O'Leary sidelined as Munster squad named

Rugby:Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara are among a number of Irish internationals named in the Munster squad ahead of Friday's Magners League game away to Cardiff.

Tony McGahan’s squad trained at the University of Limerick today and afterwards the coach named a 29-player squad as the province look to hold onto top spot in the Magners League.

According to reports from Cork, Tomás O’Leary will be sidelined for several more weeks after failing to recover from a freak eye injury sustained during Ireland training before the England Six Nations game.

The scrumhalf is set to meet with an optometrist this week to determine the full extent of the injury. In his absence Peter Stringer is likely to start in Cardiff and could form a halfback partnership with O’Gara.

There could, however, be a welcome return to action for Felix Jones, who suffered a neck injury when playing Connacht on December 28th.

Today was the first time McGahan had the majority of his squad at his disposal since their Heineken Cup exit in January and the coach says there is a “great buzz" in the camp after a memorable end to the Six Nations campaign, courtesy of last weekend’s win over England at Lansdowne Road.

Cardiff, who are fifth in the table with a game in hand, are notoriously difficult opposition at home, with Munster’s winless streak in the Welsh capital dating back to 2005.

Munster have to play four of the six top sides in the final run-in to decide the four play-off places. They will meet provincial rivals Leinster plus other Welsh opposition by way of the Scarlets and Ospreys.

McGahan will name his match-day squad at noon tomorrow with kick-off at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday at 7.05pm.

Munster squad (v Cardiff):Scott Deasy, Felix Jones, Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Sam Tuitupou, Lifeimi Mafi, Johne Murphy, Conor Murray, Peter Stringer, Declan Cusack, Ronan O'Gara, Wian Du Preez, Tony Buckley, Marcus Horan, Stephen Archer, John Hayes, Damien Varley, Mike Sherry, Denis Fogarty, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O'Callaghan, David Wallace, Peter O'Mahony, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan, Denis Leamy, Tommy O'Donnell.