UNLESS there is a surprising upheaval in form Leinster must be considered clear favourites to defeat Munster when they meet in the Interprovincial competition at Rathmines tomorrow (11.0).
White Munster received a great fillip to morale when getting the better of the North West in their last outing - and there have been encouraging signs of rising standards down south in recent seasons - a huge task awaits them tomorrow.
They confront a Leinster batting side that includes high calibre players in Alan Lewis, Angus Dunlop, Johnnie Byrne and the Molins brothers, Jason and Greg, who are all scoring runs freely this season. In addition Matt Dwyer returns after injury to skipper the side, Phoenix all-rounder Johnnie Atkinson is also back from injury while Stuart McCready gets an opportunity to display his all round talents.
Also in an exceptionally strong home side are Ed Joyce, Anto Canavan and the Clontarf captain Brian McNeice, all useful performers with the bat, so Munster will be really up against it in their endeavours to dismiss the opposition cheaply. The Rush captain/ batsman Michael Donnelly is, however, an absentee, apparently out of favour with the selectors for the present at any rate.
Unfortunately, to compound Munster's problems, they will be missing rising stars Stephen Hickey and Ken Sorensen who are not available due to Leaving Certificate examinations. Their replacements are Mark Barriscale and Ray Wong.
Weather permitting, this is a very important weekend on the Leinster club front as the race gathers momentum for a place in the semi-finals of the Lewis Traub Insurances League.
Section A leaders Old Belvedere face a tricky assignment against Clontarf at Castle Avenue who will be anxious to get back into contention after their hiccup last time out when they let Rush off the hook.
Team news is that they will be at full available strength but Old Belvedere will be without Peter O'Reilly and Ronan O'Sullivan because of work commitments.
Derek Quinlan and Andrew Dunne are brought in. Pace bowler Owen Butler plays his last game as he jets off to America next week.
Two other key matches in this section are those between Merrion and Rush at Rush today, and Phoenix against Dublin University in the Phoenix Park tomorrow.
In section B the three matches listed are all important with Malahide hosts to Pembroke at the Village, The Hills joust with Leinster at Milverton, and, YMCA at home to Cork County.
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