Ronan O'Gara, Girvan Dempsey and Shane Horgan have all been included in a 24-man Ireland senior squad for next Saturday's Six Nations Championship match against France at Lansdowne Road. Coach Eddie O'Sullivan faces a long weekend as he monitors the fitness of all three, affording them every possible opportunity to prove their rehabilitation ahead of Tuesday's team announcement.
Of the three only O'Gara will play for his club, Cork Constitution, as they face UL Bohemians in an AIB League Division One clash at Thomond Park this afternoon. The outhalf, who has missed the Test matches against Scotland and Italy, following an ankle injury inflicted by Brett Sinkinson in the Celtic League final, came through training on Thursday with the Ireland squad.
The fact that he has been included in the 24-man panel with Harlequins Paul Burke reverting to the A squad suggests the management are optimistic that he will come through today's match with no adverse reaction.
Dempsey, who was a late withdrawal from the Italy game after suffering a reaction in training to his groin injury, has been receiving treatment all week and the prognosis is that he could be fit.
Horgan's chances after tearing a thigh muscle against Scotland at Murrayfield are less clear-cut and O'Sullivan won't gamble if there is the slightest chance of risking serious damage.
If all three were fit then the likelihood is that John Kelly and Rob Henderson will drop to the A squad, where two vacancies have been left in the back line. Reggie Corrigan finally underwent surgery on his broken right arm yesterday and his absence means a call-up for Ulster and Dungannon prop Justin Fitzpatrick. He won the last of his 21 caps against Romania in June 2001.
Shannon's Marcus Horan is expected to take over from Corrigan with Fitzpatrick on the bench. Horan has been freed by the national management to play for his club Shannon against Blackrock College at Stradbrook this afternoon. Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College), Alan Quinlan (Shannon), Guy Easterby (Llanelli), Rob Henderson (Young Munster), Paul Burke (Harlequins) and O'Gara have also been given permission to play.
The Ireland squad for the A international against the French at Ravenhill next Friday night (7.30) was also announced, with Connacht and Buccaneers prop Ronan McCormack added to the panel. Fitzpatrick's elevation to the senior squad brought about McCormack's promotion. As a specialist loosehead he could go straight into the team when it is announced on Tuesday, although Ulster's Simon Best can play both sides of the front row.
The vacancies among the backs will be filled after the permutations in the elite squad are sorted out. Ireland drew with the Scots in their opening match at this level and followed up with a 28-11 win over Italy despite a marathon journey the day before.
IRELAND SQUAD: Backs - G Dempsey (Leinster), G Easterby (Llanelli), R Henderson (Munster), D Hickie (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), D Humphreys (Ulster, vice-captain), J Kelly (Munster), K Maggs (Bath), G Murphy (Leicester), R O'Gara (Munster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), P Stringer (Munster). Forwards - S Byrne (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster), L Cullen (Leinster), J Fitzpatrick (Ulster), A Foley (Munster) vice-captain, K Gleeson (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), M Horan (Munster), G Longwell (Ulster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), A Quinlan (Munster), F Sheahan (Munster).
IRELAND A SQUAD. Backs - P Burke (Harlequins), G D'Arcy (Leinster), N Doak (Ulster), B Everitt (London Irish), B O'Meara (Leinster), D Quinlan (Leinster), A.N. Other, J Staunton (Munster), J Topping (Ulster), A.N. Other. Forwards - S Best (Ulster), P Bracken (Connacht), J Blaney (Munster), J Davidson (Ulster), K Dawson (London Irish), S Easterby (Llanelli), R McCormack (Connacht), A McCullen (Leinster), E Miller (Leinster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P Shields (Ulster).
Not considered due to injury: J Bell (Ulster), E Byrne (Leinster), J Bishop (London Irish), R Corrigan (Leinster), T Howe (Ulster), P O'Connell (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), P Wallace (Leinster), K Wood (Harlequins).
