O’Connell’s return a welcome boost for UL/Bohs

FORMER captain Justin O’Connell will try to give UL/Bohemians a timely AIB League boost at Lakelands tomorrow.

The Limerick side have had a traumatic start to their first year in Division One but hope O’Connell can provide them with the necessary experience to secure an elusive victory against Terenure.

Brother of Irish international Paul, O’Connell was hugely influential as Bohemians secured promotion to the top flight last season. His last game with the club was in the Division Two Top Four final against Belfast Harlequins last May.

The Limerick side have been picking up bonus points but losing all their games narrowly and they should be entitled to a change of fortune.

Second row Matt Porter still has a damaged knee, while his fellow lock Brian Dineen is making a slow recovery from the neck injury sustained against Galwegians. Both are considered doubtful.

League leaders Galwegians have lost the services of Eric Peters and Henry Burke to Connacht, who take on Narbonne.

Galwegians may deem themselves fortunate, however, that they have a home tie against County Carlow who have lost three of their first four matches.

Cork Constitution will be desperate to push themselves back up the table following a recent defeat by old rivals Garryowen.

Con are now in seventh place but are only two points adrift of Galwegians, one behind Ballymena, Clontarf and Blackrock and trailing Garryowen and Buccaneers on points difference only.

They take on Lansdowne at Temple Hill tomorrow without their Munster players.

Shannon coach Geoff Moylan is likely to call upon his most experienced player, Mick Galwey, at some stage of the game against Clontarf at Thomond Park.

The champions have put themselves back in the frame after successive victories over Terenure and County Carlow, following defeats by St Mary’s and Galwegians.

Midleton have proved themselves more than capable of holding their own in Division Two and they go in search of more points at Towns Park when they take on Sunday’s Well.

Midleton suffered their first defeat away to Barnhall last week but only by two points. The bonus point they received for their efforts was just about good enough to keep them in the top four.

Philip Smith (shoulder) and Simon Buckley (knee) are both out but Garvan Lynch and Damon Urlich are selected after recovering from injury and illness respectively.

The outcome is just as important for the ‘Well, who are rooted to the bottom of the table with just two bonus points from four games.

CLONTARF: D O’Shea, N O’Brien, C Mahony, J Downey, O Winchester, D Hewitt, M Walls, W O’Kelly, B Jackman, A Clarke, B Gissing, A Wood, D Quinn, D Moore, S O’Donnell.

BOHEMIANS (likely side): C Gilligan, B Tuohy, N Lutman, C Finn, K Matthews, I Costello, D Malone, M Harty, G Ryan, J Danagher, D O’Connell, J O’Connell, J O’Neill, A Hartigan, A O’Gorman (captain).

MIDLETON: L O’Toole, K Wall, N Ashton, B Morris, D Hurley, G Donald, D Urlich, A McCarthy, D Lee, K Brierly, A McCarthy, M Cullinane, M O’Connell, G Lynch, D Lane.