Con set for battle with Buccs

CORK CONSTITUTION director of Rugby Paul Derham believes matches under floodlights could revitalise the AIB League.

Constitution make the journey to Athlone to take on Buccaneers this evening in the opening game of the national competition and Derham praised the initiative of the host club to start the game at 7.p.m.

Buccaneers made the request of Constitution to change from an afternoon kick-off to avoid a clash with Connacht's Celtic League game against Edinburgh.

Derham admitted: “We had no problem facilitating Buccaneers because we know that every team in the league has to fight to attract supporters to their matches.

“Had it been played at the same time as the Connacht game, there would be a sparse attendance. Now people have plenty of time to get back from Galway and go to this particular match.

“It was never a problem for us. Evening matches, even on a Saturday night, could be very successful and it might be the way forward in similar circumstances as this weekend.”

Derham bemoaned the fact that Constitution will be without Gareth Murray, John O'Driscoll, Jerry Murray and Simon Buckley who are injured and Ultan O'Callaghan who has retired.

“These players were very important to us but we have to get on with it and will be fielding our strongest available team. We haven't any of our top contracted players available, but neither will Buccaneers so we are similarly affected.

“It should be a good game. Both sides have been very positive in the brand of rugby they attempted to play in the last number of seasons and I have no doubt there will be plenty of excitement there for the fans.”

Meanwhile, the All Munster second division clash between Young Munster and Dolphin at Clifford Park should be equally interesting, while Midleton's game with DLSP is set to attract a big crowd to Towns Park. Midleton roll out new Scottish player-coach Conan Sharman and New Zealander Jonathon Miller. Ed Tobin and Christy Condon both return to the club from Waterpark.

CORK CONSTITUTION: C. O'Sullivan, N. Kenneally, C. Mahony (captain), J.V. Igarza, C. Healy, B. Keeshan, P. McCarthy, T. Ryan, D. Murray, M. Ross, S. O'Connor, J. Moloney, A. Harte, B. Cutriss, B. O'Connor.

MIDLETON: C. Sharman, K. Wall, E. Tobin, B. Morris, P. Power, E. Ronan, D. Urlich, K. Brierley, D. Lee, C. Condon, P. Cullinane, A. McCarthy (captain), E. McGrath, G. Lynch, J. Miller.

DOLPHIN: (AIB League today v Young Munster, Clifford Pk, 2.30pm) J. Purcell, S. O'Halloran, J. Murrell, M. Manning, J. O'Mahony, T. O'Leary; J. O'Sullivan, D. O'Farrell, C. Bradley, J. Fitzgerald, G. Finn, D. Murphy, J. Coughlan.

Replacements: S. Heffernan, D. Blowers, R. McGrath, W. Hyde.