Even the sizeable Leinster contingent in the full house at Thomond Park on Saturday departed believing they had been short changed.

Graeme McDowell began the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Sunday one stroke behind Tiger Woods but confident of overcoming the American in head-to-head combat as he had done in the Chevron World Challenge in California two years ago.

More than 7,000 fans watched Connacht battle with Munster in Galway on Saturday night.

Those who believe Declan Kidney will be quickly able to find alternatives and back-up support for Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Tom Court, the trio who have carried the scrummaging responsibilities throughout the RBS 6 Nations Championship, will have to think again.

Pádraig Harrington may have failed to build on his career best 61 recorded in the opening round of the Transitions Championship in Florida but that Thursday display is a massive confidence booster for the three times Major champion who has slipped to 91st in the world rankings.

Munster supporters watching Donnacha Ryan’s man of the match performance and Sean Cronin making a massive impact off the bench in Ireland’s victory over Scotland must have been wondering why the former is being closely linked with Leinster for next season and the latter is already one of the boys in blue.

HAVING consolidated his place at the top of the world rankings by finishing third in the WGC Cadillac event at the weekend, Rory McIlroy takes a three-week break before the Masters at Augusta on April 5.

As Rory McIlroy became golf’snumber one-ranked player,three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington slipped out of West Palm Beach almost unnoticed on his way back home to Ireland.

It’s not just Ireland but Munster who have been left reeling by last night’s shock news concerning Paul O’Connell and Conor Murray.

Anthony Foley back with Ireland, Niall O’Donovanagain part of the Munster set-up.