O’Connell on target for Quins clash

Paul O’Connell is edging closer to being available for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins at The Stoop on April 7.

The 2009 Lions captain is showing steady recovery from surgery carried out on a bulging disc in his back on New Year’s Eve and has been active in recent squad sessions with Munster, who have a week off in between their RaboDirect Pro12 commitments, but O’Connell wasn’t prepared to take a rest.

Instead, he participated in a session with Young Munster this week and will line out for Munster A against Leinster A on Tuesday night in the Bowl, UL. Young Munster head coach Mike Prendergast was delighted by O’Connell’s presence and the positive progress.

“Paul did some contact work with us in training on Tuesday night,” Prendergast said. “We were doing a bit of breakdown work. He came through it in flying colours. Paul looks to be progressing well. It was a good boost to the squad to have Paul training with us. His presence was a gee-up to the lads.”