Joey Carbery injury could mean he has played his last game for Munster

Carbery will join Bordeaux at the end of the season, and with this setback likely to rule him out of Munster’s URC play-off run, the out-half may not get another chance to pull on the red jersey before he moves to France.

Should that come to pass, it would be a bitterly disappointing way for Carbery’s Munster’s career to end, especially as he has been enjoying a good campaign.

“We are just waiting on an update on that, but my understanding is that it’s going to be longer (than one week),” Munster’s defence coach Denis Leamy said in Limerick this afternoon.

Carbery’s loss is compounded by news that Tom Ahern’s ankle injury is also quite serious, which could rule him out of Ireland’s summer’s tour to South Africa.

“I think Tom is effectively out for the rest of the season,” said Leamy ahead of Friday’s quarter-final against the Ospreys at Thomond Park.

“Now there is a scenario where he maybe would be looked at again but the reality is he’s going to be under the pump.

“There is another scan to be looked at in a couple of weeks, but he got a significant injury, and that’s very much in the balance I would say.”

Asked if he expected Ahern to be ruled out contention for Ireland this summer, Leamy responded:

“I’d guess so too. I don’t know exactly but I think he would be under pressure, definitely.

“Tom’s come on hugely around his work-rate moments, his tight game. The nature of injuries is there’s never a good time but this one is particularly unfortunate for Tom.

“We don’t know whether he was in the (Ireland )conversation or not but certainly a lot of what he had been doing was really strong.

“Look, it is really disappointing for us to have to take those three injuries (Carbery, Ahern and Rory Scannell), and unfortunately that’s been our lot this season.

“It’s really disappointing for the lads but we just have to accept it and turn the page as quickly as we can now.”

Leamy confirmed that Alex Nankivell will not feature against the Ospreys due to his ankle injury, while Jean Kleyn (eye) is unlikely to play again before the end of the season.

In better news, Leamy hailed the timely return of hooker Diarmuid Barron.

“Diarmuid brings an awful lot of experience,” he added.

“And Diarmuid’s footballing ability, I coached him in Rockwell when he was a Senior Cup player and he’s just a very smart rugby player. He really has a great feel for the game, has a really good set-piece so to have him back, and his leadership qualities as well, really strong.”