Johnny Holland makes scoring return after year out

There was a ray of light in a dark few weeks for Munster yesterday as out-half Johnny Holland returned to action with a try, after a year on the sidelines. 

Holland tore a hamstring in November 2014 and subsequent injury setbacks kept him out of action until yesterday’s game between a Munster Development side and Ireland U20s at Musgrave Park.

The Cork native played the first half, looked lively and kicked tidily, taking his try well and hitting a conversion, as Munster won 38-14. Paul Kiernan, Ollie Lyons and Steven McMahon scored Munster’s other tries.

Seniors boss Anthony Foley should know today whether he will have Keith Earls, Conor Murray, and James Cronin available to him for Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Ulster in Belfast.

Earls confirmed yesterday he hadn’t suffered serious injury against Leinster on Sunday, despite being hospitalised as a precaution after a heavy collision forced him off.

Foley was set to receive a medical update on prop Cronin, who was on crutches following an ankle injury that saw him depart after just 19 minutes.

Scrum-half Murray was withdrawn before kick-off against Leinster after failing a late fitness test on the hip injury he suffered in the previous week’s Champions Cup loss at Leicester.

“We’ll see what way he turns up (on Monday),” said Foley.