Con welcome title rivals Shannon

THE club match of the day will be at Temple Hill this afternoon (2.30) when Shannon take on arch rivals Constitution in a top-of-the-table AIB League clash.

Constitution are top and slow-starters Shannon have made up significant lost ground to push into second place. Having played an extra match, they are just one point adrift as the battle for power heightens.

Con may have home advantage but will be without some key players, amongst them Billy Holland, Duncan Williams, Scott Deasy, Ian Nagle and Tom Gleeson. The Shannon team will be finalised closer to kick off.

Third-placed St Mary's College, for so long the front-runners, have four points to spare over fifth placed Blackrock but the Stradbrook side are at home this weekend and also have the benefit of having a game in hand. Victory today would push them at least level with their Dublin rivals and also increase the pressure on the top two.

Clontarf are last but one and need victory over Garryowen at Castle Avenue today to ease the pressure, but if the light blues emerge with the four or five points then there are troubled times ahead for the north Dublin team who have been to the forefront of the first division for the last number of seasons.

It is also make or break day for UL Bohemian who take on Dolphin in Limerick. The Cork side are three points adrift in fourth, while Bohs prop up the table 14 points adrift.

CORK CON (AIL v Shannon): D. Lyons, R. Lane, A. Ryan, E. Ryan, C. Healy, J. Manning, D. O’Driscoll, S. Archer, R. Quinn, M. Gateley, M. O’Connell, B. Hayes, B. Cuttriss, F. Cogan, P. O’Mahony.