Devlin out as Kidney names Cup line-up

PAUL DEVLIN is the major fall-out victim in Declan Kidney’s 36-man Heineken Cup Squad, announced yesterday.

Devlin, who joined the province last year, remains a member of the Celtic League squad but lost out for the major competition when Kidney decided to upgrade Limerick-based youngsters Ian Dowling and Barry Murphy.

Given that Devlin’s main position is on the wing and that Dowling has played most in that position for Munster recently, it would be more appropriate to suggest that Dowling is the direct replacement for Devlin.

Murphy has impressed with limited exposure at full-back and earned his stripes yesterday from Kidney. There are places too for Tony Buckley, the huge Shannon prop, John O’Sullivan and Jeremy Manning as Kidney decided to name three specialist out halves. Manning comes in third behind Ronan O’Gara and Paul Burke.

Kidney divided up his 36-man squad between 19 forwards and 17 backs and included no less than four scrum halves. Peter Stringer will be joined by Mike Prendergast, Frank Murphy and Tomas O’Leary.

MUNSTER Heineken Cup Squad: Forwards - T. Buckley, J. Flannery, A. Foley, D. Fogarty, M. Horan, J. Hayes, T. Hogan, S. Keogh, D. Leamy, E. McGovern, D. O’Callaghan, P. O’Connell, M. O’Driscoll, J. O’Sullivan, F. Pucciarello, A. Quinlan, F. Roche, F. Sheahan, D. Wallace. Backs - P. Burke, G. Connolly, I. Dowling, A. Horgan, T. Halstead, R. Henderson, J. Kelly, M. Lawlor, F. Murphy, B. Murphy, J. Manning, T. O’Leary, R. O’Gara, S. Payne, A. Pitout, M. Prendergast, P. Stringer.