Division Two Semi-Final Preview: Greystones v Clonakilty
See below for a preview of Saturday’s AIB League Division Two semi-final encounter between Greystones and Clonakilty at Dr. Hickey Park (kick-off 2.30pm). Greystones, the Division Three champions in 2005, have never lost at home to Clonakilty, last year’s Division Three winners, in league fare but the Cork men did get the better of them last month when the sides met at Shannonvale Cross.
AIB LEAGUE DIVISION TWO SEMI-FINAL: Saturday, April 21
GREYSTONES v CLONAKILTY, Dr. Hickey Park, 2.30pm
Referee: Jonathan Peak (Ulster)
Previous AIB League Meetings: Played 4, Greystones Won 2, Clonakilty Won 1, Drawn 1; At Dr. Hickey Park: Played 2, Greystones Won 2, Clonakilty Won 0
Last Match: AIB League Division One – March 17, 2007 – Clonakilty 17 Greystones 10, Shannonvale Cross
2006/07 AIB League Form (most recent match on the left): Greystones: WLLWW; Clonakilty: DWWLD
Greystones – Notes: * They finished second in the Division Two table after this season’s regulation phase. This is ‘Stones’ fourth home game against a Munster club this season. They have won six of their eight home matches in the league this term
* They have previously played 31 AIB League fixtures at home to clubs from Munster and won 18 of those games
* They scored the most points (392) and the most tries (55) during the regulation phase in Division Two. They also scored the most bonus points for tries (8) and the most bonus points overall (12) during the 15 rounds in Division Two
* During the regulation phase, they kicked the least penalty goals (15)
* They played seven games against Munster opposition in Division Two this season. Of the home fixtures, they managed to beat Young Munster (38-15) and Old Crescent (39-7), but lost 22-20 to UCC in November
* They have reached the play-offs three times before, each time in Division Three. In 2002, they lost 23-14 at home to Connemara and they won the Division Three title in 2004 with victories over City of Derry (33-28) and Ards (18-11)* The Wicklow side retained the Division Three championship in 2005 with wins over Suttonians (26-0) and Instonians (39-20)
Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: James Power 108
Top Try Scorers in the AIB League: Ronan Carroll 13, Rob Connolly, Simon Malone 6
Clonakilty – Notes: * They finished third in the Division Two table after this season’s regulation phase. This is the club’s third visit to Leinster this season – Clon have won two and drawn two of their seven matches on the road in the league this term
* They have won only three times on their previous 16 AIB League visits to Leinster
* They conceded the least tries (20) during the regulation phase of Division Two
* They have taken care of Greystones in West Cork on two occasions already this season – 8-0 in the AIB Cup and 17-10 in the AIB League
* They have played eight games against Leinster clubs in Division Two this season, losing both of their two fixtures away in Leinster – 18-10 against Dublin University at College Park and 25-13 against County Carlow at Oak Park
* They may not be aware of the fact that there has been no away win in the Division Two play-offs over the past six seasons
* They have reached the play-offs – in Division Three – over the past two seasons. In 2005, they lost 16-14 at home to Instonians, while last year saw them win the championship with victories at home to Bruff (24-3) and against Suttonians (19-12) in the final at Lansdowne Road
Top Points Scorer in the AIB League: Gary Cribb 69
Top Try Scorers in the AIB League: John O’Donnell 6, Shay O’Donovan 5
– AIB League statistics supplied by Des Daly –