THERE WAS RELIEF and joy as Munster secured a place in their first final since winning the 2011 Magner’s League, but head coach Anthony Foley has a number of injury concerns ahead of next weekend’s meeting with Glasgow Warriors.
Murray was replaced with with just a quarter of the game played. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Scrum-half Conor Murray, left wing Simon Zebo and captain Peter O’Mahony were the casualties as Munster held on to beat the Ospreys 21-18 in a Guinness Pro12 semi-final thriller.
Foley did not rule any of the Ireland international trio out of Saturday’s meeting with the Warriors at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, instead saying he is hopeful that three of his most influential players will be available.
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Try-scorer Zebo was knocked unconscious in a collision with the Ospreys’ Jeff Hassler as he gathered a kick, while Peter O’Mahony suffered a recurrence of the hip flexor issue that had made him a doubt for this meeting with the Welsh region.
Murray, meanwhile suffered a suspected medial collateral ligament injury in his knee after being tackled by Ospreys flanker and former Lions teammate Dan Lydiate.
Zebo now faces the return-to-play protocols for concussed players, while it would be a surprise not to see O’Mahony prove his fitness. Murray is the perhaps the biggest doubt, but Foley is optimistic.
“It looked to me a late tackle,” said Foley of the incident in which Murray was injured. “I don’t think there was anything malicious in it but it’s the way Dan Lydiate tackles. Conor had fixed him and given it, then Conor relaxed and he got chopped in just under the knee on the shin bone.
“It kind of jarred his knee, so it’s being investigated for an MCL. Look, just talking to the lad he’s had one or two of these injuries before like most players.
Zebo is helped off the pitch by Munster's medical team. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“He doesn’t feel as sore as the ones he’s had previously, so we’re hopeful that we might get good news on him during the week.”
As for his captain, Foley said O’Mahony’s removal shortly after half time was more a precautionary measure to avoid further damage than anything else.
“Peter after half time, his hip flexor – which was troubling him before the Dragons game – tightened up so we gave him a few minutes into the second half,” said Foley.
It wasn’t loosening out, so we just felt it prudent to take him off and make sure we didn’t get any more damage on that.”
Zebo failed to move for what seemed a lengthy period of time following a heavy blow to the head in contact with Hassler, before suggesting to referee Nigel Owens that he would play on when he did come around.
The Welsh official was firm in pointing the Ireland wing to the touchline, however, and Zebo unsurprisingly did not return after being replaced by Ronan O’Mahony.
“Zeebs obviously took a heavy knock on a catch,” said Foley. “I know at the time everyone was shouting for the TMO, but it looked ok to me.”
Foley with concerns over Murray, O'Mahony and Zebo for Pro12 final
Murray Kinsella reports from Thomond Park
THERE WAS RELIEF and joy as Munster secured a place in their first final since winning the 2011 Magner’s League, but head coach Anthony Foley has a number of injury concerns ahead of next weekend’s meeting with Glasgow Warriors.
Scrum-half Conor Murray, left wing Simon Zebo and captain Peter O’Mahony were the casualties as Munster held on to beat the Ospreys 21-18 in a Guinness Pro12 semi-final thriller.
Foley did not rule any of the Ireland international trio out of Saturday’s meeting with the Warriors at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, instead saying he is hopeful that three of his most influential players will be available.
Try-scorer Zebo was knocked unconscious in a collision with the Ospreys’ Jeff Hassler as he gathered a kick, while Peter O’Mahony suffered a recurrence of the hip flexor issue that had made him a doubt for this meeting with the Welsh region.
Murray, meanwhile suffered a suspected medial collateral ligament injury in his knee after being tackled by Ospreys flanker and former Lions teammate Dan Lydiate.
Zebo now faces the return-to-play protocols for concussed players, while it would be a surprise not to see O’Mahony prove his fitness. Murray is the perhaps the biggest doubt, but Foley is optimistic.
“It looked to me a late tackle,” said Foley of the incident in which Murray was injured. “I don’t think there was anything malicious in it but it’s the way Dan Lydiate tackles. Conor had fixed him and given it, then Conor relaxed and he got chopped in just under the knee on the shin bone.
“It kind of jarred his knee, so it’s being investigated for an MCL. Look, just talking to the lad he’s had one or two of these injuries before like most players.
“He doesn’t feel as sore as the ones he’s had previously, so we’re hopeful that we might get good news on him during the week.”
As for his captain, Foley said O’Mahony’s removal shortly after half time was more a precautionary measure to avoid further damage than anything else.
“Peter after half time, his hip flexor – which was troubling him before the Dragons game – tightened up so we gave him a few minutes into the second half,” said Foley.
Zebo failed to move for what seemed a lengthy period of time following a heavy blow to the head in contact with Hassler, before suggesting to referee Nigel Owens that he would play on when he did come around.
The Welsh official was firm in pointing the Ireland wing to the touchline, however, and Zebo unsurprisingly did not return after being replaced by Ronan O’Mahony.
“Zeebs obviously took a heavy knock on a catch,” said Foley. “I know at the time everyone was shouting for the TMO, but it looked ok to me.”
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Guinness PRO12 Conor Murray Final Injuries Munster Peter O'Mahony Simon Zebo