New targets and goals fill the Munster horizon

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony believes his side will have to park the disappointment of Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final exit and at least match their best performance levels of this season if they are to contend for the Guinness PRO14 title over the next month.

The Reds play their final game of the league campaign today when Ulster visit Thomond Park (5:35pm) with head coach Johann van Graan resting many of his big guns following the exertions of the 27-22 defeat to Racing 92 in Bordeaux six days ago and in advance of the PRO14 play-offs, which begin next weekend.

Munster, already assured of second place in Conference A, will learn their quarter-final opponents tonight at the completion of all seven round 23 games and while Ireland and Lions back-row star O’Mahony will be among the frontliners watching events unfold in Limerick he is under no illusions it will take performance levels up there with that which saw off Toulon in the Champions Cup quarter-final on March 31 if Munster are to progress to a second league final in as many seasons at Aviva Stadium on May 26.