A 60 MINUTE match at Thomond Park formed the centrepiece of the Ireland squad training sessions in Limerick yesterday. However, injuries meant that six of the national squad were unable to take part and the Ireland management were forced to call in some local players and Dean Oswald, of Blackrock College, to make up the numbers.
The biggest injury worry concerns Simon Geoghegan. From the time he arrived on Thursday, he had trouble with the toe on which he had an operation during the summer.
He returned to London at the weekend for examination by a specialist and the outcome of that examination will determine whether or not another operation is necessary. "It is a cause of considerable concern for us and extremely disappointing for Simon," said Ireland manager Pat Whelan.
"He has worked hard over the summer and now the problem is still there. If another operation is necessary then he will he out of the game for about three months."
In addition to Geoghegan, the other squad members who missed the match at Thomond Park were Niall Hogan (neck), Jonathan Bell (ankle), Paul Burke (back), Henry Hurley (hamstring) and Anthony Foley (thigh). Two of the four development players who, are contracted were also missing Colin McEntee because of a knee injury and Denis Hickie because of examination commitments.
Non squad players called in to make up two teams were Brian Begley (Old Crescent), Barry Everett (Garryowen), Killian Keane (Garryowen) and Dean Oswald (Blackrock College). Leo Doyle (Old Crescent) came on at the interval.
Prior to the match coach Murray Kidd and former All Black Mike Brewer supervised some line out and ruck and maul work. In the match, the Whites, the senior side, defeated the Greens by 15 points to five, with Niall Woods getting two tries for the Whites and Simon Mason one, while Malcolm O'Kelly got the try for the Greens.
The level of physical fitness was good and we are pleased with that aspect of the squad," said Whelan. "But there was a rustiness and lack of sharpness about some of the play which I suppose was to be expected at this stage.
"The players will be playing for their clubs in England while the home based players will play for their provinces in the coming weeks. Then we have matches' against Munster and Leinster early next month, as well as some more sessions before we meet Western Samoa," said Whelan. "The level of preparation for that match, should, consequently, be good."
The players trained in the morning at the University of Limerick and will be back there this morning. The five day gathering ends today. The London Irish based players will be released this morning to travel to Dungannon to join their club colleagues who play the Ulster club tomorrow night and the provincial team on Saturday.
Scrum half Stephen McIvor who was expected to join London Irish will be staying with Garryowen. Wing Richard Wallace, who looked set to be the latest in a long line to join the exodus to England by joining Saracens, where his brother Paul is based, said last night "I have not as yet signed. There are still some matters outstanding. Unless and until they are finalised I will not be signing."
Ireland captain Niall Hogan, who will be available for Leinster for their two tour matches in England later this Week and for the interprovincial Championship and European Cup matches, has been officially classified as a home based player even though he will be playing for Oxford University until the Varsity match in December. He will then return and play for Terenure College in the All Ireland League.
All the players have now signed their contracts. Paddy Johns, who played with the Barbarians last Saturday, signed his contract last night.
. Former Ireland A forward Len Dinneen, who helped Cork Constitution to win the AIL in its inaugural year and the Munster Senior Cup in 1989, has joined old Crescent. Dinneen is taking up a business appointment in Limerick.
