Doyle and Hurley primed for Munster

ALTHOUGH set to lose out when Munster’s 24-man training squad for Saturday’s Celtic Cup clash with Edinburgh is cut to 22 today, Garryowen young gun Conan Doyle is very much one for the future.

That future may also eventually have room for Doyle’s half back partner Jerry Hurley, who has been to the forefront of his club’s AIB League challenge this season.

Garryowen, of course, take on Belfast Harlequins in the first of the two AIB semi-finals at Dooradoyle on Saturday, and Doyle looks certain to be released by Munster today.

Still, while Munster fans have been worried about the lack of up-and- coming talent in key positions, the situation appears better than expected.

Doyle’s blistering pace carried him through to set up a late consolation try in last week’s Munster Cup final against Shannon and UCC out-half, Jeremy Manning, a New Zealander, is also being touted as potential back-up for Ronan O’Gara and Paul Burke.

Jason Holland’s decision to retire means Munster have no back up beyond O’Gara and Burke.

Meanwhile, despite a disappointing return from goal kicks last weekend, Hurley looks set to push his way up the Munster pecking order.

Munster hope Holland will be fit to take his place in the final squad of 22. He has a knee injury and Jim Williams has also been on the treatment table with an elbow injury.

O’Gara is still under wraps in a recovery programme from a medial ligament injury but Brian Lima is back in training.

If Munster beat Edinburgh they will play the winners of the Leinster/Glasgow tie in the semi-final and Lima should be fit for selection.

Meanwhile, Connacht have staved off interest by French club Narbonne for talented centre James Downey.

The 24-year-old, has agreed a one-year extension to his contract with Connacht.

The former Ireland U19 had a storming first season in professional rugby, even though he missed a chunk of it with a serious shoulder injury.

The 6’4” Clontarf clubman put together a series of impressive displays, not least in the two-leg victory over Narbonne in the European Challenge Cup first round, when Michael Bradley’s men turned round a 14 points deficit to win the home tie by 19 points.

That was the eighth match between the sides in recent years, so it was almost inevitable the French side would come knocking on the door for some of the Connacht players.

Four years ago they almost tempted Elwood to the south of France and this time, after discovering that second row skipper Andrew Farley and fly-half Paul Warwick were contracted to Connacht for another season, they turned their attention to Downey.

Representatives of Narbonne were in the Sportsground for the home tie against Sale Sharks recently, but they were unable to tempt the inside centre away.

“We are delighted James has decided to remain with Connacht,” said CEO Gerry Kelly.

“James has had a great first season and there is strong hope that and a few other Connacht players, will be travelling to Japan with the Irish squad this summer.”

MUNSTER (from): S Payne, A Horgan, P Devlin, J Kelly, R Henderson, M Mullins, J Holland, P Burke, P Stringer, M Prendergast, Conan Doyle, J Hayes, M Horan, F Sheahan, J Flannery, G McIlwham, T Hogan, P O’Connell, D O’Callaghan, D Wallace, Denis Leamy, Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley, Jim Williams.