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League of Ireland Horse Racing TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture Rugby Weekly Extra Dive into all the news and analysis 3 times a week The Football Family Weekly insights from the week’s big talking points Advertisement More Stories Munster's Tom Farrell.Dan Sheridan/INPHO FreeOn the plane 'He thoroughly deserves it' - Munster delighted to see Farrell get Ireland call Munster centre Tom Farrell is travelling to Chicago with Andy Farrell’s squad. 6.11pm, 21 Oct 2025 Share options MUNSTER ATTACK COACH Mike Prendergast feels Tom Farrell fully deserves his Ireland call up after the centre was added to Andy Farrell’s squad for the November internationals on Monday. Having initially been overlooked in last week’s squad announcement, Farrell belatedly received the good news after the Ireland boss counted the cost of an attritional weekend for his players on provincial duty At 32, Farrell may have felt his chance with Ireland was gone but the centre now has an opportunity to impress Andy Farrell and the Ireland coaches over the coming weeks. Whether he manages to win a cap remains to be seen. Back at Munster, his coaches are just happy to see a player who has become a core part of their team finally get his reward. Farrell joined Munster from Connacht in summer 2024 and was the province’s player of the year for the 2024/25 season, having played in every competitive fixture across the campaign. He’s carried that form into the new season, delivering another big display as Munster toppled Leinster in Croke Park. “He’s a great fella as well, and that’s why everyone is so happy for him,” says Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast. The Ireland squad departed for Chicago today.Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO “He’s been brilliant for us. There’s no other way of saying it, his performances, and for me, he does it at the top level as well. Even last weekend and you look at some of our big games last year, he was outstanding. “I sometimes just bring it back to simplicity. He’s one of these players, and ironically two players I always give examples of to the lads as well would be Brian O’Driscoll and Barry Murphy, they run with the ball in two hands. Tom does that and it’s very hard to defend. You’re playing with defenders, they don’t know if you’re going to carry or if you’re going to pass. “And he just has this ability… he gets his nose through or he makes line breaks. Even you think back to the Leinster game in Croke Park last year, the amount of times he made line breaks as well. “So he’s been a brilliant signing for us, a great fella around the place and thoroughly deserves his call up. Delighted for him, it’s been one of those ones that’s worked out really well.” Advertisement The flipside of Farrell call up is that Munster won’t have his services for Saturday’s Thomond Park meeting with Connacht. Win, and Munster will head into the November break with a clean sweep of victories across their opening block of URC fixtures. It’s an interesting challenge given Munster also go into it without both Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne, the two outstanding performers in the Leinster win. On the injury front, Brian Gleeson and Edwin Edogbo are sidelined, with both pulling out of the Ireland squad. Edogbo is managing a concussion while Gleeson fractured his elbow against Leinster. The timing is unfortunate, but Prendergast has backed Gleeson to play a big part for Munster this season following his recovery. “Even he’s on for half an hour the hour day, you see some of his carries, his close-in contacts, even the finish for the try he looked like he was stopped but he’s a strong young lad, I’d say that much, and he’s building really, really nicely. I said it a few weeks ago about Edwin, Brian’s ceiling is very, very high as well. “He’s an explosive back rower, he has a lot to his game, he’s quick, he has great footwork. The timing isn’t great, timing is never great, and yeah, especially after being called into an international squad, but he’ll come back I’ve no doubt. He has a big long future ahead of him, there’s no fear there. “I think there’ll be more clarity on it during the week. Hopefully it won’t be too long and we get him back on the pitch. He’s a good young lad.” In more positive news, winger Diarmuid Kilgallen could line out at the weekend for the first time this season as the former Connacht man steps up his recovery from an ankle injury. “He’ll train this week so hopefully he’ll be in the mix because he’s just been unbelievably unlucky,” Prendergast said. “He got called into the Ireland squad during the summer and rightly so. His ability, he’s just incredibly explosive and quick, again, he has a great profile. He’s just been unlucky over the last while with injuries. “So hopefully he’ll be back very, very soon and he gets a run of it.” Ciarán Kennedy Viewcomments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “'He thoroughly deserves it' - Munster delighted to see Farrell get Ireland call”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “'He thoroughly deserves it' - Munster delighted to see Farrell get Ireland call”. 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Leave a commentcancel Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Mike Prendergast On the plane Tom Farrell News in 60 seconds FreeDates For Diary Dublin, Kerry, and Tipperary finals televised live as part of this weekend's GAA club action 54 mins ago FreeBack Home Louis Rees-Zammit back in Wales squad after two-year absence Freechanging allegiances South African sprint star Benji Richardson applies to represent Ireland at international level How McMillan's Munster took Leinster apart at Croke Park Murray Kinsella FreeOn the plane Noonan, Ozhianvuna and Sherlock back in Ireland U17 squad for World Cup Freerecognition Porter, Sheehan, Conan, Gibson-Park and Beirne up for Rugby Writers Player of the Year "I'd be shocked if Jack Crowley doesn't start against New Zealand" - Bernard Jackman 'You can't criticise players for trying to stop them from scoring': Lancaster on Mack Hansen injury Keith Andrews' Brentford move up to 13th after latest win 4 countries set to host 48-team Women's World Cup in 2031 'They were obviously up for it a bit more than we were' more from us Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The 42 supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. 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