Horan successfully came through his first competitive game in 11 weeks when playing a full 80 minutes for Shannon in their AIB All-Ireland League Division 1A victory over Dolphin at Coonagh on Saturday.
The 32-year-old prop, who underwent a routine medical procedure for a minor heart ailment in late autumn, has not been involved with Munster since their home Heineken Cup tie with Benetton Treviso in mid-October.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport in the aftermath of his comeback game for Shannon, Horan admitted the period after the Treviso game last year had been a worrying time, but the international prop was glad to be back playing once again.
“The period just after the Treviso game was a frightening time for me. I spoke to a few specialists about it. The first bit of news I got wasn’t great. It was pretty traumatic, to be honest about it, for myself and for my wife. I didn’t know what the future held.
“But I met up with a great surgeon in Gerry Fahy, in Cork. He re-assured me with everything he did. Everything has been fantastic since.
“That was the great thing about today. I never thought I would be back here togged out, rolling around in the mud. That is the wonder of what these surgeons can do and it is fantastic.
“I mean I am still only ticking the boxes. I have to keep going with the recovery and try to get back to the top is the main thing.
“I feel grand after the game. Obviously, my match fitness is not there yet. I was struggling a bit there towards the end. With the ground being so heavy, I wasn’t used to playing on pitches like that. I am glad to have it under my belt.”
The Munster side to face Northampton in Friday night’s big clash at Thomond Park will be named at noon on Thursday.
Munster, currently two points ahead of Northampton in pool one, will secure a home quarter-final in the Heineken Cup in April with victory over second-placed Saints.
Two-time Heineken Cup winners Munster would remain strong favourites to make the quarter-finals for the 12th successive season as group runners-up, even with a defeat on Friday night.
However, any quarter-final berth secured in those circumstances would be away from home.
Northampton Saints defeated Munster in the 2000 Heineken Cup final and again when the sides met in the pool stages of this season’s competition in October.
Jim Mallinder, the Saints Director of Rugby, insists the build-up to the big match will be more about excitement and anticipation than producing sleepless nights and, despite the rapid five-day turnaround, the Guinness Premiership side will be prepared for the challenge.
“I think this match is everything you want,” said Jim Mallinder.
“When we saw the draw we knew it would be difficult, but what we did want to do was play ourselves into a position where come round six we had something to play for - and we have managed to do that so that is satisfying.”
Colm Kinsella
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