McGahan expects injured Ireland trio to be ready for Ulster

Munster director of coaching Tony McGahan is hopeful Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray and Donnacha Ryan will be fit to face Ulster in 11 days, despite having to plan without all three Ireland internationals for Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Leinster.

The Test trio were omitted from the 28-man squad announced yesterday for this weekend’s top-of-the-table showdown at Thomond Park, instead remaining on an injury list that currently contains 16 players.

While O’Connell was not expected back this weekend following the knee ligament injury he sustained against France on March 4, both Murray and Ryan had been earmarked for a role in the second of three inter-provincial matches culminating with an Easter Sunday Heineken Cup quarter-final at home to Ulster. Murray had a three- to four-week recovery period for the bone bruising he suffered against France on his right knee while Ryan has not fully overcome the bang to his shoulder he took against Scotland on March 10.