ROR-ING BACK

Poyntzpass man Best managed 55 minutes for his club side at Rifle Park in their 17-5 All-Ireland League Division Three win over Barnhall - his first action since a disk prolapse in his neck forced him to undergo surgery five months ago.

The speed of Best's recovery has surprised everyone and now he has set himself the target of pulling on the famous green shirt at some stage in the competition after he was named in Declan Kidney's 44-man squad last week.

"It's good to be involved with Ireland. You never know what could happen. At the moment it's all about taking small steps and Saturday was a big test," he said.

"On Sunday morning I was a bit stiff but I'm still healing. I'd love to play some part with Ireland but we'll wait and see.

"Declan has been keeping in touch with how things are going and I have even been rehabbing with some of the other injured Irish players so the coaches are up to speed with how things are going."

Best said he was unsure when he would be back in action but hoped to know when that would be - and who with - very soon.

Every four weeks Best goes through a review with consultant Niall Eames, who performed the surgery which involved removing the disc and fusing the bone.

"I should know some time this week when I should be aiming to play again, but whether that will be with Banbridge, Ulster 'A' or Ireland A I just don't know," he admitted.

"I'm on my way to Limerick to find that out so hopefully I will know shortly."

The 27-year-old, who has been capped 91 times for his Province and 31 times for Ireland, said that it was a pleasure to make a rare appearance for his home club at the weekend.

"It was great to get some game time after a long lay-off," he commented.

"There were a lot of scrums in the match, which was a good test for me, and they went well. And it was great to play a part in helping Bann take another step up the table."

This weekend Bann travel to lowly Connemara in Divison Three keen to pick up another victory in the All Ireland League.

While Connemara has been a tough place for the locals to go the league table and recent results would suggest that Banbridge go into the game as favourites.