Back to basics for everyone

Overshadowed and overstretched as Munster continue to hog the limelight, the Eurosceptics, otherwise known as the clubs, lurch back into action with the penultimate round of the first and second division in the AIB League.

The row about next Wednesday's rearranged Munster derbies also continues to rumble on (and probably won't be decided until Monday), yet amidst all of this, the run-in remains the most open and competitive in the league's 10-year history.

As things stand, still not one club has nailed down one of the coveted top four places, and eight clubs remain in contention. Theoretically, that could remain the case until next Saturday's last full round of matches.

Nor might it end there, for the IRFU are bracing themselves for an appeal against their decision to play the two outstanding Munster derbies next Wednesday and will probably sound out the other four clubs in the play-off frame before making a decision on Monday.

Today though, will tell a tale, most particularly at Thomond Park (where else?) where Shannon entertain St Mary's. The AIL kingpins' form thus far has been more akin to relegation candidates (three wins as compared to DLSP's and Clontarf's brace), but they've milked the bonus points system better than anybody and so remain in contention - just about.

Like the other Munster heavyweights, holders Cork Constitution, Shannon need to win all three games from an identical run-in and probably pick up a couple of bonus points to reach the commonly accepted threshold of 32 points.

It helps both their causes that they can each field almost full-strength sides and, ironically, it is now Young Munster, generally accepted to be the least affected by Munster's Euro-odyssey, who have suddenly been worst hit due to Peter Clohessy's withdrawal from today's televised clash (a curious choice by RTE) at home to Buccaneers. With his brother Des also ruled out with a shoulder injury, this obliges Young Munster to play debutante Eoin Hann at loosehead today.

Buccaneers' spiralling form, like that of Dungannon, has seen both clubs ensnared in the fight against relegation, which will also go to the wire.

Dungannon host Garryowen, minus Keith Wood and Connie Botha, while in the day's other first division game at Eaton Park, Ballymena, like Constitution and Young Munster, defend one of the division's five 100 per cent home records against Lansdowne in a win-or-bust eight-pointer.

In Division Two, Blackrock can claim the first of the four automatic promotion places by beating UCC at home.

Old Crescent could join them by beating Malone at home, if results elsewhere go their way, but the crunch promotion clash is undoubtedly between fifth-placed Belfast Harlequins and third-placed Galwegians at Deramore Park.

Greystones can confirm their Division Two status and condemn Portadown to the relegation play-off against Instonians by winning their meeting at Dr Hickey Park.

The last remaining place in next season's All-Ireland League will also be decided today when the junior round-robin winners Naas play Omagh Academicals in a one-legged play-off in Dundalk, while the climax of the Leinster junior scene takes place in Navan tomorrow when the host's play Dundalk in the Provincial Towns Cup final.

Elsewhere, Cork Constitution play Old Wesley in the Millennium J2 Cup final as the second part of a Temple Hill doubleheader, while Ireland play Wales at Holmpatrick (1.30) and England meet Scotland at Templeville Road (4.0) in the opening round of the Four Nations Youth Championship.