Garryowen look on as others risk title hopes

THE visit of the defending champions and current first division leaders Shannon, to Instonians and the meeting of third placed St Mary's College and Lansdowne at Templeville Road are the two matches in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League division one today that can have a bearing on the destination of the title.

That is now an issue between Shannon, St Mary's and Garryowen. The latter are in second place but are not engaged today. They will await the outcome of those results from Shane Park and Templeville Road with avid interest, however complete their programme today and have 14 points from nine matches, and St Mary's, who have 10 points from seven, must win today to keep their championship prospects alive. Garryowen, on 14 points, from eight matches stand in the wings. Whatever happens at Shane Park and Templeville Road, Garryowen will win the title if they collect three points from their last two outings. But a factor central to that ambition is that Garryowen meet St Mary's College next week.

Elsewhere in division one today the outcome of the matches will do no more than help determine the minor placings in the division, but will be competitive nonetheless. In that regard none more so than the meeting of Ballymena and Young Munster at Eaton Park. Both those clubs did immense damage last week to the championship prospects of Cork Constitution and St Mary's College. Ballymena's win over Cork Constitution effectively ended the Cork club's title ambitions and Young Munster's win over St Mary's was a major setback to St Mary's hopes of becoming the first Leinster club to take the first division championship.

Cork Constitution travel to meet Old Wesley at Donnybrook with prestige at stake and Blackrock College, so severely hit by injuries and now second last in the table, meet the side one place above them, Old Belvedere, at Anglesea Road.

In division two, Old Crescent, assured of promotion, can win the title at Ormeau today by getting just a point from their match against bottom of the table NIFC. Old Crescent have 15 points from eight matches and a point today will put them in an unassailable position as the other promotion, contenders Dungannon, Terenure, and Greystones cannot reach that total.

Two matches of crucial importance in this division today are the meeting of Greystones and, Dungannon at Dr Hickey Park," and Terenure and Dolphin at Lakelands Park. Dungannon have 13 points from nine matches, Greystones 11 from eight games, sandwiched between the two are Terenure College also on 11, but, with a superior points difference to Greystones. It adds to the competitive nature of this division that Terenure and Greystones meet next week. Dungannon complete their programme today and a draw would probably means promotion as they have a vastly superior points difference to Greystones.

The other two matches in this division have no bearing on the promotion issue, the meeting of Clontarf and Malone at Castle Avenue and Wanderers and Bective Rangers at Lansdowne Road.

No doubt about the match of the day in division three. That is the encounter at Sydney Parade between leaders Monkstown and City of Derry. Both are assured of promotion, the issue at stake is the title. Monkstown are two points clear of Derry, but Derry have the better points difference. A win today for Monkstown means they take the title. Highfield in third place on 13 points are set fair for promotion with six clubs from division three going up. The battle for the other three places rests between DLSP, Skerries, Bohemians, UCC and Waterpark, DLSP, Skerries and Bohemians all have nine points, UCC and Waterpark eight each. So the meeting of UCC and Waterpark at the Mardyke is of immense significance.

DLSP will be at home to Galwegians, Skerries' away to Bangor, Highfield visit Buccaneers, who are on the fringe of affairs with seven points, and Bohemians have home advantage against UCD.

Division Four leaders Portadown should consolidate their position with a win over CIYMS.