Flannery - ready to return

HOOKER Jerry Flannery is in contention to make his seasonal debut for Munster in Saturday’s big Magners League clash with Leinster after lining out for Shannon in their friendly clash with Galwegians at the weekend.
Munster coach Tony McGahan explained that Flannery needed game time having being sidelined with a calf injury. McGahan said Flannery’s 40-minute display in Shannon’s 33-28 win left the 30-year-old in the selection mix for Saturday’s clash with Leinster at the RDS (6.30pm).
Kiwi powerhouse Nick Williams bagged a hat-trick of tries as Munster moved into second place in the Magners League table with a 27-3, bonus point, win over the Dragons at Musgrave Park last night.
South African centre Jean de Villiers made his debut for Munster in the game, replacing Keith Earls, who was forced to cry off before kick off due to illness. Afterwards Man of the Match Nick Williams paid tribute to Munster’s tight five who, he believed, had laid the foundation for the side’s third victory in the Magners League this season.
“A performance like that has been a long time coming.
“Munster people had a lot of faith in me,” Williams said.
“The forward pack dominated in the second half. We had weathered the storm.
“Credit to the whole 22 and the squad.
“The front row was immense. I think our whole tight five played brilliantly.
“In the back row you can feel the difference every time you take a hit in the scrums.”
After a scrappy first half display which finished deadlocked, 3-3, Munster cut loose in the second period to secure their sixth straight win over the Dragons.
Tony McGahan said: “We knew that we needed to remain patient in the second half and be a bit more organised and produce a bit more clinical finish on the edge of the field.
“We needed to put pressure on them around the ruck. We felt we would out work them in the second half. I thought we did that. The front row did well. Full credit to Laurie (Fisher) and the guys. They laid an excellent platform for us to be successful up front.”
Tony McGahan said he was pleased with the debut display of new centre Jean de Villiers.
“Jean (de Villiers) was very solid,” Tony McGahan said.
“He did not get a lot of ball to play off throughout the game, but what he did certainly had a touch of class about it. He just had a few cramps at the end.”
Meanwhile, on the club front, Young Munster collected their first silverware at senior level in 13 seasons with a gritty 11-10 Limerick Charity Cup final victory over UL-Bohemian at Thomond Park on Saturday.
Thomond, Old Crescent and Bruff booked their places in the second round of the AIB Cup after securing precious first round victories.
Thomond recorded a 17-15 victory over Highfield while Old Crescent secured a 27-17 win over Rainey Old Boys and Bruff saw off the challenge of Clonakilty on a 26-16 scoreline.
All three AIB Cup first round successes were secured away from home.

COLM KINSELLA