Dummy runs on opening day

Opening days can be notoriously misleading in any league. After all, thinking back to a year ago, Ballymena hammered Shannon and Lansdowne beat Cork Constitution. Nevertheless, last Saturday appears to have reaffirmed one of the abiding messages of last season, namely that the combined effects of the interprovincials and a strong European Cup run can militate against the club form of the same players - and not even Shannon are immune.

Forwards carry the heaviest load, and the heavy burden on the nucleus of the Shannon pack undoubtedly took its toll last season, as was the case even more acutely with Ballymena. This season the burden could be heavier still.

It was interesting to hear a number of Munster forwards, not just those who make up most of the Shannon pack, reiterating the same phrases. They complained of just not being able to adjust to a new competition with new rules (and worse refereeing?). As a symptom, Shannon seem to have been quiet as mice during their defeat to Lansdowne.

None of which is surprising. To come from the high of a 35-34 win away to Saracens, renew acquaintances with a club set-up that is comparatively part-time, and then face into a deserted Lansdowne Road must be a "downer".

The deviations into the All-Ireland League may also affect the provincial sides, and Munster coach Declan Kidney, who has used his squad system to the maximum in giving his most over-worked players timely rests, will no doubt be ever mindful of this. Shannon's mentality is further undermined by having won the league four times in a row before relinquishing their hold last season.

Increasingly, they've looked a side who need a crisis, or at any rate a semi-crisis, to rise to the challenge, and this is liable to be the case even more this season if Munster's European Cup run offers fresh challenges - not to mention some of the players being involved in either the Six Nations or the A championship. Who knows, the most striking evolvement ever of Team Munster may yet also dilute their parochial local rivalries.

Most ominously of all for Shannon, they have lost that certain mystique about them, which in part enabled them to win games on their reputation, as if out-psyching the opposition. Deep down, did St Mary's really believe they could beat Shannon in that superb semi-final two seasons ago?

Even their long unbeaten Thomond Park run is over. That imposing home territory mantle has been passed on to Buccaneers, unbeaten in four years at both Moher Road and Keane Park apart from a first-leg play-off defeat to Dungannon the season before last which they erased in the second leg anyhow.

Furthermore, despite being greatly strengthened by the acquisition of John Langford and Peter Stringer, all the fears about

Shannon's missing men - Andrew Thompson, Rhys Ellison and Jim Galvin - were underlined by the events of Saturday.

Ellison has resumed training and hasn't ruled out a comeback, while Galvin will be available again soon. Conor Burke, a talented player, may yet come good but, as things stand, it looks like they need him, while Thompson may be impossible to replace.

As Lansdowne coach Michael Cosgrave said afterwards, you write Shannon off at your peril. Were they to reach the semi-finals, then their record as a big-game team would make them favourites. But in a league where eight or nine sides have genuine aspirations of reaching the top four, it may be a close-run thing for them to make it again.

All of which again made the starting odds on Shannon of 7 to 4 or 2 to 1 poor value. By contrast, the 3 to 1 or 7 to 2 available on Garryowen looks better value. Ever presents in the top flight, twice champions and four times runners-up, Garryowen have been the league's standard-bearers in many ways.

Indeed, with their collective youth, no team will come back hungrier and more vengeful than the beaten finalists of the last two years. Surprisingly, their coach John Hall reckoned Terenure were an improved side on last season, even though Saturday's 38-14 win, when set against the 20-6 win of last season, suggests otherwise. "The difference is that I think we've come on a lot this season as well," he added.

IN contrast to Shannon, Cork Constitution have had relatively few representative demands again, especially up front. Other teams travelling to Buccaneers will experience the same fate which befell them on Saturday, and they remain young and hungry, well-coached and well-organised, and an accomplished all-round side.

Despite the loss of a few key men, Buccaneers retain the virtues which stood to them last season, they've also strengthened their hand in the front-row while adding a few other strings to their bow - and remain one of the best supported teams around. Now, as with their win over Galwegians on opening day last year, Saturday's home win over Cork Constitution could re-establish a similar sort of momentum.

St Mary's may not, technically, have picked up any bonus points away to Dungannon, but as with Ballymena at home to DLSP, their coach Brent Pope readily conceded that Saturday's result was akin to four bonus points. All the more so as Mary's are traditionally slow starters.

Problems remain for St Mary's nonetheless, with Conor McGuinness's future in doubt, while Steve Jameson's departure leaves them without a cornerstone, and then there's the psychological scars of the last two semi-finals. But John Maher's loss will be Emmet Byrne's gain. Victor Costello looks set for a big winter and if in the chase when the weather improves they will be dangerous floaters again.

The fixture list also offers Lansdowne an excellent chance of building on Saturday's win, as their next three fixtures are against DLSP, Terenure and Clontarf. That Leinster trio, along with, at a push, Ballymena, seem likely to provide the sole relegation play-off club.

Though DLSP are the 50 to 1 outsiders of the dozen in the top flight, as they showed on Saturday, they and coach Phil Werahiko will only derive strength from that. Their stealthy recruitment, post-promotion enthusiasm and the effects of their centenary year should keep them going.

Despite doubts about their scrum, Declan O'Brien and elusive Shane Stephens are potential game-breakers. Last Saturday won't be the last time they'll raise eyebrows.