THE DIAR HUNTER

He might be shaking off a shoulder knock but Barron is driven to deliver some big game

- Michael SCULLY

DRIVE on is Diarmuid Barron's summer mantra as he rehabs a shoulder injury.

He'd like to think it's Munster's mantra for the new season, too, after the tumult, drama and disruption of last year.

There was Graham Rowntree's sudden departure six games into the campaign followed by the extensive search for a new head coach - and, under interim boss Ian Costello, the rousing Champions Cup quarterfinal victory over ROG's La Rochelle before the semifinal defeat to eventual tournament winners Bordeaux.

In the URC, Munster were involved in one of the games of the year with their last eight clash with the Sharks going to extra-time and penalties.

"Look, we needed to pull off some results and the lads did, they did a great job," said Barron, referencing the victories over Connacht and Ulster that saved the Reds' Champions Cup status for next season.

"But it was definitely very disappointing to bow out the way we did in the URC and the Champions Cup.

When things just fall apart, it can be easy for things to get away from humans, so to gather it up and make sure that we're in the Champions Cup this year - and to make sure that we pulled off some big results - was great.

"But it's a short enough career that you don't want to be spending every year doing that, and the last few years we've probably given ourselves big mountains to climb and that isn't where we want to be.