On the injury front things continue to improve for Alan Gaffney's squad.

John Hayes and Anthony Horgan have recovered from the knocks they went abroad with and both would expect to be in consideration for selection for the game v Connacht.

Mossie Lawlor took no part in the session in Ballinakill confining himself to just running on the adjacent all-weather soccer pitch with fitness trainer Fergal O'Callaghan, having injured his shoulder in the game against Treviso.

Interested observers were Christain Cullen who expects to have the sling removed from his right arm on Christmas Day and Alan Quinlan who already dispensed with his sling. Suggestions are that Cullen and Quinlan will have a ceremonian burning of slings.

Jason Jones Hughes and David Pusey took a full part in training.

Also looking on from the sidelines was Simon Kerr who has just come out of the Regional Hospital in Limerick after undergoing minor knee surgery. He expects to be back in full training when the squad re-assembles after Christmas.