Munster's big three already in trouble

If the clubs thought they were getting the shorter end of the stick when the provinces were in full swing, the onset of the Six Nations Championship is likely to leave them with no more than a glorified toothpick.

Unsurprisingly, no AIB All-Ireland League Division One or Two team was willing or able to announce a team for this weekend's series of matches as they await to see how many, if any, of Ireland's Test squad make themselves available a week before the championship opener at Twickenham.

The disruptions have been compounded by a surfeit of injuries, both minor and major, to a number of international squad members.

All of which may explain why an embryonic Division One table is starting to take a slightly unusual look.

As things stand, for example, the Big Three from Munster who have won all bar one of the previous nine titles (Cork Constitution, Shannon and Garryowen) are situated in the bottom half of the table, with two defeats out of three. Already it looks as if one or two big names are going to miss out on the top four play-offs.

The scenario is perhaps best encapsulated by this Saturday's meeting between the holders Constitution and the joint leaders Young Munster, who are perhaps better off having relatively few alternate distractions for the vast bulk of their squad.

By contrast, in their defeat to Dungannon last Saturday Constitution were obliged to take the field without Brian O'Meara and Ronan O'Gara at half-back. O'Meara will be out for another few weeks yet, while it is highly unlikely that O'Gara will have shaken off his knee ligament strain by the weekend.

Constitution are slightly more optimistic about Brian Walsh and Kenny Murphy returning to action, although against that full back Derek Dillon retired with a groin strain on Saturday and looks doubtful while Cian Mahony, Conor Mahony and Donal Sheehan are also in doubt.

Young Munster also don't have a clean bill of health, with John `Packo' Fitzgerald unsure as to whether Peter Clohessy will be available while in-form back-rowers Ian Dillon (ribs) and Matt te Pau (thigh) were casualties in their win over DLSP and join Brian Buckley and Des Clohessy on the doubtful list.

Shannon, who play Dungannon at Thomond Park, could again be without Alan Quinlan and Peter Stringer, will not have been amused to learn that John Hayes picked up a knock in Monday's Irish squad session, on top of which Jim Galvin has been ruled out with a damaged hamstring.

As an aside though, while John Langford's Irish residency qualifications may arrive two years too late, his wife Nicole gave birth to a baby boy in Limerick last Sunday, so Conor John Langford will at least one day be eligible.

Dungannon will again wait on David Humphreys, who unexpectedly played last Saturday and had a blinder, as well as the injured Justin Fitzpatrick.

St Mary's have been hit with a few injuries to go with the weekly doubts about their internationals. Philip Lynch (ankle ligaments) departed last weekend and is ruled out of Saturday's game at home to Ballymena.

John Kilbride will understudy, with ex-Lansdowne scrum-half Alan O'Sullivan coming onto the bench.

John McWeeney (neck) and Denis Hickie (hamstring) were other casualties of the weekend, while Brent Pope will also monitor Peter Coyle (flu). Emmet Byrne's continuing absence with a back problem hints at a longer-term absence.

Ballymena coach Andre Bester rates Simon Mason (hip), flanker Andy Graham (dead leg) and double try-scorer Simon Broughton (shoulder) as doubtful.

DLSP remain injury free, save for the risk of kicking themselves after dominating large chunks of last Saturday's game at Munsters only to again be undone by five missed kicks and a couple of lost try-scoring opportunities.

Garryowen are Saturday's visitors to Kilternan, with John Hall even more concerned by his team's limp showing at home to St Mary's as well as the dead leg which is likely to sideline David Wallace.

Clontarf's woes up front have been undermined further by Warren O'Kelly retiring with a back injury in the defeat at Ballymena, making him a 50-50 chance for the visit of Lansdowne. Hooker Bernard Jackman may have to undergo a groin operation this week.

Terenure College entertain Buccaneers on Sunday, and will monitor centre David Murphy (hand injury) as well as Eric Miller, who missed last Saturday's win at Lansdowne with flu. Buccs wait on Gavin Webster (ankle) and Martin Cahill (shoulder).

A chasm has developed in Division Two where the top seven have broken away from the bottom eight, of whom only Belfast Harlequins have the games in hand to join the push for the four automatic and one play-off promotion places on offer. Only two of the leading seven clash, with Old Crescent meeting Sunday's Well at Rosbrien.