Munster seek to re-ignite Celtic League challenge

AFTER years of winning matches almost as they liked, it has suddenly become something of a struggle for the Munster team.

A succession of defeats have left them with a mountain to climb if they are to cling on to their Celtic League title and their supporters live for the day when Christian Cullen arrives from New Zealand and the World Cup contingent return to the fold.

They face another difficult assignment this evening, when Ulster come to Musgrave Park for a Celtic League encounter which is close to being of the “must win” category in terms of Alan Gaffney’s squad’s ability to re-ignite their challenge for a title won so emphatically last season.

Defeat would mean their fourth loss in a row and it is now up to the seasoned campaigners, such as David Wallace, skipper Jim Williams, Jeremy Staunton, Jason Jones-Hughes and Mike Mullins, to give that little extra and help the less experienced members of the side.

Munster forced a couple of crucial line-outs deep in the Glasgow 22 but were unable to control their own throw and the chances were thrown away. This is an area that has worried the coach and he will hope that the recently arrived Aussie David Pusey will work up a better understanding with hooker Jerry Flannery tonight. As expected, the luckless Mike Prendergast is out of the game having suffered another injury in a club game last week. So Eoin Reddan retains the number nine jersey with Jeremy Staunton once again as his half-back partner. Martin McPhail makes his first start on the right wing and has the footballing talent to be a big success.

Ulster’s Seamus Mallon can’t wait to get stuck into Munster at Musgrave Park, as Ulster return to the bread and butter issues of the Celtic League.

The Dungannon centre gets his first start of the season in the provincial derby having come off the bench in previous games. Twenty-three year old Mallon has been regarded as a bit of an impact player this season when he has come on as a substitute, notching up plenty of game time. And what better time to make your competitive debut than away against Munster?

“It is a case of getting straight in there. It is a huge game and a big challenge, but I am ready for it,” said Mallon. “There will be plenty of rivalry this time, given that they really turned us over last time. We have got something to prove.”

Mallon said it is hard sometimes sitting on the bench, but he had been luckier than some in having already had some time on the pitch.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; S Young, S Mallon, S Stewart, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore, M McCullough, M Mustchin, A Ward (capt), N Best, T McWhirter. Subs: B Young, R Frost, R Spee, R Constable, J Topping, N Brady, R Wilson.

MUNSTER: S Payne; M McPail, M Mullins, J Jones-Hughes; M Lawlor; J Staunton, E Reddan; S Kerr, J Flannery, M Cahill, T Hogan, D Pusey, S Keogh, D Wallace, J Williams (capt). Subs: D Crotty, C O’Sullivan, F Murphy, C McMahon, E Halvey, J Danagher, F Roche.