Forward thinking required for Munster

Munster senior men’s coach Stephen Jackson has opted for a mix of youth and experience in an 18-strong panel named earlier today ahead of next weekend’s interpros on home turf at Garryduff. The selection is dominated by Cork C of I players, who comprise two-thirds of the squad, though it must be remembered that Quins stars such as Paul Lombard, Mark Black and Jason Black have ceased gracing the interprovincial stage. In their place come a number of youthful faces, with C of I’s Peter Catchpole, who has already represented his province at U18 level this term, the ‘baby’ of the squad. However, Catchpole’s club-mate David Harvey, Three Rock’s Patrick Shanahan and Clinton Sweetnam – the sole Bandon representative – are also the right side of 20.

Crucially for the southern province’s cause, Harte twins David and Conor of Pembroke Wanderers haven’t been deterred from making the trips down the N8 for training in recent weeks. It means Munster are extremely well-served between the sticks and in defence, with five senior international players – the Hartes, Mark Ruddle, Karl Burns and Adam Pritchard – and underage internationals in Sweetnam and Quins’ Dan Hobbs covering this area. Midfield also has an impressive look about it, with C of I’s experienced international duo of John Jermyn and David Hobbs joined by Quins’ Sean Nicholson, who has also seen action in the green of Ireland, though it’s difficult not to think Mark Black could have added an extra dimension here. Nonetheless, Nigel Buttimer brings his wealth of experience to the table, while Philip Smith and Andy Herbert are also named in this ultra-competitive sector. However, Munster’s hopes at the tournament may rest on how well their forwards perform relative to their provincial counterparts. Alan Sothern and Mitch Darling were raw but lethal as a pair in last season’s interpros and are capable of doing serious damage for Leinster again, with both having established themselves in the Irish squad since. Ulster also have a wealth of talent to choose from, with a quartet of internationals in the form of Eugene Magee, Timmy Cockram, Mark Gleghorne – who is on trial this weekend at top Dutch club HC Bloemendaal – and Peter Caruth leading the line for them. In Jonny Bruton, Munster do possess a hitman whose name sits comfortably with the aforementioned luminaries. The C of I man has produced some impossibly spectacular goals this term and won a fully-deserved Irish call-up in November, and his pace is a potent weapon in unlocking defences.

Shanahan is sure to have benefited from playing competitive hockey week-in, week-out in Leinster – his goal in the ISC against Bangor, where he mugged a couple of defenders before coolly lifting the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper, showcased his burgeoning talent. But whether he and Alec Moffett, who has been among the goals regularly for C of I this season, can dovetail with Bruton to produce the necessary fireworks in the circle remains to be seen. Munster senior men’s squad: M Ruddle (GK, Cork C of I), D Harte (GK, Pembroke Wanderers); K Burns, N Buttimer, P Catchpole, A Herbert, J Bruton, David Hobbs, J Jermyn, A Moffett, A Pritchard, D Harvey (Cork C of I), C Harte (Pembroke Wanderers), Dan Hobbs, S Nicholson (Cork Harlequins), C Sweetnam (Bandon), P Shanahan (Three Rock Rovers). Coach: Stephen Jackson Assistant coach: Will Bartley Manager: Andrew Gray