Penney braced for bad news on skipper O’Mahony

Munster are fearing facing a long spell without captain Peter O’Mahony as they wait for the results of a scan on his injured shoulder today.

The dynamic back-rower wrenched his left shoulder stealing a lineout from Yoann Maestri in the opening minute of Saturday’s momentous 47-23 Heineken Cup quarter-final win over four-time champions Toulouse, and though he continued to play through a ferocious opening quarter of an hour at Thomond Park, he was forced to leave the field in the 18th minute.

O’Mahony, returned to the pitch with his left arm in a sling at full-time to celebrate with his team-mates following the six-try romp that sends Munster into the last four for the second year in succession. Yet head coach Rob Penney’s initial medical bulletin and the manner in which it was delivered suggests the Ireland flanker will certainly be absent for the away semi-final on April 27.