Foley Selects Team For Cup Final

Tom Gleeson, Simon Zebo and Billy Holland return to the Munster British & Irish Cup team, while tighthead prop Dave Ryan will be on duty against Leinster at the RDS on Saturday night.

Gleeson, Zebo and Holland were all involved in Munster’s Magners League game against the Ospreys on the same day that Anthony Foley’s side overcame Ulster Ravens in their British & Irish Cup semi-final. 

Holland’s inclusion means Tommy O’Donnell moves to his favoured openside berth in place of Eoghan Grace, while Dave Kilcoyne comes into the front row for Ryan.

In the backs, Gleeson slots in at the outside centre alongside Jeremy Manning, who scored two tries against the Ravens, with Danny Barnes moving to the right wing.

Ireland Under-20 international Zebo returns to the left wing and Sean Scanlon reverts to the full-back position in place of Mossie Lawlor who has been named on the replacements bench.

Cornish Pirates reached the final with victories in the pool stages over Gael Force, Plymouth Albion, Exeter Chiefs and Newport.

Their only defeat in that phase came away to Leinster and they recorded a facile 43-5 semi-final win over Doncaster Knights in Camborne.

MUNSTER (v Cornish Pirates): Sean Scanlon (UCC); Danny Barnes (Dolphin), Tom Gleeson (Cork Constitution), Jeremy Manning (Cork Constitution), Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution); Declan Cusack (Thomond), Duncan Williams (Cork Constitution); Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians), Mike Sherry (Garryowen), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution), Dave Foley (UL Bohemians), Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution), Billy Holland (Cork Constitution), Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution) (capt).

Replacements: Sean Henry (UL Bohemians), AN Other, David O’Callaghan (UCC), Paddy Butler (Shannon), Conor Murray (Garryowen), Mossie Lawlor (Shannon), Ronan O’Mahony (Garryowen).