‘Quinny’ eyeing Cup heaven following suspension hell

IT’S been a tough few months for Alan Quinlan.

Coming up to the end of 2006 he was flying, back to his abrasive best at blindside flanker with Munster, looking good to pressurise — at least — both Simon Easterby and Neil Best for the Irish shirt.

On December 16th, he scored Munster’s bonus-point try against Cardiff Blues in Heineken Cup action at Thomond Park, having won man-of-the-match in the first leg a week previously in Cardiff.