Double boost for Munster

MUNSTER have received a double boost ahead of their critical series of matches in both the Magners League and Heineken Cup.
It has been confirmed that the versatile Paul Warwick will spend two further seasons at least with the province. London Irish had claimed that Wariwck had signed a contract to move to the Exiles at the end of this season. However the Aussie-born star has since changed his mind and agreement has now been reached between the parties which will see the UL Bohemian player remain at Munster until the end of the 2010-11 season at least.


And in a further boost for Munster coach Tony McGahan winger Ian Dowling has recovered from a long-term hamstring injury and is included in the Munster squad to face Leinster in Saturday night’s crucial top-of-the-table Magners League clash at Thomond Park (7.30pm).
Dowling has been sidelined since picking up the injury in training at the start of February. However influential centre Rua Tipoki is still recovering from a hamstring injury and has not been included in the 26-man squad for Saturday’s game.
Tipoki’s participation in the Easter Sunday Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with the Ospreys at Thomond Park must now be in doubt.
Munster include all their Grand Slam-winning Irish stars in their squad for Saturday night’s big game.
Coach Tony McGahan welcomed the fact that Paul Warwick would be remaining on at Munster.
“We are delighted. Paul is an excellent player and he has certainly played well this season, not only at 10, but at 15 when he has played there,” Tony McGahan said.
“As a squad, and for Paul personally, we are delighted that things have been worked out and come to a decision that he will be staying here.”
“Ian (Dowling) will be available for selection for this weekend and is in the squad.
“In relation to Rua (Tipoki) he has had a very disrupted season. It is not something which has just come upon us.
“He has been out for long periods of the season and we have adjusted to that. Again for this weekend, he won’t be available, so we will make do.
“Overall, we are probably missing six to seven guys out of the entire squad.
“Our medical guys have done a terrific job in conjunction with the strength and conditioning team.
“We are lucky to be in the position.”
Meanwhile Garryowen set up an all-Limerick Munster Junior Cup final after securing a dramatic 14-11 semi-final win over UCC at Musgrave Park last night.
Garryowen trailed 9-11 in injury time, but a smashing try from exciting winger Ronan O’Mahony in the final minute of play saw the ‘light blues’ advance to a Junior Cup final meeting with UL Bohemian on Easter Monday.

Munster squad v Leinster: Marcus Horan, Federico Pucciariello, Jerry Flannery, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Donnacha Ryan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Paul Warwick, Jeremy Manning, Lifeimi Mafi, Barry Murphy, Keith Earls, Kieran Lewis, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Denis Hurley.

Colm Kinsella