McGuinness is forced to delay return

Conor McGuinness must again exercise patience in relation to the stress fracture of his shin that has kept him sidelined since the Terenure match on December 6th. The St Mary's College scrum-half will not now play in Saturday's crucial game away to Shannon.

"I trained on Monday night, and while there was no reaction to the running then, the following morning the leg was sore. It is a bitter blow. The physio (Denise Fanagan) told me rest is now the only cure. There is no sure-fire way to establish whether the problem is gone other than to test it.

"It is very frustrating, because all I want to do at this stage is play. Obviously I want to get back for a number of reasons, with the club struggling at the moment and because of the match against Scotland (on February 7th)."

McGuinness conceded that he would be guided by Irish team doctor Donal O'Shaughnessy, who will decide whether the Connacht player takes any part at today's Irish squad training. The weather has forced the session to be moved from the ALSAA complex to the JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds in Sutton.

Paddy Johns (ankle) and Gabriel Fulcher (knee) will take no part in the session. Mick Galwey and Graham Heaslip will deputise.

Meanwhile, St Mary's opponents on Saturday, Shannon, have yet to name a side as they await fitness reports on minor knocks to Eddie Halvey, Alan Quinlan, Jim Galvin and reserve hooker Ivor O'Brien. St Mary's have also delayed selection but expect to have international wing John McWeeney back after a hamstring injury. They may also include props Emmet Byrne and longterm casualty Peter Coyle.

Terenure College and Garry owen have named unchanged teams for fixtures against Dolphin and Dungannon respectively.

Division One leaders Ballymena expect to have Stanley McDowell for their trip to Old Crescent. The centre limped off after 21 minutes of the Dungannon match. Should he fail to recover, they may ask James Topping to remain in the centre with Innes Gray on the wing. A more straightforward solution would be to introduce Michael Boyd and return Topping to the wing.

Old Crescent have been bedevilled by injury and have therefore sought additional time to scrutinise those queueing for the treatment table. Wing Fergus Walsh is the only definite absentee.

Young Munster, too, await an injury update before finalising their line-up. Out-half Aidan O'Halloran went off with a hand injury last Saturday: should he fail to recover, then Stephen Tuohy will take over.

Opponents Cork Constitution are optimistic they will be able to call upon the services of Ultan O'Callaghan and John Kelly.

Old Belvedere harbour serious injury concerns. South African out-half Robbie Rein is definitely out, while Jonathon Mion (neck), Martin Ridge (back), Kyran Martin (neck) and Fergal O'Beirne (knee) are rated doubtful.

Former Irish international Neil Francis could play his first game in nine months against his former club, Blackrock College.

The Stradbrook club introduce A international Brian Carey for his first start of the season. Paul Jordan, back after glandular fever, replaces Malcolm Cuffe in the front row; the latter is resigned to best man duties at his sister's wedding.

Clontarf make one change to the side which beat St Mary's for their clash with Lansdowne. Ronan O'Reilly, who replaced Shane McCarthy the last day, starts on Saturday. Lansdowne are expected to name the same team that thrashed Crescent.