Munster earn home tie against Connacht

Munster will host Connacht in the Celtic League quarter-finals at the end of November. In the other quarter-finals, Ulster will travel to Glasgow, while Edinburgh host Cardiff and Pontypridd entertain Neath.

Munster topped Pool A and with Connacht edged out of third place in Pool B by dint of Cardiff securing a bonus point in their 15-9 defeat at Pontypridd on Saturday evening, Steph Nel's team will be destined to travel to Cork or Limerick.

A decision as to whether the tie will be played at Musgrave Park or Thomond Park will be made during the week. Either way the likelihood is that the quarter-final will be held on Friday, November 29th, to accommodate TG4.

Munster manager Jerry Holland admitted the all-Irish pairing is a little disappointing. "It is really. Connacht had a great start to the season and it would have been better if the Irish sides had avoided each other."

Connacht haven't beaten Munster in a competitive fixture since winning an interprovincial tie at Thomond Park by 11-9 in 1986, but Nel put a brave face on the draw. "It's probably not bad. I thought we did very well against Leinster, a quarter-final is a quarter-final, and there'll certainly be no difficulty in motivating the boys."

Though there was nothing official emanating from the IRFU or any Celtic League sources yesterday confirming even the final pool standings or the quarter-final line-up, the understanding is that the winners of the Munster-Connacht tie will meet the winners of the Glasgow-Ulster match at the semi-final stage.

First, though, Ulster would have to beat Glasgow in Hughendon. That may also be played on November 29th, as the Edinburgh-Cardiff tie may be switched to Sunday, December 1st, at the behest of television.

Likewise it is believed the respective pool winners, Munster and Pontypridd, would host the semi-finals at "neutral" venues in Ireland and Wales were they to win through the quarter-finals, though the competition rules merely state that the Celtic League board of directors will decide on the venues after the quarter-finals are completed.