Lessons of defeat will benefit Munster in Celtic Cup, says Galwey

Barry Coughlan

It was a season of opportunity when they reached two major finals and lost both.

Leinster, reduced to 14 men when Eric Miller was sent off, brought off a smash-and-grab victory in the closing stages of the Celtic League decider; Leicester had the hand of God (Neil Back, that is) to help them to victory in the Heineken Cup final.

From the other side of the fence now, Shannon’s coach Mick Galwey will watch Sunday’s Celtic Cup semi-final against Leinster with more than a little interest.

“All the players involved this weekend will have regrets about that 2002 result. It was a game we had in the bag, a game we let slip. We were short a few going into it. John Hayes, David Wallace and Peter Stringer were out, but we were in control for long periods. There was no way we should have lost once Leinster were reduced to 14 men, but we did.”

Galwey is looking forward to an invigorating contest between, what he believes are, the best two teams in Ireland.

“It’s no disrespect to Ulster or Connacht, but Munster and Leinster are calling the shots. Without knowing the actual teams, there are going to be a lot of internationals, a lot of Lions players, on view and bragging rights for the summer are at stake.”

Leinster and Munster suffered the disappointment of losing out in the Heineken Cup, and Galwey believes this tournament will provide some consolation to the winners, one or the other who will go through to meet either Neath/Swansea Ospreys or Llanelli in the final.

“With the final now set for Dublin, I believe one of the Irish teams is ideally positioned to win it out,” he said.

And Galwey would prefer if Munster finished the season with tangible reward for their efforts.

“I wear my heart on my sleeve as far as Munster is concerned. They deserve something for all the bad close calls they have experienced; guys like Alan Gaffney, Jim Williams and Jason Holland, who all depart the scene at the end of the season deserve something.

“I also think they are capable of beating Leinster. It’s going to be tough and I need not mention how seriously Leinster’s challenge must be treated, but I think Munster, if they reach their full potential, will just about shade it.”

Meanwhile, AIB League second division champions UL Bohs face St Mary’s, determined to gain revenge for a galling two-point defeat in Limerick earlier this season.

UL Bohs have selected the team that won the vital away game in Ballynahinch to clinch the title. Doubts hang over full-back Cathal Garvey, who had flu last week and missed the victory over Dolphin.

Head coach Mike Tewkesbury had to make tough decisions in respect of scrum-half, and in the front and back rows.

Cillian O’Boyle, having missed some recent matches through injury, is excluded for Aidan Rees, while Kevin Flanagan, Mike Harty and Mike Storey have all been playing excellently.

The toughest call was in the back row, where John Ed O’Connor and Ryan Hartigan have failed to dislodge the successful partnership of Aidan O’Gorman, Philip van Esbeck and James O’Neill.

An interesting face among the replacements is Barry Murphy, whose last game was in the Munster League victory over Cork Constitution at Temple Hill in October.

The bench will be finalised on the morning of the game.

UL Bohemians: C. Garvey, I. Hanley, C. Finn, M. McPhail, K. Matthews, B. Martin, A. Rees, M. Harty, G. Ryan, M. Storey, B. Madigan, A. Hartigan, A. O’Gorman (capt), J. O’Neill. Replacements (from): C. O’Boyle, D. Fitzgerald, F. Lawlor, B. Murphy, K. Flanagan, F. Leonard, R. Hartigan, J.E. O’Connor.