Sport

Munster hit by blows to O'Mahony and Murray

Munster's Back-Row Peter O'Mahony right tries to stop Clermont Ferrand's Nathan Hines
Munster's Back-Row Peter O'Mahony right tries to stop Clermont Ferrand's Nathan Hines Munster's Back-Row Peter O'Mahony right tries to stop Clermont Ferrand's Nathan Hines

MUNSTER have been hit by a double blow ahead of this evenings PRO12 final with Glasgow at the Kingspan Stadium with flanker and team captain Peter OMahony and scrum-half Conor Murray both ruled out through injury.

OMahony misses out with a hip injury and, in his absence Denis Hurley will wear the armband, while Murray has a medial ligament problem which will see him sidelined for six weeks.

However, Ireland winger Simon Zebo has successfully completed his return-to-play protocols and will start on the left flank, while Andrew Smith, Eusebio Guinazu and Paddy Butler, all of whom sat out Tuesdays training session, have recovered and are included in the starting 15.

The only change in the front row from the side that defeated the Ospreys in the semi-final last Saturday sees former Ulster tighthead BJ Botha come in to start alongside Dave Kilcoyne and Eusebio Guinazu and earn his 100th cap for the province.

Paul OConnell takes up his customary place in the second row and is likely to be making his last appearance in the red shirt as he is expected to sign a deal with Toulon which will keep him in France until the end of the 2016/17 season.

Neither side will have been happy with their semi-final performances in the play-offs as Munster squeezed past the Ospreys, who had a stoppage-time try disallowed which, had it been awarded and not ruled out for an earlier knock-on, would have given the Welsh side victory.

Glasgow, too, had to rely on a slice of good fortune after a piece of Ulster indiscipline in the 75th minute when the hosts were trailing by five points at Scotstoun, allowed them ultimately to capitalise with DTH van der Merwes try and a touchline conversion from Finn Russell earning them a place in todays final.

On paper, there is likely to be very little between the two teams in what is the first time the final is being played at a neutral venue, judging by the formbook if that can be trusted on such an occasion.

The two teams could not be separated at the top of the table on points after the regulation seas

on while its one win apiece going into the game, Glasgow having won the home fixture 21-18 and Munster taking the honours 22-10 in the return.

Munster back Andrew Smith is a potential match-winner who has struck a rich vein of form of late alongside his centre partner Denis Hurley.

Like OConnell, the former Brumbies player will be making his swansong today as his one-year contract comes to an end and he would dearly love to sign off with a win.

Finishing my time here with a trophy would be massive and thats what we want to do but Glasgow are a very dangerous side with a big and strong pack of forwards and a dangerous set of backs, said the Australian.

Finn Russell controls the game very well and Stuart Hogg is one of the best around when it comes to the counter-attack. Theres threats all over the park and this will be the toughest of challenges for us thats for sure.

Denis is a quality player and Ive played most of the season with him. Weve been developing together nicely as the season has gone on and things are going quite well now.

Glasgow have had their moments in recent weeks, most notably when they ran in four tries in a 32-10 win over a second-string Ulster side in the last game of the regular season at Scotstoun.

Stuart Hoggs brilliant opportunist effort proved to be the catalyst and the Lions full-back, who has family connections in Craigavon and was rumoured to have been a target for Ulster last season, is hoping for the support of the northern fans.

The family are big supporters of Ulster and Glasgow and Id imagine theyll be supporting us this week. Hopefully all the locals in Belfast get behind us on Saturday too and there will be plenty of Glasgow supporters over there, said the 22 year-old.

Weve played Munster on many an occasion  we know where theyre strong and where a couple of their weaknesses lie. Weve got a game plan and structures in place that the coaches have worked hard on and believe can break down Munster.

Up front if we can match their physicality  theyre a massively physical side  and hopefully better that, then we stand ourselves in good stead for setting up a solid platform for our backs to create some space.