Shane Geraghty: London Irish can confound runaways and bid for Top6

Shane Geraghty admits to understanding why a string of top players opted to quit London Irish.
But the bullish Exiles playmaker is convinced the club is back on track and believes they can be the shock troops of the Aviva Premiership.
Prop Alex Corbisiero was one of many home-grown talents to leave, citing Irish's lowly status as his reason for joining Northampton.
The Lion was followed by Matt Garvey, Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson and Dave Sisi (all to Bath) and Jamie Gibson (Leicester).
But Geraghty warns that the grass is not necessarily greener elsewhere and that some of those players may regret not staying put.
He should know, having left the Exiles for Northampton four years ago before returning to the Madejski Stadium, via Brive, in 2012. He said: “Young players obviously want to develop and push for higher honours and play for England, and I'm sure a lot of people were telling guys like Alex that they needed to be playing for a top four club.
“Last year, we weren't at that level and when guys were in contract negotiations we weren't in a good place as a squad. Fair enough, but that's not to say we can't aspire to be in the top half of the table pushing for honours.
“The guys who've gone to Bath know the coaches from their time at Irish and you can understand their thinking, too.
“But each player will find different challenges now and it's never easy moving clubs and trying to lay down a marker, because you're moving around a bit and, generally, your whole life changes very quickly.
“They're all very talented guys and we'll soon find out how they get on.”
The bookmakers have delivered their verdict on Irish's chances this season, with the majority tagging the Exiles as short-priced favour-ites to be battling relegation alongside newly-promoted Newcastle.
Geraghty has no issue with that, but believes the Exiles' eclectic mix of hard-nosed forwards and talented backs, bolstered by the arrival of some experienced, hungry Championship campaigners, can rise to the challenge.
Ex-Rotherham pair Fergus Mulchrone and Eamonn Sheridan are unknown outside the second tier but are ready to make a splash.
Geraghty said: “I don't think we have a leg to stand on as far as our odds are concerned, taking into account how we did last season.
“But that's fine, we've just got to work hard, keep our heads down and there's no point in saying too much about it at this stage.
“I think it will be a much tighter Premiership from top to bottom this season and there'll not be too much to choose between teams.
“Sides like Newcastle, with Dean Richards and John Wells in their management team, are going to be tough to beat, especially at home, and you'd imagine Sale and Worcester will have progressed over the summer as well.
“As far as Irish are concerned, we've become a much tighter group and I think Brian and Glenn Delaney have recruited smartly.
“Quite a few boys have come in from the Championship and they're proven, tough players who have trained well and are adding something. Their skill levels are no lower than anyone else's and they're right up there with the rest.
“We've brought in a lot of guys who've bought into the ethos of what Brian and Glenn want and we'll be a much tougher club.
“Add those guys to the likes of Marland Yarde, Topsy Ojo and Sailosi Tagicakibau, plus forwards like Ofisa Treviranus, Chris Hala'ufia, Jamie Hagan and Halani Aulika, and I think we're going to have a pretty useful squad.
“We're not a bad team and I think we probably need to go out and remind a few people what London Irish stands for.”
Geraghty, 27 last week, has just one year remaining on his Exiles contract and must deliver a big season.
He added: “I'm looking to hit the ground running to cement my place in the team.”
NEALE HARVEY