Switching sides and family ties for Ulster’s Cronin

THIRTY-FIVE years almost to the day since his father made his Munster debut at Ravenhill, prop Jerry Cronin will feature in the same fixture tomorrow night — as an Ulster player.

Cronin, 26 and born in Mallow, Co Cork, has been named on the Ulster bench for tonight’s Magners League clash with his native province after being brought in as front-row cover on a weekend when resources are stretched due to international call-ups and the usual litany of injuries.

The son of former Garryowen and Munster number eight Billy Cronin, former Mallow captain Jerry moved to Belfast two years ago for work as an engineer and has been earning rave reviews with Ballynahinch in the All-Ireland League.