Flannery, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, has already been ruled out of Munster’s round five Heineken Cup match away to Benetton Treviso this Saturday (1.35pm Irish time).
And despite making good progress with the injury 31-year-old Flannery is also rated a doubtful starter for Munster’s big final round showdown with the Northampton Saints at Thomond Park on Friday week, January 22 (8pm).
Irish international Jerry Flannery has featured in just one of Munster’s four Heineken Cup pool matches this season, the opening round tie away to Northampton in October.
Despite some excellent showings by former London Wasps star Damien Varley for the province this season, it is likely that Denis Fogarty will line out at hooker for Munster in this weekend’s clash at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
Fogarty has started three European Cup games for Tony McGahan’s side this season, scoring tries against Benetton Treviso and USAP Perpignan.
Munster’s preparations for this weekend’s game have been hampered by the recent cold snap which forced the postponement of the scheduled Magners League clash with the Llanelli Scarlets on Sunday.
The adverse weather also delayed the planned comeback of prop Marcus Horan, who had been due to feature for Shannon in their AIL clash with St. Mary’s College at Templeville Road.
The postponement of the Division 1A fixture was a setback to Marcus Horan’s hopes of being involved in Munster’s crunch tie in Italy this weekend.
Up to half the players expected to feature in Munster’s starting line-up on Saturday have not played a competitive game since the province’s bonus-point win over USAP Perpignan in France on December 20.
The rise in temperatures in recent days is a boost to Munster’s on-field preparations, however. The squad train in Cork this Wednesday and are due to fly out to Italy from Shannon Airport this Friday morning.
Benetton Treviso, Munster’s opponents next weekend, went down 8-3 to Petrarca Padova in the Italian Super 10 competition at the weekend.
Meanwhile, on the club front, new dates have been announced for the AIl-Ireland League fixtures which were postponed in recent weeks due to the inclement weather conditions.
Holders Shannon will travel to Templeville Road to face St. Mary’s College in Division 1A on Saturday, January 30 while Division 1B high-flyers Young Munster will host Dungannon at Tom Clifford Park on the same day after both games were postponed at the weekend.
Garryowen, due to be involved in fixtures on each of the five Saturdays over January, are facing into a hectic playing schedule after recent postponements.
The ‘light blues’ are involved in two rounds of scheduled AIL matches over the next two weekends.
Garryowen face Cork Constitution in the AIB Cup final in Athlone on Saturday, January 30 before locking horns with Dolphin at Dooradoyle on February 7 and Blackrock College at the same venue six days later in re-arranged AIL games.
UL Bohemian’s re-scheduled Division 1A clash with Cork Constitution goes ahead on Sunday, February 7 the day after Ireland open their RBS Six Nations Championship campaign at home to Italy.
In Division 2 Thomond will also be in action on Sunday, February 7 when the Fitzgerald Park side travel to West Cork to face Clonakilty at The Vale.
Thomond then have a six-day turnaround before facing Old Wesley at Fitzgerald Park in another re-arranged fixture.
The two remaining Division 2 fixtures featuring Limerick clubs, which were postponed last weekend, go ahead on Saturday, February 13.
Old Crescent host table toppers Lansdowne at Rosbrien while Bruff will face Malone at Kilballyowen Park - see page 61 for list of rescheduled AIl-Ireland League games.
Colm Kinsella
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