Uncertain few weeks for Leahy

IRELAND A international second row forward Shane Leahy, who is moving to Limerick from Dublin in the new year to take up a business appointment and joining Garryowen from Lansdowne, does not know which club he will be playing for in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League next Saturday.

Leahy is a registered Lansdowne player but Garryowen were yesterday preparing to submit his registration with the club to the IRFU.

Leahy is currently working out his notice with his current employers in Dublin and Lansdowne contend that consequently he is eligible for them and they are entitled to select him for the match against Dungannon next Saturday.

A spokesman for the Lansdowne club said yesterday: "While we wish Shane the very best of luck in his new post, as we see it he is still our player and consequently we are entitled to select him and intend to do so for the match next Saturday." Garryowen, meanwhile, had intended to select Leahy for their home league tie against Blackrock College.

The chairman of Garryowen, Frank Hogan, said: "I am surprised at the Lansdowne decision. Shane Leahy is currently working out his notice with his current employers and is preparing to move to live in Limerick permanently within a matters of weeks to take up a new job. I would have thought it would be in the players' best interests in those circumstances to play with Garryowen, the club he will be playing with permanently in the new year. It seems as if he is being tied on a technical point."

Leahy, who trained with Garryowen on Sunday, does not know where he stands and said yesterday: "I know a problem has arisen. I informed Lansdowne last week that I would be moving to work in Limerick and I left the club on very amicable terms which is the way I want it to be. As of now I do not know where I stand in relation to playing in the league over the next few weeks. I most certainly intend to play and do not want to find myself inactive for a month."

That is absolutely understandable. Leahy played for the Ireland A team that defeated South Africa A last month and is obviously a front line contender for the Ireland A team to play France on January 17th. If he plays for Lansdowne over the next three weeks in the league, it will not necessarily render him ineligible for Garryowen in this season's competition. If a player is moving from one area to another for business reasons he is not bound by a qualification date in relation to the league. In relation to playing for two clubs in the league in the same season there is a precedent. Last season David Corkery played for Terenure College in the league and in the new year moved to Cork and rejoined Cork Constitution and played for them in the league in the new year.

There is also now some doubt that former Ireland prop Paul McCarthy will be moving to Bristol from Cork Constitution. McCarthy was supposed to play for Bristol second XV last Saturday, but instead sat on the bench for Constitution in a Munster Development League match. He came on as a replacement. He has also informed the club he is available for selection for their AIL match against Instonians on Saturday.