Injured ankle sidelines Keith Earls

RESULTS of a scan on the injured ankle of Munster star Keith Earls has revealed that the 22-year-old has suffered a sprain.
Earls is not expected to resume training again for several weeks.
The Limerick man was involved in a training accident in Cork at the start of last week.
Keith Earls attended the Munster squad training in Cork yesterday although his role was confined to that of a spectator on the sidelines.
The exciting Irish international has had a cruel run of luck with injuries recently. He missed Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia due to a persistent groin injury.
The Munster squad for the opening Magners League clash with Aironi Rugby at Musgrave Park this Saturday evening (7.30pm) will be announced at noon today.
Meanwhile five UL-Bohemian players have been included in the Irish Women’s team to face the USA in today’s fifth to eighth place playoff at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in the Surrey Sports Park, England (4pm)
UL Bohs’ Joy Neville, who has been in terrific try-scoring form throughout the tournament, will again fill the number eight slot.
Neville will be joined in the Irish line-up by her clubmates, team captain Fiona Coghlan and Gillian Bourke in the front-row, centre Lynne Cantwell and scrum-half Louise Beamish.
Cantwell won her 60th cap in Ireland’s impressive victory over Kazakhstan in the final pool game. Ireland have already beaten the USA in the group stages of the tournament.
Ireland: Niamh Briggs (Clonmel & Munster); Amy Davis (Blackrock & Leinster), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians), Shannon Houston (Blackrock & Leinster), Eliza Downey (Cooke & Ulster); Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond & Exile), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian & Munster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians & Leinster) (capt), Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock & Leinster), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians & Munster); Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel & Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Navan & Leinster); Orla Brennan (Blackrock & Leinster), Sinead Ryan (Blackrock & Leinster), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians & Munster). Replacements: Chris Fanning (Highfield & Munster), Louise Austin (UL Bohemians & Munster), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians & Munster), Carol Staunton (Galwegians & Connacht), Claire Molloy (Bristol & Connacht), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere & Leinster), Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians & Munster).
Meanwhile the Limerick Charity Cup continues tonight when Garryowen host last season’s beaten finalists UL-Bohemians in the last of the quarter-finals at Dooradoyle. The game has a 7.30pm kick-off. The winners of this tie will face Young Munster in the semi-finals. The remaining semi-final will see Shannon host Bruff this Saturday at Coonagh (2.30pm).

COLM KINSELLA