O’Connell back in the groove

PAUL O’CONNELL is back and raring to go.

That was the very clear message from the Lions captain at Thomond Park last night when he played the second 40 minutes of an AIL clash between his club Young Munster and Shannon and emerged with flying colours.

“I came through it fine and thoroughly enjoyed it,” said O’Connell, even though his side lost by the narrowest of margins, 18-17, in a typically hard-fought Limerick derby. “At the moment, I feel 100% and I’m sure nothing will happen going forward. That was a really tough test of rugby against a really tough Shannon side. To come through against Limerick’s most successful AIL team was great.”

O’Connell made every effort to rescue the game for Young Munster, claiming some outstanding lineout possession in typical fashion while also making his presence felt with a couple of open field bursts and also in ruck and maul.

He recalled an expression used by the former Munsters and Ireland prop John ‘Pako’ Fitzgerald when admitting: “I was sucking seagulls and struggling a little bit for wind. A few guys were telling me to move when I was walking and to get the job done. I struggled a little fitness-wise but I think it would have been very hard to come back in a fixture that meant nothing.

“Instead, it was great to come back in a game that meant a lot to both sides, it was a really tough, high blooded Limerick match.”

O’Connell added: “In fitness terms, I’m a long way off but I have a good engine on me and hopefully it will come back quickly. I just need to get games under the belt and as many of them as I can. It’s been hard to get back, there were rumours about misdiagnosis and stuff but I don’t think the medical team could have done any more for me. I just had a terrible run of bad luck but everyone gets injuries, just look at Barry Murphy, Jerry Flannery, Ian Dowling, Felix Jones, the tough runs they’ve had.”

He also stressed: “I won’t decide when I come back with Munster. Tony McGahan will decide that. It’s going to be a struggle but I’m up for it. I felt better than I thought I would but nothing compares to match fitness.”

Fighting his way back after suffering an infection of the pubic bone, O’Connell could get further game time when Cardiff Blues visit Thomond Park in the Magners League a week today.