Ford playing it cool as high-flying Dolphin set for Shannon showdown

DOLPHIN will view today’s AIB clash with champions Shannon at Musgrave Park (2.30pm) as one of the biggest matches in the history of the club.

It’s not an unusually difficult assignment; there have been head-to-head confrontations on many occasions in the past, some good, some bad, from Dolphin’s point of view; except to say that after two rounds of the current campaign Dolphin stand on the cusp of something special as, they plunder their way through this section of Division One.

But Dolphin’s Welsh coach Steve Ford has been around Munster and Irish club rugby long enough to know that two wins against two losses between opponents in the opening sequences of matches means absolutely nothing.

Dolphin snatched a last-gasp victory over Cork Constitution in the first match of the campaign and followed up with a fantastic win away to Clontarf. Clearly, they are the team to watch but Ford is not ready to be fooled.

“Shannon might be some (six) points behind us after losing their opening matches, but they were bonus point losses, games that could have gone either way. I wouldn’t even dare have any particular expectations at this stage of the season, not least against Shannon,” said Ford.

“They will be formidable; they always are, no matter how the results are going for them. They haven’t got off to a good start but that can all change on the drop of a hat, and they haven’t been off the pace in either of their two defeats. One positive result could turn it all around for them.”

But Ford remains in totally positive mood. “From last year’s records, we have the best team in the county coming to play us this weekend; we have always set out to push ourselves to become a better team and a better club; there are a lot of good things happening on and off the field, so that’s great, but we have to recognise that we have to face up to a major challenge here.”

There will be considerable interest in games elsewhere, with leaders Blackrock at home to Constitution, whom they managed to beat at the same venue last season on a fairly comprehensive 23-7 score line.

Constitution were pipped in the opening game of the campaign by Dolphin but came back to prove too strong for UL Bohs the following week.

‘Rock will go into this one as favourites though, following successive wins over UL Bohs (8-3) and a thumping 48-14 win over Garryowen.

The Limerick side, incidentally, take on St Mary’s College at Dooradoyle seeking to put that worrying performance in Dublin behind them.

St Mary’s have had an encouraging start with wins over Clontarf and Shannon and will be seeking another big result in Limerick today.

In Division 1B, Old Belvedere will put their perfect record on the line at Clifford Park against Young Munster.

Belvedere have garnered two five pointers from their victories over UCC and Buccaneers and cannot afford a slip today because second-placed Ballymena (two points adrift) are at home to Buccaneers.

Additionally, Young Munster are within striking distance with one win and a bonus point defeat, so they have everything to play for this afternoon.

DOLPHIN: N Walley; N O’Driscoll, E Moloney, D Barnes, P Hurley; B Keeshan (capt), S Cronin; R O’Neill, A O’Driscoll, C Condon; C Roe, F Stone; R Allen, N Williams, B O’Mahony