O’Callaghan could miss Viadana clash

AS Old Belvedere hold the immediate future of Munster’s Denis Leamy in their hands, Donnacha O’Callaghan, one of the stars of Munster’s Celtic league victory over Connacht at Musgrave Park last week, could miss the forthcoming Heineken Cup fixture against Viadana at the same venue.

O’Callaghan, recently returned after a jaw fracture, dislocated a finger in the course of last week’s win and is a doubtful starter for the next game on Friday night. Coach Alan Gaffney remains hopeful that he will be under consideration for selection but has no major worries if he doesn’t make it.

Former captain Mick Galwey was deemed surplus to requirements at Musgrave Park last week but is fully fit. Both he and Mick O’Driscoll are ready to fill the position in the team and on the bench. Meanwhile, Denis Leamy is at the centre of a citing incident during UCC’s AIB League victory over Old Belvedere at the Mardyke. The Dublin club, through coach Mike Brewer, have threatened to cite him for an alleged incident that rendered visiting centre Simon Byrne “unconscious.” Brewer’s reaction came at the end of the match but, yesterday, an Old Belvedere spokesperson insisted they would have “a serious look” at the video before any action, if any, was taken. The club has, it was confirmed by the IRFU yesterday, a week in which to make a decision whether or not to make a complaint.

According to the IRFU, any official complaint has to be made officially by the club. IRFU administrator George Spotswood confirmed yesterday that an approach had been made by Old Belvedere but insisted that no individual player had been specifically

mentioned. “We don’t know anything officially as to who that player might be and I therefore cannot make any comment on the matter. At this stage, nobody has been cited for any incident at the weekend.” Mr Spotswood pointed out that, while the IRFU disciplinary committee would probably meet later this week, the meeting would be in relation to a number of players sent off in the recent past.

Elsewhere, Anthony Horgan could well be back in time to play for Munster against Viadana at Musgrave Park on Friday. Both he and John Kelly trained with the squad in Limerick yesterday, but Kelly is expected to be afforded a little more time before

being pressed into action.

Alan Quinlan sustained a leg injury in the win over Connacht, but is expected to be available for selection when Gaffney announces his squad in Limerick tomorrow.

In Leinster, Paul Wallace will miss Leinster’s crucial Heineken Cup matches until the middle of January with an ankle injury.

But Wallace, a Lions Test player in South Africa in 1997, is confident of being back before the end that month. “It appears I was written off for the season in some quarters over the weekend but that is not the case.

“I have been advised to rest as much as possible over the next number of weeks, but I am confident I will be back in action in the time suggested by my medical advisers.

“My main problem appears to be the fact that I probably came back too soon after sustaining the injury,” he said. Now, I have been advised that I

allow myself time to get it right,” he added.