Galwegians go for a home run

Ultimately the race for the coveted top four play-offs does not appear to have provided the last day dramatics which the final round of the AIB League has delivered in recent years. By and large the congested last couple of weeks have sorted out the wheat from the chaff and by comparison to the play-offs it is the relegation issue which has gone down to the wire.

As things stand, Cork Constitution have already nailed down first place and with it a home semi-final against the fourth-placed side, most probably Young Munster, next Saturday at an estimated time of 1.00 so as to avoid a clash with the European Cup final. Galwegians need only a point to make sure of joining them and also know that a victory over Buccaneers in Glenina today will copperfasten home advantage in the other semi-final. That can be played any time next weekend though there is talk of it taking place on Friday evening.

Realistically, the last two top four places rest between three clubs, Dungannon, Young Munster and Ballymena, with the first named duo well placed. Willie Anderson's free-scoring Dungannon know that an eighth victory in nine matches at the expense of Garryowen in Stevenson Park will preserve the division's only 100 per cent home record and also ensure a semi-final. They would need Galwegians to lose in order to procure a home semi-final.

Similarly, Young Munster, in the last play-off place, are a point ahead of Ballymena and know that a victory at home to relegation threatened Belfast Harlequins would almost certainly ensure a home semi-final, unless Ballymena not only win at Con but also picked up a bonus point and at the same time erase the 34 point leeway in scoring differential between themselves and Munsters. The latter would, of course, render all that academic were they to beat Harlequins and also pick up a bonus point.

The relegation issue is altogether more complex. Old Crescent are two points adrift of DLSP (who occupy the second relegation place) and Belfast Harlequins. However, the latter could hardly be more precariously placed, as their points differential is -124 compared to DLSP's -125. (Amazingly, Old Crescent's is -123).

Indeed, Harlequins also have the misfortune to be away to opponents (Young Munster) still very much in the top four frame whereas DLSP and Old Crescent make shorter trips to nearby opponents (Lansdowne and Shannon) who have nothing tangible to play for.

In the event of two or more sides finishing level on points and having the same points differential then the deciding factor will be the number of tries scored. Here Belfast Harlequins are best placed with 28, to DLSP's 27, while Old Crescent have 22. For these three it's going to be a long day, and for two of them an agonising one.

Leinster have confirmed that Irish and Lions tight-head Paul Wallace has verbally agreed to join them next season although contracts have still to be signed. As regards the New South Wales openside Keith Gleeson his eligibility has still to be clarified but he is expected to link up with Leinster next season, though the contractual position of the Cats' Super 12 outhalf Louis Koen still throws into doubt his intended transfer to Leinster next season.

On their final week together before a six-week break, Leinster also retained the services of both Shane Horgan and Gordon D'Arcy, who re-signed in the last few days. David Quinlan, who was with Cambridge earlier this season before rejoining Blackrock, has also been contracted as have Shane Jennings and Niall Treston from the Leinster under-21s.

At their annual banquet in the Berkeley Court Hotel last night, Shane Byrne received the award for Leinster's Player of the Year. Other award winners were: Young Player of the Year - Shane Jennings (St Mary's), Leinster League Player of the Year - Jeff Mahon (Ashbourne) and Leinster Hall of Fame - A R Dawson (Wanderers).