Munsters and Shannon clash in bid to survive relegation

Young Munster and Shannon will have survival very much on the mind when they meet in the penultimate game of the All-Ireland League season at Tom Clifford Park on Friday.

A win for Munsters would see them survive in Division 1A with a game to spare, while a win for Shannon would see them leapfrog their Limerick rivals in the table.

Gearoid Prendergast’s Young Munster side currently sit two points ahead of Shannon in the table after four wins, a draw and 11 defeats from their 16 games.

A loss to Shannon would see Munsters needing a victory from their final game (away to bottom placed Terenure) to have any chance of avoiding immediate relegation or a relegation playoff.

A defeat for Shannon would ensure that they would finish second bottom or last in the table as they face leaders Cork Con in their final game. Shannon were recently docked a point for a registration issue with one of their players.

The game on Friday evening has potential to be a cracker. The Cookies go into the game on the back of some fine recent form after recent wins over Garryowen and Dublin University, as well as spirited performances against UCC and Lansdowne.

Shannon, on the other hand, are on a wretched run that has seen them lose their last five AIL games. Tom Hayes’ men had enjoyed a solid return to top flight club rugby this season, but the 28-7 loss to Garryowen at the end of January has knocked their confidence. Kick off in Greenfields on Friday is at 8pm.

Garryowen’s hopes of reaching the playoffs at the end of this campaign took a major hit with a 29-12 home defeat to Clontarf last time out.

That loss put Conan Doyle six points off fourth placed Dublin University ahead of their trip to Lansdowne on Saturday.

Lansdowne currently lie in third position and have won 11 of their games this term. A win is a must for the Light Blues if they are to have any chance of a top four finish.

In Division 2A, UL Bohs remain in the hunt for an end of season playoff spot, but the 10-5 loss to Nenagh Ormond a couple of weeks ago means that they will need a bonus point win over Galwegians.

Old Crescent are also still in with a chance of a playoff place, but need five points from their away game at Cashel on Friday.

Bruff can consolidate a playoff place in Division 2C with an away win against City of Derry, but Thomond’s hopes of remaining in the AIL hang by a thread. They welcome Bangor to Liam Fitzgerald Park knowing that they need victories from their final two games to have any hope not finishing bottom of the 2C table.