THE Young Munster-Garryowen rivalry will be renewed again at Thomond Park on Sunday when the clubs meet in the quarter-final of the Munster Senior Cup.
Young Munster expect to be able to field an unchanged team from that which defeated Garryowen so emphatically in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League last Saturday - a defeat that cost Garryowen the first division title. But Garryowen have injury problems and will not be in a position to select their team until late in the week.
Full back Dan Larkin, who missed the match last Saturday because of a leg injury, is extremely doubtful and there is also a doubt about captain and flanker Dara O'Sullivan, who was injured and had to go off last Saturday.
Second division champions Old Crescent will be able to select from a full panel for their quarter-final match against Cork Constitution on Saturday, and they will announce their side today. Constitution have three players under treatment. They are out-half Paul Burke, who sustained a leg injury last Saturday week, prop Paul McCarthy and second row Ultan O'Callaghan, both of whom have back injuries. All three hope to be available.
Wanderers have Dermot Finnegan back on the wing following recovery from a hamstring injury for their Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final against Lansdowne at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. He takes over from John Carroll. Another change from the side that lost to Malone last Saturday is the inclusion of Niall McManus on the flank for Seamus Sludds, who is ruled out by injury. The England's kicking coach Dave Aldred will hold a clinic at Lansdowne Road this morning at 11.00 a.m. Among those who will be receiving advice from Aldred are Ireland out-half David Humphreys, Ireland international Alan McGowan and the Ireland under-21 out-half Fergal Campion. The event is being sponsored by Adidas.
Meanwhile, the Barbarians team to meet Ireland in the Peace International at Lansdowne Road on May 18th is beginning to take shape. Leicester's Graham Rowntree, John Cockerill and Darren Garforth will form the Barbarians front row. Rory Underwood, who also plays for Leicester and is the world's most capped wing, is expected to line out while Bath centre Philip de Glanville, who will be playing for his club against Leicester in the Pilkington Cup final next Saturday, will also be included in the Barbarians team.
South African World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar has confirmed that he will definitely lead the Barbarians. it is hoped that some other Southern Hemisphere players will also travel. French back row Laurent Cabannes is another who has expressed a desire to play. it is expected that the Barbarians team will be announced next Tuesday.
