Limerick FC 1 UCD 3

Limerick FC 0 Derry City 1

RABODIRECT PRO12

Recent performances in the Heineken Cup excepted, it has been a poor campaign by Munster’s exalted standards and it will be a whole lot worse should they become the first team to lose to Zebre in their last match of the season at the Stadio XXV Aprile in Parma this evening.

Limerick go in search of their second win since returning to the top flight when they welcome a St Patrick’s Athletic side who have been out of action for over a fortnight due to the unseasonal weather to Thomond Park this evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Limerick FC 3 UCD 1

No matter what way Joe Schmidt and the other three provincial coaches look at it, this is one of those weeks where there is no right or wrong when it comes to the troublesome business of team selection.

It seems the RaboDirect Pro12 this season is all about development.

Cork native Dave Ryan has revealed how he turned down the chance to play for the United States during the summer so that he could pursue a professional career with Zebre in Italy.

Manchester City warmed up for next weekend’s Community Shield against Chelsea with a straightforward win over Limerick FC at Thomond Park last night.

Limerick remain top of the Airtricity League First Division thanks to an 86th minute strike from Rory Gaffney last night that saw off Athlone Town.

Limerick FC maintained their promotion drive with a nervy win at Jackman Park last night.

Dolphin prop Dave Ryan will not be contracted to Munster next season and will, according to reports, be playing his rugby in England or France.

Veteran Munster flanker Alan Quinlan will announce his retirement in the coming weeks, it was confirmed today.

MUNSTER’S injury crisis has been well documented, but there were no histrionics from coach Tony McGahan yesterday as he announced a 27-man squad to prepare for Saturday’s Magners League derby with Leinster at Thomond Park (7.30).

WITH the stakes so high, one team hunting a top-three finish and the other fighting for survival, it was probably inevitable this clash at Musgrave Park yesterday would go to the wire.

DOWN the line, Munster’s Amlin Challenge Cup game against Brive might be regarded as the next highlight of the season. Except it’s not, and neither is the upcoming ‘battle of Ireland’ with Leinster. At least not for now, according to Tony McGahan.

MUNSTER’S Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy, Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha Ryan will rejoin the province after spending the week on international duty for a first ever Magners League assignment in Italy on Sunday.

THE postmortems were under way from an early hour throughout Munster yesterday and continued long into the night as people reflected on the failure of their team to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for the first time in 13 years.

MUNSTER’S battered and bruised squad has received a tonic with the return of Jerry Flannery for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Ulster at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

CRISIS? What crisis.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood stopped short of using the term gamesmanship to describe Munster’s last ditch decision to change their loose head prop in the dying minutes of the Magners League clash of the sides at the Sportsground last night — but he was less than happy with the call.

Former Munster player Keith Matthews will captain Connacht for their St Stephen’s Day Magners League meeting with league leaders Munster at the Sportsground in Galway. (kick-off 6.10pm)

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell received bad news yesterday, as a European Rugby Cup (ERC) appeals committee decided a four-week ban was just reward for the red card he sustained in the Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys earlier this month.

Paul O’Connell has been included in Munster’s squad for Saturday’s crunch Heineken Cup match with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. (kick-off 3.30pm)

THE selection of Donnacha Ryan in Munster’s British and Irish Cup squad confirms Paul O’Connell’s involvement in the Heineken Cup clash with the Ospreys at Thomond Park on Sunday.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named an extended squad ahead of Sunday’s Heineken Cup game with Ospreys at Thomond Park. (kick-off 1pm)

Munster captain Paul O’Connell has today been named in coach Tony McGahan’s extended squad for Saturday’s Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park Stadium (kick-off 5pm).

Tomás O'Leary and Lifeimi Mafi return to Munster action for the first time in almost two months for Friday night’s Magners League game with the Dragons at Rodney Parade. (kick-off 7.05pm)

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named a preliminary 30-man squad ahead of the game against Australia set for Tuesday November 16 at Thomond Park.

MUNSTER don’t expect a definitive report on the calf injury that forced Jerry Flannery out of last week’s Heineken Cup game against Toulon until later in the week.

As expected, Jerry Flannery is the only exception from the Munster squad that beat Toulon ahead of their Magners League game against Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park on Friday (7.45pm).

COMPETITION for places will be the lifeblood of Munster’s challenge for Magners League and Heineken Cup honours this season, believes Marcus Horan.

Munster's Jerry Flannery, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi and Barry Murphy all took part in non-contact training yesterday.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan has tipped Tony Buckley to make a huge impact on Irish rugby this year.

HAVING survived the skirmishes, Munster won the battle and secured the victory demanded of them against Italian newcomers Aironi at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

MUNSTER have been boosted by the return of seasoned internationals John Hayes and Marcus Horan to the squad for Saturday’s Magners League opener against Italian newcomers Aironi at Musgrave Park (7.30pm)

Coach Tony McGahan has named Marcus Horan and John Hayes in the provisional squad for Munster’s opening Magners League meeting with Italian new boys Aironi in Musgrave Park on Friday night (KO 7:30).

THE names may change but Munster’s blue collar work ethic will still go a long way to reestablishing Munster’s reputation as one of the most feared forward packs in Europe.

DOUG HOWLETT is just one of a number of senior players set tointensify Munster’s pre-season effort when they take on Gloucester at Musgrave Park tonight (7pm).

Denis Leamy will captain Munster for their final pre-season match against Gloucester at Musgrave Park on Friday (7pm).

MUNSTER will crank up their preparations for the new season with the introduction of several senior players for the friendly with Gloucester at Musgrave Park tomorrow (7pm).