Payne praise as O’Leary poised for shock return

TOMÁS O’LEARY has been surprisingly drafted into the Munster squad for tonight’s Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets (6.30pm), following his full recovery from a broken ankle.

Scrum-half O’Leary was yesterday added to the squad in place of Peter Stringer, who was ruled out with a calf strain, and the Irish international will take his place on the bench as understudy to Toby Morland, who starts the game as partner to Jeremy Manning.

O’Leary’s return comes earlier than expected and team manager Shaun Payne yesterday paid tribute to his perseverance in overcoming the serious injury he sustained against the Scarlets in Musgrave Park on April 24 last.