Hopes high that O’Gara will be fit for Murrayfield

RONAN O'GARA is still limping but he has a good chance of making Ireland's starting line-up for the Six Nations Championship opener with Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

O'Gara took no more than a passing interest in yesterday's training session in Naas RFC but indications are that he will be fit for selection.

The team will be named by coach Eddie O'Sullivan in Dublin tomorrow.

The coaching team believe O'Gara will be fine and O'Sullivan said: “We are looking at a six-day period before the game. I don't think there will be a problem. I'm sure Ronan will be fit for selection. Each day will tell a different story, but it will surely get better.”

O'Sullivan was delighted with the outcome when both the senior and A squads got together yesterday. The only fall-out from the weekend matches was an injury to Ted Robinson. The Buccaneers and Connacht winger had further problems with a hamstring strain and his place in the A squad goes to James Topping, Ballymena.

On a financial front, there is good news for Brian O’Driscoll who has signed a major sponsorship agreement with Adidas.

The two-year agreement, which runs to the end of 2005 will see the Irish captain endorse the latest in equipment and apparel and the deal is likely to keep him in Ireland for the foreseeable future.

He made his international debut in June 1999 against Australia and soon became a central figure in the Irish line-up, currently having 33 caps.

He was a key figure in the Lions side that played three epic matches against Australia in the summer of 2001 and subsequently went on to captain Ireland for the first time against Australia in November 2002.

O’Driscoll will wear state-of-the-art boots, personalised with the number 13 on the heel. He will add a valuable dimension to Adidas’ team of exciting and successful rugby stars, which includes All Black star Jonah Lomu and England’s Jonny Wilkinson.

* Meanwhile, the Irish squad had a setback on a personal level when assistant coach Declan Kidney was called home to Cork after the death of his father, Joe. The late Mr Kidney was a stalwart of Dolphin RFC and a very well known figure in Munster and Irish rugby.

The removal will take place this evening from the O'Connor's Wilton Funeral Home to St. Joseph's Church in Wilton at 7pm. The funeral will take place after 11am Mass to St. Finbarr's Cemetery tomorrow.