Kelly in race against time to be fit for Biarritz showdown

JOHN KELLY is facing a race against time to make Munster’s Heineken Cup final date in Cardiff on May 20 — but it’s a race he’s determined to win.

Kelly was forced off in the early stages of Sunday's semi-final victory over Leinster with an injured shoulder, but refuses to rule himself out of contention for the decider.

He revealed last night: "It's not an operation job, it's an AC joint injury and I have never experienced an injury like that before, so I don't quite know what to expect. My goal is to be fit to compete for a place in the final. Right now it's a bit sore but that is to be expected.

"I'll be awaiting the results of a scan, and hopefully everything will work out in my favour," he said.

Kelly and his centre colleague Rob Henderson were on the treatment table yesterday and an update on the duo is expected today. Henderson revealed that he sustained the injury just minutes after coming in as a replacement for Kelly.

He was forced to retire 15 minutes from the end but was already in trouble: "I turned on the ankle in my first tackle. I had the ankle heavily strapped at half-time but played on; you don't not play on against Leinster in the semi-final of the Heineken Cup. But I turned over again late in the second half and I knew that there was no way back. I've had treatment today, it feels a little better, but I will have to wait for the results of a scan to find out the full extent of the injury," said Henderson yesterday.

However, there is better news on the horizon for coach Declan Kidney with Alan Quinlan and Frankie Sheahan edging closer to a return.

Sheahan's rugby career has been on hold for six months, since he suffered a neck injury in Munster's opening Heineken Cup fixture against Sale Sharks.

But four weeks before the final, he could be ready to challenge the inspirational Jerry Flannery.

"I have a very outside chance of getting back into contention for a place in the Munster squad for the Heineken Cup final. I will have to play everything by ear and wait for the assessment by the medical experts.

"But I have been back training, hitting bags, and the neck appears to be fine. It's just a question of getting confirmation from the doctors," he said yesterday.

Sheahan admitted to grave concern for his career when the injury occurred but no longer.

"It's not a career-threatening injury; it probably never was, but it was a worrying time. Right now, I'm eyeing next season; I'm afraid to think too much about the immediate future, but I could get clearance to engage in full training this week. Recently, and up to now, I have been confined to tackling bags."

But if Sheahan is disappointed with his season, he was full of praise for Flannery.

"He came in, stepped up to the mark and has been brilliant for Munster and for Ireland. That's what it's all about at the end of the day. It has been disappointing from my own personal point of view, but the team you play with, play for, is what counts. In that sense, Jerry has been really good," he said.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that Chris Wyatt, the 28-times Welsh capped second row, is to join Munster.

Wyatt has been enlisted to take over from either Trevor Hogan or Stephen Keogh, who both move to Leinster at the end of the season. Scrum half Frank Murphy will also leave Munster, heading for Leicester.