Byrne's cap thrown into ring

Shane Byrne's nerves have long ago been shredded, repaired and shredded again. Once again the Blackrock hooker's name appears in the 24man Irish squad, this time to face Romania in Bucharest on June 2nd.

Byrne will hope to earn his first Irish cap after years of watching hookers leap over him in the queue, while Cork Constitution's second row Mick O'Driscoll will also be pleased if an international place finally arrives. Few would begrudge Byrne the chance if it arises, though with Frankie Sheahan in the squad his enduring patience might once again be tested.

The 29-year-old was flown out as replacement on Ireland's 1994 tour of Australia because of an injury scare to Keith Wood but returned unfulfilled. The following year he stepped on a plane to South Africa - again when Wood hurt his shoulder - but once more he returned empty handed.

In 1997 Byrne played in a tour to New Zealand and Western Samoa but it was a development exercise and no caps were available. In all he has warmed the bench on five occasions, three times against Wales and once each against USA and France. Since he first earned a place on the Leinster squad he has watched 11 props progress and play for Ireland.

O'Driscoll's inclusion is finely timed, coming just three days before Cork Con enter their second AIL final in three years. With Malcolm O'Kelly and the Ulster-bound Jeremy Davidson with the Lions, Bucharest may offer O'Driscoll an important opportunity to impress.

A number of players who have struggled with injury over the last year or so have come back into contention. Eric Miller, a towering presence for Terenure this season, and Kieron Dawson should, along with Andy Ward, Anthony Foley and David Wallace, make the back row selection extremely competitive while Guy Easterby re-establishes himself alongside Peter Stringer as the number two scrumhalf.

Paul Burke also comes back into favour with the selectors after an outstanding contribution to Harlequins' effort last weekend in the European Shield final against Narbonne. Burke kicked 27 points for his club in their win and joins Dungannon's David Humphreys as one of the two outhalves.

Geordan Murphy, who will sit on the bench for today's Barbarians match against Scotland, will hope that his troublesome hamstring doesn't rule him out of the trip.

Irish Squad

Backs - G Murphy (Leicester), G Dempsey (Terenure), D Hickie (St Mary's), T Howe (Dungannon), J Bell (Dungannon), M Mullins (Young Munster), K Maggs (Bath), P Burke (Harlequins), D Humphreys (Dungannon), G Easterby (Llanelli), P Stringer (Shannon). FORWARDS - P Clohessy (Young Munster), J Hayes (Shannon), J Fitzpatrick (Dungannon), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), S Byrne (Blackrock), M Galwey (Shannon), G Longwell (Ballymena), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution), A Foley (Shannon), E Miller (Terenure), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Ward (Ballynahinch), K Dawson (London Irish)