O’Donnell Named In Munster A Squad To Face Plymouth

Tommy O’Donnell will start from the bench for Munster A when they face Plymouth Albion in Round 3 of the British and Irish Cup tomorrow night.

O’Donnell has been out of action since September after injuring his knee against Zebre and wasn't expected to return to training until Friday but came through yesterday's session with no problems and has been included in the squad.

Head Coach Peter Malone has made four changes to the starting XV that defeated Nottingham at Meadow Lane in October.

Fit-again Luke O’Dea and Ian Nagle have been drafted into the side with Niall Scannell replacing Duncan Casey as hooker and Ryan Murphy replacing Barry O’Mahony in the back row.

Malone has decided to keep the half-back partnership of Duncan Williams and Johnny Holland intact with the centre pairing of Ivan Dineen and Cian Bohane also remaining unchanged.

Niall Scannell is the only change in the front row with props Alan Cotter and John Ryan keeping their places in the side.

Dave Foley is joined in the second row by Nagle with one change in the back row as Ryan Murphy comes in alongside Dave O’Callaghan and no.8 Shane Buckley.

Ronan O’Mahony starts on the wing with Rory Scannell keeping his place at full-back.

Recent academy signing Alex Wootton takes his place on the Munster A bench for the first time with Niall Kenneally also named in the squad after recovering from a recent shoulder knock he sustained playing for Cork Con.

Cork Con hooker Max Abbott is named on the the bench with Dolphin’s former Irish Under 20 international Brian Scott also included in his first Munster A squad.

Barry O’Mahony picked up a slight shoulder knock playing for Garryowen last weekend and is not included in the squad.

The game is the first of a double-header against a Plymouth side currently top of Pool 4, level on nine points with Munster A but ahead on points difference.

The return game will be played at Waterford’s Regional Sports Centre next Friday, December 13th, ko 7:30pm.

Tickets for that game can be purchased online here.

B&I Cup Round 3: Plymouth Albion v Munster A, Brickfields, Friday December 6th, ko 7:45pm.

Munster A: Rory Scannell; Luke O'Dea, Cian Bohane, Ivan Dineen, Ronan O'Mahony; Johnny Holland, Duncan Williams; Alan Cotter, Niall Scannell Capt., John Ryan; Dave Foley, Ian Nagle; Dave O'Callaghan, Ryan Murphy, Shane Buckley. Replacements: Max Abbott, Brian Scott, Darren O'Shea, Tommy O’Donnell, Gerry Hurley, Niall Kenneally, Alex Wootton.