Young Munster primed to win

Young Munster are primed for tomorrow's AIB League Division One confrontation with Shannon at Thomond Park, buoyed by the return of left wing Niall McNamara, out-half Stephen Tuohy and last year's captain and number eight, Declan Edwards.

McNamara has made a good recovery from facial damage sustained in the match against St Mary's College, while Tuohy and Edwards have both recovered from injury, displacing Aidan O'Halloran and Anthony Herlihy, respectively.

Young Munster's team manager, former Munster and Ireland prop John Fitzgerald, articulated his team's desire for a crack at Shannon. "We were raring to go first time around before the game was postponed and we are well prepared this time. It should be a wonderful occasion.

"We need the two points to guarantee a place in the play-offs - and that is our objective. People have referred to the fact that Shannon haven't really hit the heights this season, but they are still unbeaten and that speaks volumes. This should be a typical derby, hard and tough played out before 8,000-10,000 people."

Shannon have no injury problems and St Mary's College also find themselves in that fortunate position for their clash with Old Crescent at Rosbrien today.

Crescent make two changes behind the scrum with Packie Hallissy, a dual-status player with Kilfeacle, replacing Ken Barrett. Left wing Fergus Walsh will be out for a month with a leg injury, so Kevin McInerney takes over.

Garryowen will be without Ireland Under-21 international Conor Kilroy for the game against Terenure College at Dooradoyle. Kevin O'Riordan deputises. Paul Hennebry starts at out-half for the visitors, while Mick Quinn, Hugh O'Neill and Brendan Kavanagh form the backrow in the absence of Joe Kelly (back) and Garran Sheahan, who has returned to South Africa after suffering a neck injury.

Ballymena are without international James Topping and have reshuffled their backline. Stanley McDowell moves to full back, Jan Cunningham to the wing with Innes Gray on the other flank. Sheldon Coulter and Michael Boyd are in the centre, while Derek McAleese resumes at out-half.

Derek Topping, a brother of James, is named at openside flanker, while Keith Gallick is back after injury to anchor the backrow.