O’Malley seizes his big chance

OPPORTUNITIES have been few and far between for Eoin O’Malley in the Heineken Cup but the Leinster centre has not been found wanting on those irregular occasions when they have dropped his way.

His European debut came last October at the Stade Marcel Michelin against Clermont Auvergne when he gave an impressive performance in the absence of Brian O’Driscoll and he bagged a try in a 20-minute cameo against Saracens three months later. That haul was trebled yesterday with two touch downs which helped turn a game that could have developed into a struggle into a Sunday afternoon saunter. Not bad for a guy who, with O’Driscoll and Fergus McFadden injured, was third choice for the 13 jersey.

“I didn’t really have to do a whole lot,” he protested.