Alan Quinlan could be in hot water after TV cameras spotted an apparent eye-gouging incident against Leinster.
Could be double trouble for Quinlan after TV footage of eye incident
Alan Quinlan could have more misery to deal with on top of Munster's Heineken Cup semi-final defeat against Leinster, if he is cited and found guilty of an apparent eye-gouging incident caught on camera.
Veteran flanker Quinlan was a surprise inclusion in Ian McGeechan's British and Irish Lions squad but was caught on TV apparently gouging the eyes of Leinster captain Leo Cullen.
If cited and found guilty of the offence he faces a ban that could be months, going on previous cases involving Dylan Hartley and Neil Best.
Any lengthy ban would rule him out of the Lions tour to South Africa, in what would be a second huge body blow after losing out in the Heineken Cup semis against Leinster.
However, both Lions captain and Munster team-mate Paul O'Connell and Leinster coach Michael Cheika believe he would not be guilty of such an act.
Tough guy
"Quinny isn't that type of guy," said O'Connell. "He is a tough player. It is the one thing he hasn't got in his record book.
"If it looked bad, I am sure there was nothing in it."
Cheika agreed, after watching his side book their first Heineken Cup final appearance with a 25-6 victory.
"Quinlan is a good operator and a good guy and I have a lot of respect for him," said Cheika.
"He is a hard guy. That is the battle. Between Munster and Leinster it is a war and you have to be as aggressive as you possibly can.
"I can't see him doing it."
BOD display
Leinster won the game with tries from Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald and man-of-the-match Brian O'Driscoll but the victory was founded on an aggressive defensive performance.
Munster came into the game as odds-on favourites but were battered into submission and Leinster will head to Murrayfield on May 23 to face either Cardiff Blues or Leicester.
"We stayed composed at the right times and defensively we were up to the task," said Cheika.
"It is exciting we have got an opportunity to play in the Heineken Cup final.
"We have had a good game today and done well and qualified for the final - but the final is not the prize. When we have got the trophy, they can't take that away from us.
"We haven't done it yet. We have won a semi-final and will have to go up against a team who are in red-hot form. We have to continue the belief we have."
Munster down
Munster coach Tony McGahan admitted he was "absolutely shattered" after an error-strewn performance, and said it would take a long time for the pain of defeat to ease.
"Words couldn't describe how difficult it is to take," said McGahan.
"The Heineken Cup for Munster is everything and we were second best today and it will certainly hurt for a long, long time. The performance, the scoreboard and losing to Leinster obviously hurts.
"We expected Leinster to produce their best game and today they didn't disappoint. They played on the back of a wonderful defensive display.
"It will take a very good side to turn them over."
