O’Connell a doubt for Munster

Paul O’Connell is Munster’s biggest concern ahead of Friday night’s Magners League clash against Leinster at Thomond Park.

O’Connell picked up a stomach-bug and along with Declan Cusack and Barry Murphy played no part in training at Clanwilliam RFC yesterday.

Munster management are still optimistic he will be fit and available for the clash. However, a further update on his situation is expected in the next 24 hours.

Marcus Horan, meanwhile, says revenge will not be Munster’s main source of motivation for the clash, but admits the pain of defeat to Leinster in the semi-final of last season’s Heineken Cup is still playing on the minds of players.

“Of course it hurts,” he says, “obviously the manner in which we lost but also what we lost out on. It does hurt, and the game in Dublin this season hurts as well.”

“It’s up to us now to have a go and try and put things right again, because we’re at home and I think a lot of us are hurting.

“But we realise that business is business,” Horan continued, “we need to get into the top four and getting four points on Friday night is key to that.

“You can lose sight (of that) a small bit because of who we’re playing but I think the focus for us is that this is just another game where we need the four points that will help us in our campaign.”

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.