AIB League Match In Focus: St. Mary’s College v Dolphin
St. Mary’s College and Dolphin clash in their re-fixed game at Templeville Road on Sunday, with the Corkmen hoping to keep their winning run going in order to leapfrog Clontarf at the business end of the table.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Sunday, April 6
ST. MARY’S COLLEGE (10th) v DOLPHIN (5th), Templeville Road, 2.30pm
Referee: Michael Black (Ulster)
Previous League Meetings: 4 (St. Mary’s College won 1, drawn 1, Dolphin won 2); At Templeville Road: 1 (St. Mary’s College won 1, Dolphin won 0)
Last Season: Sunday, December 17, 2006 – Dolphin 19 St. Mary’s College 13, Musgrave Park
Recent Form: St. Mary’s College (most recent games on left hand side): LLWWW
Dolphin: WWWWW
St. Mary’s College – Notes: * This is their last of two home games against Munster clubs this season and the last of their eight home fixtures in Division One
* They have won 23 of their previous 37 AIB League games at home to clubs from Munster. They first played in the league against Dolphin in March 1998 – they won 36-22 at home to them back then
* They have not recorded a victory in their last three AIB League meetings with Dolphin and have failed to win in their last five AIB League fixtures with Cork clubs
* Should have Leinster out-half Jonathan Sexton available to them this weekend. They are already set for a mid-table finish in the AIB League but have a Leinster Senior Cup final clash against Clontarf to look forward to
* At home this season, they have played 7, won 5, drawn 0 and lost 2
* Last time out in Division One, they lost 31-20 at home to Terenure College
Top Scorers: 2007/08 AIB League: Most Points – Frank Lynch 70; Most Tries: Matt Crockett, Robert Gannon, Conor McInerney, Matt D’Arcy 2 each
Dolphin – Notes: * This is their last of four trips to Leinster this season and the sixth of their seven games on the road in Division One
* They have won on 17 of their previous 47 AIB League visits to Leinster, but have only played away to St. Mary’s College in the league on one previous occasion – in March 1998
* They are also away next time out – over the road at Temple Hill against Cork Constitution
* They have won their last five Division One matches and have won all of their home games in the league for the first time this season
* They have lost four of their last five Division One games away in Leinster
* They have kicked the most penalty goals (34) in Division One so far this season and have all to play for with Clontarf slipping up last weekend against Blackrock College
* So far on the road this season in Division One, they have played 5, won 1, drawn 0 and lost 4
* Last time out in the league, they won 18-13 at home to former champions Shannon
Top Scorers: 2007/08 AIB League: Most Points – Barry Keeshan 137; Most Tries: James Coughlan 6