Emmet Farrell, the Blackrock College and Leinster outhalf has received a setback in his longterm battle with a serious knee injury. Having all but recovered from a damaged patella in the knee, he learnt during the week that he will have to go back to hospital within the next fortnight for a second operation, this time to the cruciate ligaments which are too lax.

He will be out for several months but hopes to return to competitive action in September. "It's disappointing but what can you do. I need the operation so I just have to get on with it." Farrell is now a well-established member of the NPFTM Club (the non-playing first team members club) and on Saturday was joined in conversation behind the posts by Tom Keating, David Johnson, Barry Gibney, Brian O'Driscoll and former Ireland and Blackrock scrumhalf Ciaran Scally. You could just hear them talking about the auld bandages.