Six Week Lay-Off For Munster’s Barnes
Danny Barnes, who dislocated an elbow in Munster’s British & Irish Cup game against Llanelli last Friday, will be out of action for at least six weeks, while Jerry Flannery visited a specialist in Cork on Tuesday to have his calf injury assessed.
Munster’s other walking wounded, which include regular captain Paul O’Connell and Denis Fogarty, are reported to be progressing well in their rehabilitation from injury.
O’Connell is still scheduled for a return sometime in December, with Fogarty due back at some stage early in the New Year.
Tomas O’Leary (broken thumb) has six weeks left in his recovery, but the unfortunate Barry Murphy continues to be troubled by a hamstring injury that shows no sign of abating. Ian Dowling is another player who is eyeing a return in early 2011.
Tom Gleeson, who in the past has proven a more than an able deputy in the centre, is recovering from a broken cheekbone which he sustained in an All-Ireland League game for Cork Constitution.
Munster currently have 11 players on the sideline either through injury or suspension – eight are backs, and seven of those are Heineken Cup squad listed.
On Tuesday, the province’s forwards trained at the University of Limerick and afterwards team manager Shaun Payne released details of the 28-man squad for Friday’s Magners League match against Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).
MUNSTER Squad (v Llanelli) – Backs (10): Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett, Duncan Williams, Ivan Dineen, Johne Murphy, Keith Earls, Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy.
Forwards (18): Alan Quinlan, Billy Holland, Damien Varley, Darragh Hurley, Dave Ryan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, James Coughlan, John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Mick O’Driscoll, Mike Sherry, Niall Ronan, Peter O’Mahony, Tony Buckley, Wian du Preez.