge task.

There will be similar excitement in the second division when Old Belvedere bid to maintain a one point advantage at the top against mid-table placed Barnhall. Lurking in the background are UL/Bohemians, who square up to old rivals Young Munster at Clifford Park.

Only one team can progress from Division Two and five clubs remain in the hunt. Bective are a point adrift of Bohs and two of Belvedere. They play DLSP at home - a close one.

UCC, away to Thomond, will be fancied to pick up the points but few would bet heavily on the outcome of that, while Dublin University have a tough game against Terenure.

Down at the bottom, Sunday’s Well have probably their last chance of survival when they take on Waterpark, who are five points ahead with just two games to go. If they lose, they’re down to Division Three.

It is less complicated in Division Three because most teams have three games or more to play. Table-toppers Highfield are at home to City of Derry and that tie won’t be particularly easy. Still, if they do manage a win, it will go a long way towards securing a place in Division Two next season.

This week will tell a lot but not necessarily the whole story as four teams, Bruff, Seapoint, Monivea and Coleraine, battle it out in the round-robin tournament.

ALL 15 Division One clubs have rejected the proposed IRFU plan for the future of the AIL.

The clubs met in Dublin earlier this week and promised to produce a blueprint for Irish club rugby.

First division spokesperson, Wally Morrissey said: “We will put forward a plan and intend to meet the sub-committee members of the second and third division clubs in Dublin next Wednesday.”