Munster maintained their grip on top spot in the Magners League table after securing a deserved 22-10 victory over the holders, the Ospreys, at Thomond Park on Saturday night before an official attendance of 18,400.
However, the victory came at a cost as three members of Tony McGahan’s starting line-up were forced off early with injuries.
Hooker Denis Fogarty was due to undergo a medical procedure on an injured shoulder in a Dublin clinic today in order to repair the damage.
Unfortunate full-back Felix Jones will have to wait until the swelling goes down on a knee injury he picked up late on in Saturday’s game before undergoing further examination while winger Ian Dowling was due to undergo a medical examination in order to establish the full extent of the hip injury he sustained very early on in the round three tie.
The good news for coach McGahan is that number eight Denis Leamy, who was a late withdrawal from the Munster side on Saturday due to a rib injury he sustained in training, is expected to be available for the trip to Glasgow later this week.
Man of the Match from Munster’s victory over the Ospreys, Doug Howlett, does not believe the result will have any bearing on the upcoming Heineken cup pool meetings between the sides. The impressive Howlett, who captained Munster on the night, scored the province’s only try of the game shortly after half-time.
“It’s still early in the season and you want to be picking up the league points where you can,” Howlett said.
“It was a great result. There was no shortage of motivation going into the game. It was our first at Thomond Park this season and with Alan Quinlan earning his 200th cap, we wanted to make it a special occasion and we managed to get the result in the end. The Ospreys are the kind of side which can score from anywhere on the pitch. That was the first of four games the sides will play this season and there is a lot of work to be done still. It was an honour to captain the side and it is an honour to be part of this fantastic team.”
Munster coach Tony McGahan said everyone involved in the set-up was delighted that flanker Alan Quinlan had reached a landmark in making 200 appearances for the province.
Tony McGahan said: “What more can you say about Alan? He was enthusiastic as usual. There was a great intensity to what he did. He was huge for us. The players are management are so delighted for him to get his 200th game. Everyone rowed in behind him and he certainly played a major part in the result tonight. I am delighted for him and his family.”
Meanwhile more than 43,000 tickets have already been sold for Munster’s round five Magners League clash with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday week, October 2.
Limited tickets for all categories - price €30 to €70 - are available now online from a number of outlets including Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. This will be the first competitive rugby match to be played in the new state of the art arena and the fixture is expected to attract a sell-out crowd on the day.
COLM KINSELLA
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