Foley and Horgan out of Cardiff clash

ANTHONY FOLEY and Anthony Horgan have been ruled out of Munster’s Magners League tie against Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park in ten days’ time as the province’s injury nightmare continues.

Foley is still recovering from a calf injury sustained in the Heineken Cup against Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park last month while Horgan is troubled by an Achilles tendon injury which may rule him out for up to six weeks.

Prop Frank Roche is also out of Declan Kidney’s plans for the same time period because of a neck injury while a medial strain picked up against Borders at Netherdale last Friday looks likely to sideline back-row James Coughlan.

Munster’s casualty list doesn’t end there. John Kelly is recovering after popping a rib cartilage against Leicester while Mossy Lawlor suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury playing for Shannon on Saturday and is ruled out for two to three weeks.

There is some good news for Kidney and his management team as John O’Sullivan has resumed light training after sustaining a knee injury against Newport-Gwent Dragons.

The 26-year old number eight may be available for the Cardiff tie next week, as should Trevor Halstead who was also injured in Wales.

Meanwhile, former England U21 hooker Andy Kyriacou has returned to Saracens following the return from injury of Denis Fogarty.

The 23-year-old was drafted in on a short-term contract at the start of the season as cover for the injured pair of Fogarty and Jerry Flannery. Kyriacou made his debut for Munster off the bench in the Magners League game against Glasgow at Hughenden last September and turned out nine times for the province.

Fogarty has not started a competitive game with Munster since May but his return to full training comes at anopportune time, just under a month before Kidney is required to nominate three additional players for inclusion in his squad for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup.