Galwey’s Munster run ends

MICK GALWEY’S amazing record of having been directly involved in every one of Munster’s 47 matches in the Heineken European Cup since the competition began in 1995/96 has come to an end.

The 36-year-old Kerryman has been omitted from the squad that takes on the Italian side Viadana at Musgrave Park tomorrow night, with Paul O'Connell and Donnacha O'Callaghan manning the second-row positions and Mick O'Driscoll on the bench.

Galwey played in 45 Heineken Cup ties up to the end of last season when he decided to remain for one last campaign. New coach Alan Gaffey was very glad that he did so when O'Connell and O'Callaghan were ruled out of the first series of matches against Gloucester and Perpignan, Galwey filled in as ably as ever alongside O'Driscoll.

"I knew this day was coming," he admitted last night. "I suppose I was lucky to get in for the two matches at the beginning of the campaign and of course it's disappointing not to be involved.

"Obviously I've been there from the start when we played Swansea at Thomond Park back in '96 and I haven't missed a game since. But that's the reason I wanted to play rugby this year I knew it was going to be a phasing out process and it's something I have to accept although I'm not necessarily accepting that it is the end of the road.

"I'm not wishing anybody bad luck but there can be injuries like there were at the start of the year and if the need comes, I'll be ready for it. It won't be easy to fight my way back, you look at the three lads who are there and recognise that they are very good players. Mick O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell are international players and it's only a matter of time before Donnacha O'Callaghan becomes one as well. It's not as if there's a weak link there and it's going to be hard from that point of view.

"At the same time, I'll keep them honest. The fact that I've already played two Heineken Cup matches this season is a great bonus and proves that my decision to stay on has worked for me."

The three incumbents to the Galwey throne would be the first to agree that his influence has played a huge part in making them the formidable players they are today. Although as unassuming as ever, Mick himself agrees that he has been something of a father figure to them.

"I suppose they've been listening to me for a long time now and I've seen them develop from good club players to very good provincial players to international players.

"It's great to see that process and I've been lucky to see that happen at first hand with other Munstermen, not just the second-rows," he declared.

The Munster pack that began last Friday's Celtic League game against Connacht has been retained en bloc for the visit of Viadana. But there are two changes behind the scrum.

Jeremy Staunton returns after a lengthy lay-off at full-back with Killian Keane reverting to the replacements.

Anthony Horgan was an even longer injury victim, the luckless Cork Constitution winger having been deprived of his place in last May's Heineken Cup final in Cardiff because of a freak injury picked up in a training spin two days previously.

He broke a couple of bones in his hand on that occasion and as a consequence missed out on the Irish tour of New Zealand and the likelihood of his first international cap.

In August, he underwent an operation for a nagging shoulder injury and returned 12 weeks later only to pull a hamstring playing an AIB League match for Cork Constitution. That was more than a month ago. Now he returns to his usual left wing berth with Mossy Lawler moving across to the right flank where Colm McMahon plugged the gap against Connacht.

"The return of Jeremy and Anthony is good news for Munster and Ireland," said Alan Gaffney. "Killian and Colm did us proud against Connacht but it's good to have quality players back again and adding a bit more pace to the side."

While fully aware that a big win with plenty of tries over Viadana is important where ultimate qualification from Pool Two is concerned, Gaffney insists: "There will be no Barbarians rugby. I have told the guys they must be patient and play with discipline. We have watched tapes of three of their matches and have noted that they can score a lot of points.

"The trouble from their perspective is that they also concede a lot. Our aim is to win all our matches and hope that Gloucester and Perpignan win one each when they meet over the next two weeks. That would leave us with what would essentially be a final against Gloucester at Thomond Park in mid-January."

MUNSTER: J. Staunton; M. Lawler, M. Mullins, J. Holland, A. Horgan; R. O'Gara, P. Stringer; M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, D. O'Callaghan, P. O'Connell, J. Williams, A. Quinlan, A. Foley.

Replacements: K. Keane, C. McMahon, M. Prendergast; J. Blaney or J. Fogarty, S. Kerr, M. O'Driscoll, D. Leamy or E. Halvey.