Dempsey, Horgan make squad

ALTHOUGH both players missed last week’s game against Italy, Girvan Dempsey and Shane Horgan have been included in a 24-strong panel from which the Irish team to play France next Saturday will be finalised on Tuesday.

Neither Dempsey nor Horgan figure among the list of players made available for their clubs’ AIB League matches this afternoon. Marcus Horan and Alan Quinlan will line out for Shannon against Blackrock College at Stradbrook with Leo Cullen in the opposing line-up; Ronan O’Gara and Frankie Sheahan play their first matches of the season for Cork Constitution against UL Bohs at Thomond Park; Rob Henderson lines out for Young Munster in the Division 2 tie with Old Belvedere while across channel Guy Easterby and Paul Burke will be in action for Llanelli and Harlequins respectively.

On the other hand, Dempsey won’t play for Terenure against Belfast Harlequins nor will Shane Horgan appear for Lansdowne against Garryowen. It appears that Eddie O’Sullivan is prepared to consider both players against France in spite of their recent inactivity. A couple of vacancies have been left among the backs for the A game at Ravenhill on Friday night and these could conceivably be filled by those rated surplus to requirement for the full Irish side.