THE FORMER schools' international full back David O'Brien will make his Insurance Corporation All-Ireland League debut for Cork Constitution in the top of the table clash against Garryowen at Temple Hill on Saturday. In contrast, Ireland second row Gabriel Fulcher plays his last match of the season for Constitution as he leaves next week to play for London Irish during their closing month of the season.
O'Brien takes over from former international Kenny Murphy, who has not resumed training since the first half of the league was completed last October. Munster inter provincial wing Brian Roche, who joined Constitution from Sunday's Well, makes his league debut for the club on the left wing. David Corkery who rejoined Constitution from Terenure College at Christmas also plays his first league game of the season for the Cork club. He is likely to be playing for Bristol next season.
League leaders Garryowen will not finalise their side until Saturday morning. Prop Kieran Ronan (shoulder) and second row Mick Coughlan (hand) are both under treatment for injuries. Definitely out for rest of the season is international Philip Danaher. He broke a bone in a hand earlier in the season and had a recurrence of the injury subsequently.
Lansdowne will be without their captain, former international centre Brian Glennon, for the league tie against Young Munster at Tom Clifford Park on Saturday. Glennon has a shoulder injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season. Rody Corrigan will partner Alan Reddan in the centre and Peter Devitch is named on the right wing.
Sean Cawley, a dual status player from Barnhall, will make his league debut at prop for St Mary's College against Blackrock College at Stradbrook.
Ireland centre Maurice Field, who damaged ankle ligaments playing at Twickenham last Saturday,, is out of the Malone side to play Dolphin at Gibson Park. His place goes to Denis Rumney. Former Ireland number eight Philip Lawler is in the Bective Rangers team to play NIFC at Donnybrook.
Mark Egan, the former Oxford University captain, is in the Terenure College side to travel to Dungannon. Egan, who has returned to this country after several years in Japan, plays at number eight.
Ken Reid,, president of the IRFU last season and former Ireland manager, has been appointed manager of the Ulster side for next season. The Ulster Branch announced radical change in its selection and administrative set up some weeks ago. The selection committee has been disbanded and Reid will have the assistance of a full time coach, yet to be named, and three advisers. The advisers are John Kinnear (Ballymena), Dermot Dalton, the former Ireland B second row and former Ireland full back, Philip Rainey.
Sunday's well will have Stephen Rose in the back row for Greg Tuohy, who is serving two weeks' suspension, for the match against Clontarf at Musgrave Park. Ireland A centre Sean McCahill has been named at full back.
