MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne has backed the province to bounce back from their Heineken Cup elimination in Sunday’s crucial Magners League clash with the Blues at Cardiff City Stadium.

ONE of Munster’s few consolations after their second successive Magners League defeat at their once impregnable Thomond Park fortress is that they rarely play well in the week prior to a crucial Heineken Cup game.

PAUL O’CONNELL and Keith Earls remain major injury concerns for Munster ahead of the Heineken Cup semi-final clash with Biarritz in San Sebastian on May 2nd.

MUNSTER chiefs are confident that Lions pair Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls will be fit for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Northampton Saints.

MUNSTER will pick from close to a full deck for Friday night’s Magners League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park.

DONNCHA O’CALLAGHAN is the only member of the Irish team that started Saturday’s Six Nations defeat to Scotland included in Munster’s squad for Friday’s Magners League game with Glasgow at Thomond Park (8pm).

MUNSTER have opted to give John Hayes another week off and he will sit out Sunday’s Magners League game against the Scarlets at Musgrave Park. Meanwhile, they are keeping their fingers crossed that Marcus Horan will take a full part in Shannon’s AIB League game against St Mary’s College on Saturday.

RONAN O’GARA is the only one of Munster’s senior internationals included in the squad of 27 announced yesterday ahead of Saturday’s Magners League game against Connacht at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

MUNSTER are hopeful Paul Warwick will be available to take his place at out-half when they begin their defence of the Magners League against Glasgow at Firhill on Friday night, (8pm Setanta Sport).

MUNSTER back-row forward Nick Williams faces at least six weeks out following knee surgery, but the Magners League champions will still have something to smile about for then new season.

IRELAND held off a tremendous late Scottish rally at Donnybrook to win a hugely enjoyable AIB Club international last night.

BRIAN WALSH, who is enjoying such a highly successful spell as coach of a Cork Constitution side striding away at the top of the AIB All-Ireland League table, spreads his wings this evening when taking charge of the Irish team playing Scotland in the AIB club international at Donnybrook, kick-off 7.35pm (RTE 2, 7.30 pm).

Cork Constitution 12 Garryowen 12

SHANNON and Garryowen look in good shape ahead of the new AIB League season next weekend.

MUNSTER rugby giants, Cork Constitution and Garryowen, bring their provincial rivalry to the national stage in this afternoon’s AIB League final at Musgrave Park (2.30pm).

GARRYOWEN ended a 13 year drought without a national title with this AIB All-Ireland Cup final victory on Saturday.

RARELY has a scoreline offered a more distorted picture of 80 minutes of rugby.

Dolphin 14 Garryowen 34

Garryowen 18 Cork Constitution 13

PAUL O’CONNELL looks set to be fit for Munster’s Heineken Cup Final against Biarritz on May 20.

CHRISTIAN CULLEN will be the focus of attention again tonight when he lines out at centre for Munster in the Celtic League clash with Neath/Swansea Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

ALAN QUINLAN could return to bolster Munster’s Celtic League bid, a month ahead of his expected return from injury.

Garryowen 14 St Mary’s College 23

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has applied for three new player licences for his Celtic League squad ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park (5.15pm).