Munster's Tom Ahern eyes Ireland debut amid injury setbacks

Munster lock Tom Ahern has faced numerous setbacks in his quest for an Ireland debut.

SLIM REAPER: Tom Ahern is battling a tight hamstring ahead of Ireland's Test against Georgia next Saturday. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Anyone who has watched the progress of Tom Ahern’s rugby career will have emitted another sigh at Friday’s Ireland squad update ahead of next Saturday’s Test against Georgia.

The Munster lock/flanker’s efforts to make his Ireland debut have been repeatedly stymied by injury over the last two years and the latest news that the reason Connacht’s Josh Murphy had joined Paul O’Connell’s squad prior to Wednesday’s departure for Tbilisi was to provide cover for Ahern’s tight hamstring suggested a similar fate may befall the Waterford man’s latest bid for Test recognition.