PAUL O’CONNELL’S return after an eight-month injury lay-off attracted a fine crowd to Thomond Park last night, and they were well rewarded for coming out on a bitterly cold and wet night as Shannon pipped Young Munster by a single point in a highly competitive AIL Division 1A encounter.

IT IS a game that may have slipped under the radar but regardless of what happens at the RDS tonight, Munster may collect their first piece of silverware this season in the final of the inaugural British & Irish Cup against Cornish Pirates at Camborne tomorrow (6pm, Sky Sports).

AIB league champions Shannon face the toughest of starts to the defence of their crown tonight as they face old rivals Garryowen in Dooradoyle (7.30pm).

AFTER long spells out of action, International Gerry Flannery and Mossie Lawlor are back in the Munster picture with both named as reserves for the province’s A game against Leinster at Donnybrook today at 2pm.

Munster coach Declan Kidney is likely to partner former New Zealand Maori captain Rua Tipoki with former Leinster centre Kieran Lewis across his midfield when they play Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

WASPS are seeking a move from Adams Stadium for November’s clash with Munster in the Heineken Cup.

Munster coach Declan Kidney has made 10 changes for the final warm-up game of the season against Viadana at Musgrave Park on Friday.

Rua Tipoki may make his debut for Munster, less than a week after the province announced the capture of Doug Howlett, against Alan Gaffney's Saracens at Musgrave Park on Friday.

USA Rugby’s PR department are struggling to create a fuss in the build-up to tomorrow’s inaugural Setanta Sports Challenge Cup between their World Cup-bound national team and tourists Munster at Toyota Park (kick off 8:10pm Irish time).

Munster coach Declan Kidney has announced his Munster 26-man squad for the pre-season trip to have Chicago next Wednesday morning.

MUNSTER have appointed recently retiring full-back Shaun Payne as their new team manager.

Cork Costitution full-back Denis Hurley will make his second start for Munster for the final game of the season against Glasgow Warriors in the Magner's League at Musgrave Park on Saturday, kick-off at 5.30pm.

THE trophy on offer may be less prized and the host stadium much smaller but there is a neat symmetry to Stephen Keogh’s return to Cardiff tomorrow, 12 months after missing out on Munster’s greatest day in the Welsh capital.

All-Ireland League club finalists Gerry Hurley (Garryowen) and Denis Hurley (Cork Con) are included in a 28-strong Munster squad for the final game of the season against Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park on Saturday (5.30pm).

Ireland's Paul O'Connell will play for Munster for the first time since mid-January against Edinburgh in the Magner's League on Friday night.

Ireland vice-captain Paul O'Connell has returned to the Munster squad after being out since mid-January.

IN THE fall-out from Munster’s Heineken Cup defeat to Llanelli Scarlets, it was felt coach Declan Kidney would begin the process of rebuilding for next season by fielding emerging talent from the provincial academy in the remaining Magners Celtic League games.

Christian Cullen and John Kelly return to the Munster squad for the penultimate home game of the season against Newport-Gwent Dragons in the Magner's League at Musgrave Park on Saturday (KO 5pm).

IT APPEARS Christian Cullen’s days as a Munster player are over.

TOP Munster players, captain Paul O’Connell, Peter Stringer, David Wallace, Shaun Payne and Alan Quinlan are all ruled out of Saturday’s Magner’s League clash with Llanelli at Musgrave Park (7.30).

Declan Kidney will look to his experienced players like Donncha O'Callaghan, Denis Leamy and Anthony Foley to set the tone at home to Llanelli Scarlets in the Magner's League on Saturday.

BRIAN CARNEY gave another glimpse of his rugby union promise with a second try-scoring appearance though it was too late to save Munster’s season from freefall.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney intends using today’s Magners League game against Ospreys to freshen up his side after their exit from the Heineken Cup last weekend.

Munster coach Declan Kidney will use fit-again Anthony Foley, Anthony Horgan, Federico Pucciariello, and Mossy Lawlor in his first fifteen away to The Ospreys on Saturday.

MUNSTER marched on to their seventh win this season with a forward-inspired victory over a lightweight Border Reivers side in last night’s Magners League match at Netherdale.

Declan Kidney has decided to leave Jerry Flannery on the bench for Munster's Magners League game at The Borders on Friday night.

CONNACHT fly-half Paul Warwick is to join Munster at the end of the season. The 26-year-old will be Ronan O’Gara’s understudy next season after agreeing terms with Kidney’s men.

Marcus Horan, David Wallace and Frank Sheahan did not train with Munster this afternoon ahead of their crucial Heineken Cup tie with Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Munster coach Declan Kidney has been able to add Jerry Flannery to an extended 28-man squad for the Heineken Cup clash with Bourgoin in Geneva on Sunday.

MUNSTER’s Development squad jetted out on a four-day camp to Biarritz last night keenly aware that the province’s unexpected Magners League crisis has propelled them into the spotlight.

JOHN KELLY has been released to Munster as the Heineken Cup champions bid to right the wrongs of their recent Magners League programme against Llanelli in Stradey Park on Sunday.

Loyal Munster forward Mick O'Driscoll has won the privilege of leading Munster into action against Llanelli Scarlets in the Magner's League at Stradey Park on Sunday.

MUNSTER will be without Irish hooker Frankie Sheahan yet again when they take on Ulster in the Magners League at Musgrave Park tonight (7.30pm).

It will be no surprise to hear that Munster have sold out their Magners League tie with Ulster game at Musgrave Park tomorrow evening.

THE Heineken Cup squads were submitted to European Cup Rugby Ltd yesterday, but won’t be made public for a few days while the ERC completes an eligibility check.

Munster coach Declan Kidney will understand how Leinster's Michael Cheika feels ahead of the Magners League visit of Ulster to Musgrave Park on Friday.

Cardiff Blues 22 Munster 13

Munster coach Declan Kidney has opted for six Academy players in Darragh Hurley, Tim Ryan, Sean Cronin, Ross Noonan, Gerry Hurley and Tom Gleeson in the squad for Friday's friendly with Leicester Tigers.

TWO of Ireland’s senior Triple Crown heroes — Malcolm O’Kelly and Simon Easterby — have been ruled out of Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Leicester openside Shane Jennings will captain an Ireland A squad containing only four full internationals at next month’s Churchill Cup.

All Black legend Christian Cullen will play not part in Munster's quest to bring the Heineken Cup back to the province.

Full back Denis Hurley's set to make his debut for Munster in tomorrow night's Celtic League clash at Llannelli.

It looks as though All Black legend Christian Cullen is winning the argument to solve Munster's outside centre role as he has been selected in the the position for Munster's Celtic League tie with The Ospreys.

Alan Quinlan and Tomas O'Leary are set to return to action with Munster this weekend having been named on the bench for tomorrow’s Celtic League clash with Ospreys.