THERE was a carnival atmosphere at windswept Coonagh on Saturday before this AIL Division One semi-final clash between Limerick’s big two, both sets of fans enjoying the usual pre-game banter; afterwards, however, the joy was all one-sided as the sound of the Garryowen anthem carried from the victorious dressing-room.

SHANNON coach Mick Galwey had stern words for his troops despite a 14-points AIB All-Ireland Cup victory at the Mardyke on Saturday.

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

IT won’t have pleased Munster that they finished third of the four Irish teams in the Magners League, but there were some positives to take from Saturday’s comprehensive win over bogey side Glasgow Warriors.

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.

Munster coach Declan Kidney has made four changes, one positional, from the side that started against Llanelli Scarlets last time out, for the Magners League clash with Newport-Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park on Saturday (5pm).

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 coach Declan Kidney has named Anthony Horgan in the Munster squad for the first time since January when they travel to Neath-Swansea Ospreys in the Magners League on Saturday.

Brian Carney has been named in a Munster squad for the Magner's League tie against Ulster on Friday night first time on foot of the announcement of his two-year contract last week.

ANTHONY FOLEY and Anthony Horgan have been ruled out of Munster’s Magners League tie against Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park in ten days’ time as the province’s injury nightmare continues.

Munster talisman Anthony Foley may not be able to recover in time from a groin injury for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Llanelli Scarlets.

Shannon 31 Dungannon 0

A bout of illness has forced Barry Murphy and Denis Leamy to withdraw from the Munster side for the game this evening against Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

CHRISTIAN CULLEN is poised for a Heineken Cup return in Cardiff tomorrow, after injury, with John Kelly and Barry Murphy ruled out of the clash at the Arms Park.

Munster have been hit with the withdrawal through injury of John Kelly and Barry Murphy ahead of their Heineken Cup joust with Cardiff Blues at The Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

Munster will look to improve immeasurably from their ordinary 9-8 win over The Borders when they travel to Glasgow Warriors on Friday (7.30pm).

Munster have given first-time full contracts to Welsh international Chris Wyatt, Australian Tim McGann, former Leinsterman Eoghan Hickey, Denis Fogarty, Ian Dowling, Jeremy Manning and Barry Murphy in the official announcement of their Senior Squad for the season 2006/2007.

John Kelly will captain Munster on the occasion of his 138th cap in their opening Magners League tie at the Cardiff Blues on Friday evening.

The Munster squad to face Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park on Friday evening has been announced today.

Frankie Sheahan makes his return to the red of Munster for the first time since last October for the Henieken Cup champions' pre-seasoin friendly against Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park this evening (7.0).

IF CLARE hurling was haunted by the curse of Biddy Earley for years, one wonders what external forces are contriving to deprive Munster of European Cup success.

PAUL BURKE looks certain to start for Munster tomorrow night in a crucial Celtic League game against chasing Ulster at Ravenhill.

Ian Dowling has recovered from a slight injury to take his place in the Munster Squad to play Glasgow on Saturday at Thomond Park (3.30pm).

Munster 10 Dragons 8

Anthony Foley will have to shelve his disappointment at not being included in the Ireland Squad as he leads a much-changed Munster side out against Newport-Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

There are no surprises that coach Declan Kidney has not chosen a Munster side to meet Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Saturday just yet.

Ireland's Paul O'Connell has been included in the Munster squad for the first time since September for Tuesday's Celtic League assignment against Connacht at Thomond Park.

Coach Declan Kidney will go with the tried and trusted players at home to Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park tomorrow.

Shaun Payne, Rob Henderson and Frederico Pucciariello have been included in an extended 27-man Munster squad for the Heineken Cup date with Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park this weekend.

John Kelly returns to the Munster side for the Heineken Cup clash Newport-Gwent Dragons while David Wallace has recovered from the thigh injury he picked up against Ulster.

Injury doubts David Wallace and John Kelly have been included in Munster's 26-man squad for the Heineken Cup clash with Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

It is touch-and-go as to whether or not David Wallace will recover from the cut to his leg that forced him to leave the field against Ulster last Saturday in time for Munster's Heineken Cup outing at Gwent Dragons.

Shannon 33 UL Bohemians 3

LESS than 120 metres separate their clubhouses, but today Thomond Park tenants Shannon and UL Bohemian face off in a mouthwatering AIB All Ireland League Division One Limerick derby.

Dublin University 6 Shannon 19

A hat-trick of second half tries from Munster winger Mossy Lawlor helped Shannon to a 41-10 ODM Munster Senior Cup second round win over Midleton this afternoon.

Munster have reacted to an up-and-down season by announcing seven new signings to their squad for next season, including the sevens-times capped Springbok Trevor Halstead.

Denis Leamy has won the Guinness Draught Can Celtic League Player of the Month award after two outstanding performances in the 3-0 win over Connacht and the 13-9 win against The Ospreys.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney had an almost injury free squad to select from for Saturday’s Celtic League clash with provincial rivals Leinster.

MUNSTER are serious about taming the Ospreys in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park tomorrow night even though they meet them again in the Heineken Cup in January.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has made three changes to his starting 15 for tomorrow's Heineken Cup game against Castres at Thomond Park.