Marcus Horan, the former Munster hooker, says Johann van Graan’s team are still a work in progress, but one that could lift silverware this season.

It doesn’t take Marcus Horan long to highlight the most notable contrasts between his playing days and the current crop of men proudly wearing the red of Munster.

Few people are better positioned to survey the Munster rugby landscape than Marcus Horan. As IRUPA player development manager for the province, he gets to see and hear the challenges the modern player faces. He was coaching his beloved Shannon until a disappointing departure a few month ago. He’s seen how the club game is nearly dying and he has a keen appreciation of what his ‘big brother’ Anthony Foley did — and continues to do — for Munster.

Shannon head coach Marcus Horan admits he doesn’t believe the Munster Senior Cup is “special anymore” ahead of his side’s quarter-final clash with Young Munster.