Costello Names His Final Side

Munster’s British & Irish coach Ian Costello makes just four changes, one of those positional, from the side that defeated Leinster in the semi-final, for Friday’s title decider at Musgrave Park (5.30pm).

He has however left one other position to be finalised as he waits to see if Luke O'Dea, scorer of a cracking try in that RDS semi, is fit enough to make the starting line.

Up front Costello opts for the experience of Stephen Archer over John Ryan in the front row while a return to fitness sees Dave O'Callaghan preferred to Barry O'Mahony who is named on the bench.

The halves remain the same but Ivan Dineen gets moved from the wing to inside centre at the expense of JJ Hanrahan while Denis Hurley comes in to the left wing berth occupied by Dineen so ably in the semi-final.

Ten of the starting XV were involved in the inaugural British & Irish Cup final when Munster were beaten 23-14 by Cornish Pirates.

Munster: S Scanlon; AN Other, D barnes, I Dineen, D Hurley; S Deasy, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, S Henry, S Archer; B Hayes, I Nagle; B Holland capt, D O'Callaghan, P Butler. Replacements: D Fogarty, J Ryan, B O'Mahony, B O'Hara, G Hurley, D Cusack, JJ Hanrahan.

* Cathal Sheridan has been ruled out due to injury.