FRANKIE FLYNN, the bard of Shannon, stands ready and waiting to mount the victory rostrum and fill his traditional role yet again at Thomond Park this afternoon to lead the chorus of the Shannon victory anthem, There Is An Isle.

If Shannon, three points clear of St Mary's College and with just two matches to play, defeat Old Crescent today then it will mean a third successive first division championship in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League.

That would be a tremendous achievement, and Shannon go into the match as warm favourites to take the title yet again.

Old Crescent, in their debut season in the first division, look safe from relegation with four points in hand over old Wesley who are second from bottom. Old Crescent have a vastly superior points difference as well.

The second division title would also be decided this afternoon at Donnybrook if Clontarf defeat Bective Rangers. That is certainly the "match of the day" in Dublin. Clontarf are two points ahead of Bective, three in front of Dolphin and four of Skerries. But a win for Bective would bring them level with Clontarf, who have a superior points difference.

Victory today would also leave Bective playing for promotion and possibly the second division title next week, when they will be at home to UCC. Clontarf will be at home to Greystones next week.

Sore relegation issues, if not all, will also be decided this afternoon in both divisions. If Instonians lose to Young Munster at Shane Park, or even drop a point, then they will go down to division two. Even a win for Instonians would scarcely suffice to keep them in the top sphere, as they stand on just two points with Old Wesley on four and Old Belvedere on six.

Old Wesley are away to Garryowen, and defeat in that match would mean relegation for Old Wesley if Old Belvedere get any return from their visit to Ballymena. But that is a very difficult assignment for Old Belvedere against a team that has won five successive matches.

The three teams on eight points - Dungannon Old Crescent and Young Munster - look safe. If both Old Belvedere and Old Wesley lose then it will go down to the last match for both when Old Belvedere will be at home to Garryowen and Old Wesley away to Young Munster.

But Old Belvedere, as well as having two more points also have a superior points difference to Old Wesley, and that could be very important. But the results today for both could alter that.

St Mary's College will retain second place if they defeat Terenure College at Templeville Road, and Lansdowne, in third place, play host to Blackrock College. Dungannon visit Cork Constitution.

The relegation situation in the second division is one that concerns three clubs. Highfield are in deep trouble with just two points, two worse off than City of Derry, who have a match in hand. NIFC are on five points. The meeting of Highfield and Derry at Woodleigh Park this afternoon therefore has relegation as its central theme.

NIFC will be at home to DLSP, who have no relegation concerns as they stand on nine points and like Derry have a match in hand.