Dolphin have most momentum

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE NEWS:THIS IS the final weekend for Divisions Two and Three of the All-Ireland League, and Division One has only one round of matches to go after Saturday's games.

The two lower-division semi-finals take place on April 12th, the finals taking place the following week. No venue has yet been set for that finale.

But in Division One, Dolphin are the team going into the second-last round with most momentum, having scored their first AIL win ever (18-13) over second-placed Shannon last weekend.

With just a minute remaining in normal time at Musgrave Park, fullback Denis McCarthy broke clear and his well-timed pass put centre Rory Kenneally charging over the line for what could prove to be the most important try of Dolphin's season.

They are in fifth place on 39 points behind leaders Cork Constitution, who have 50 points.

Shannon are second, four points behind the leaders, Garryowen lie third on 45 points and Clontarf lie fourth on 41. The top four go into semi-final play-offs, the top two sides earning the coveted home advantage.

Dolphin, Blackrock and UCD, who fell to struggling Greystones last week, have chances of breaking into the top four and the play-offs if their remaining matches and those of a few of the clubs above them go their way.

Cork Con's Richie Lane moved to the top of the Division One try-scoring table during his side's win over Ballymena, their fifth victory in succession. The former Ireland under-21 winger brought his tally to nine from 13 matches in Eaton Park.

The AIB Cup competition is also drawing to a close, with the outstanding semi-final between Galwegians and Shannon set for Crowley Park on April 5th. The winner there will meet Blackrock College on April 12th at Dubarry Park, Athlone.

Realistically Shannon have the best chance of doing the double, although if results go with Blackrock in the league, they too have a mathematical chance of competing for both trophies.

In their win over Clontarf in the cup semi-final, it was Fionn Carr who rose to the occasion. The Leinster A player landed 29 points with two tries, two conversions and five penalties in the 34-17 win over their Dublin rivals.

Actually, for league hopefuls Clontarf that wasn't such a bad result on the day. The Castle Avenue club found themselves 31-0 down at half-time before they launched a mini-revival.