Blackrock bring back Beggy

BLACKROCK'S under-par performance against Terenure in their last All-Ireland League home game has resulted in a number of changes for Saturday's away match against Dungannon.

The 22-8 defeat, which has allowed Blackrock drift away from the leading pack of Division One contenders, has resulted in the return of former Meath gaelic footballer David Beggy. He comes into the full-back position with Emmett Farrell moving to out-half. Alan McGowan, the regular out-half and place-kicker has been omitted. Rory Kearns plays in the centre as Gerard Cummins from Queensland is not yet eligible.

Dungannon make two changes. Ronnie Carey returns to the right-wing at the expense of Irish Schools three-quarter Jonathan Davis while in the back row Micheal Beggs comes in for the Dublin-born vet Willie Dunne, who is unavailable this week.

St Mary's, the league leaders must wait until later in the week to see what shape a number of their players are in for their home game against Lansdowne. Coach Ciaran Fitzgerald is hoping that a number of doubts can be cleared up, notably those hanging over the fitness of his flu-hit captain and prop Brian Keane, centres Ray McIlreavy and Gareth Gannon as well as hooker Barry Brown and out-half Craig Fitzpatrick, all of whom picked up knocks against the visiting Llanelli last weekend.

Victor Costello, who recently returned to St Mary's after a disappointing spell at London Irish, took a few knocks against Young Munster but is expected to be fit for the match which is critical for both teams.

The St Mary's fitness problems could well benefit Lansdowne, who field a side that is unchanged from their outing against Cork Constitution two weeks ago. Although some doubts were expressed about the hamstring of out-half Eric Elwood before Ireland's Five Nations game against Wales last weekend, he is expected confidently to line out for his club.

Terenure, who play a struggling Young Munster side, are unlikely to assume anything despite their home advantage on Saturday. The team that so convincingly defeated Blackrock is unchanged except in the pack where a decision has yet to be made between Colin Potts and Michael Quinn. Potts had been injured but is now fit to play.

Young Munster are looking at three injuries in their captain and number eight Declan Edwards, who is likely to be out for some weeks, flanker Ger EarIs and centre Noel O'Mara.

Old Belvedere's daunting challenge is to move further away from the relegation zone and they hope that might be allayed by their visit to Old Crescent. They have only one problem - second-row Mark Feely was injured for their last match against Dungannon and he is subject to a fitness test later in the week.

Old Crescent continue to have two long-term injuries in Brian Begley and Leo Doyle. Begley, who is recovering from a shoulder operation, is likely to be out for the entire season, but otherwise the team is unchanged from the one that met Old Wesley.

Shannon announce a number of changes for the match against Garryowen. Pat Murray returns to full-back after missing his side's last game due to injury. Billy O'Shea reverts to the wing from full-back and as a result Jason Hayes misses out on the starting line-up. At scrum-half Brian MacGoey wins the fitness battle with Gavin Russell. While Garryowen have not yet selected, they are checking on the fitness of Paul Hogan and Barry Evert.

Instonians have a string of injuries for their game against Old Wesley at Shane Park and the team will not be picked until tonight. In the back row both Kevin McKee and Roger Wilson have to be passed fit as does front-row Brian Barrett, winger Innes Gray and hooker and captain Andrew Adair.

Old Wesley have also had to shuffle around quite a bit with Brian Murphy coming in on the wing for his AIL debut. Stuart Kinlan takes the place of prop Richard Jackson who was injured on Sunday in a friendly against Suttonians while winger Colin Younger remains out of action. His place is taken by Rob Casey.

Ballymena hope that Irish winger James Topping has recovered from his bout of tonsilitis for their match against Cork Constitution. The Ulster club also have to deal with flu with tight-head Rob Irwin and second-row Gary Longwell going down. Scrum-half Mark Beatty, who has a niggling injury, will hopefully respond to treatment for a team selection later in the week.

A schools' trial match at the Aer Lingus grounds on Sunday is to be used for two forthcoming events. The Irish youth team against the under-19 side will decide places in the Youth international against Wales on March 9th while the under-19 squad travel to Argentina for an international FIRA competition.