- Jack O’Donoghue is top turnover king after round two
- ‘Saints’ relegated, Newcastle West can yet lift the MJL1 title
- AIL defeats for Shannon, ‘Munsters’, Bruff and Thomond
- Terrific wins for UL Bohemian and Old Crescent tonight in AIL2A
- Bonus point win as Munster prove too strong for the Southern Kings in Cork
- Kings will need to be in regal form to deprive Munster of home victory
- Important games for Limerick clubs as the AIL resumes action this week-end
- Tension mounts as local clubs feature in second last fence of Munster Junior League 1
- Impressive win for Clonmel on UL pitch keeps them on title target
- Will Joe Schmidt ring the changes for the Scottish game?
- Cancellations a-plenty as Munster Junior Cup gathers momentum
- Henshaw at full-back not really a gamble as Ireland name their team
- Ian excited about exploring new horizons as he plans two moves
- Nine local clubs in Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup action this week-end
- UL Bohemian and Thomond advance in the Bank of Ireland Munster Junior Cup
- Abbeyfeale lift the Transfield Cup for the first time since 1977
- Young Munster facing battle to avoid the drop
- Munster fight hard for victory in Rodney Parade
- Bonus point for Garryowen as Shannon fail to build on recent form
- AIL: Shannon win, Young Munster and Garryowen lose today in 1A
- AIL wins tonight for Old Crescent in 2A and Thomond in 2C
- John Ryan for Archer the only change on the Munster team
- Key Euro games for referees Neville, Clancy, Brace and Lacey
- Frank Quinn’s review of the final pools games of Heineken Cup
- Decent Munster representation on Ireland Six Nations squad
- English clubs’ wretched record at Thomond Park: 21 defeats, 2 wins
- A Newcastle view as their side fails to get winning bonus point
- Is the Transfield Cup final to take place in the Markets Field?
- Defeat for Richmond today dents their junior league title hopes
- Brave Garryowen’s late strike gives them ticket to Bateman decider
- Munster march on towards another home Heineken Cup quarter final
- Munster and Gloucester announce their teams for to-morrow night’s game
- All to play for as Munster Junior League division one hots up
- Garryowen keen to avoid their third successive cup defeat
- Munster’s Ian Keatley seems set to join Benetton Treviso
- Leinster are still the favourites to retain the Champions Cup
- Thomond and Bruff advance in cup: Newcastle drop league points
- Munster superb as they hold on for bonus point victory
- Munster’s away form will again be tested in the Showgrounds
- Munster Senior Cup retains its magic as Garryowen seek more glory
- Leinster’s winger James Lowe is suspended for two weeks
- Local referees are included in Guinness PRO14 week-end fixtures list
- St Mary’s, Thomond, Newcastle West, Bruff in league and cup action
- Brilliant Earls try seals victory over Leinster
- Young Munster romp home with comfortable Charity Cup win
- 12 changes as Munster prepare for another Thomond Park epic
- Frank Murphy to referee Munster v Leinster PRO14 fixture
- Full house for Munster and Leinster showdown at Thomond Park
- Christmas 2018 marks a record year for Limerick Rugby website
- Ulster happy with home win while Munster settle for single point
Robin could be eyeing a second-row spot with the Reds
- Updated: 05/10/2017
(Pictured, number nine Neil Cronin in action last week-end)
THERE was good news this week with Jean Klein’s recent neck injury getting the all-clear from the medics, although it remains unlikely that he will start in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Impressive performances by Mike Sherry have also put the Garryowen man back in the frame for Munster inclusion. He came on as a second half replacement for his club in the AIL game against Buccaneers and made an immediate impression and followed that up with a stormer against Clontarf last Saturday in Dooradoyle.
After a long period out of action, it was a very positive return for the popular light blue and this must have caught the attention of the Munster camp. Expect him back in the red shirt sooner rather than later.
A number of other Munster ‘fringe’ players also impressed for Garryowen last Saturday with the Johnston brothers and winger Liam Coombes all looking very sharp. It continues to baffle me why Neil Cronin, the Garryowen captain and scrum-half, is not sought after by one of the provinces, particularly Munster. Do we have to exit the province to boost our squad? Cronin had the proverbial ‘blinder’ with a try, six conversions and three penalties in an overall super performance. It’s about time Munster had a re-think about this all-rounder whose consistency is a feature of the light blues’ current form.
It was also interesting to see Young Munster’s Robin Copeland switch from the back-row to the second-row for the game against his former club Cardiff Blues in Thomond Park last Saturday. The player, who looked very comfortable partnering Billy Holland, has been having a frustrating time with the reds since he arrived from Wales but the number four jersey could be well worth fighting for going on Saturday’s performance.
It is always nice to see Munster players join local clubs, particularly when they are of international quality and have no local association. Copeland has certainly thrown in his lot with Young Munster when available and Ian Keatley has also played with the Greenfields boys. Three others who have declared for local senior clubs, Former prop John Hayes, Bruff; Keith Earls of Young Munster and CJ Stander of Shannon, have never worn their club jersey.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login