DAN McFarland was looking forward to a day of watching rugby on the couch yesterday as the extent of the challenge awaiting Ulster in the spring slowly unfolded in front of his eyes.

Three wins from three in the Champions Cup, but Dan McFarland says Ulster still have a long way to go to be considered a top-eight side in Europe.

Cork Constitution came good during the final 10 minutes to overcome Terenure College 13-10 at Lakelands Park and move top of Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A.

For Cork City, it’s now six games without a win under Neale Fenn and four games in succession without a goal.

It says a lot about Connacht under Andy Friend that they were disappointed not to claim a bonus-point win over Top 14 outfit Bordeaux-Bègles as both teams tested the extent of their squads. But the coach left his players in no doubt that they have to improve their discipline or risk being dropped.

Connacht 47 Leinster 10: On a day when Connacht bade farewell to their talisman from Portumna, along comes another farmer’s son from a few miles away on the other side of the River Shannon to lay down a marker and offer hope for the future with hooker Shane Delahunt producing a remarkable display on a day of celebration in Galway.

Kanturk (Cork) 3-13 Middletown Na Fianna (Armagh) 0-12: Kanturk cruised into the All Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Final today with a comprehensive dismissal of Ulster Champions Middletown Na Fianna of Armagh.

Zebre 19 Munster 29: Alex Wootton was one of the players that Rassie Erasmus name-checked in his final week with Munster when he was asked what he would miss when he returned to South Africa.

Connacht 15 Worcester Warriors 8: You suspect the more Kieran Keane settles into life in Galway the more he appreciates exactly what his predecessor Pat Lam achieved, not just with limited resources but the manner in which he got them to play in the difficult climatic conditions.

Connacht lacked so much ‘attitude and commitment’ according to coach Kieran Keane who bristled with frustration as his side lost for the third time in four PRO14 games on Saturday.

Ospreys 29 Connacht 7: Connacht’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarter-finals were hit when out-half Jack Carty added to their growing injury list in a 29-7 defeat to the Ospreys.

Leinster 70 Zebre 6: Leinster had the game done and dusted by the time the returning Johnny Sexton left the field last night, on 55 minutes.

Cork 2-19 Dublin 4-9: John Cleary hailed the composure of his leaders as Cork retained their All- Ireland Ladies Football minor A championship crown at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford yesterday.

Ulster 56 Oyannax 3: Eight tries, all converted, and a clinically attacking Ulster got the bonus point win over Oyannax on Saturday at the Kingspan Stadium needed to prolong – for 24 hours at least – hopes of a Champions Cup quarter-final spot.

Newport Gwent Dragons 9 Cardiff Blues 11

Shannon 20 Dublin University 5

Treviso 3 Ulster 35

Ulster 48 Benetton Treviso 0

Treviso 23 Connacht 3

Dolphin 6 Garryowen 15

Results, teams and scorers from this afternoon's league action.

Lansdowne 37 Young Munster 17

Old Belvedere 13 Clontarf 41

Results, scores and scorers from today's Ulster Bank League ties

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 16 CLONTARF 3

Ulster 45 Edinburgh 20

Cardiff Blues 18 Munster 24

GARRYOWEN 19 DOLPHIN 3

Ulster 18 Glasgow 10

Leinster ceased playing catch-up on Munster in Europe when they won their second Heineken Cup last season but that doesn’t mean they can’t still learn a thing or two from their southern brethren.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall put English rugby’s European failure down to the gulf in the salary cap between the Aviva Premiership and the rest.

It took Fermanagh two trips to London to fulfil this fixture, but Peter Canvan’s team easily collected the points against the Exiles at Ruislip yesterday.

Young Munster 21 Garryowen 15, Tom Clifford Park

The 20-year-old landed four penalties and a tough conversion, following Charlie Hodgson’s second charge-down try in as many weeks, as England rallied from 15-6 down to claim their second win of the championship.

Cork Constitution 43 Blackrock College 6

FEW would have foreseen a scenario whereby Leinster — and Munster — would be hoping to emulate Brive when the Heineken Cup started last November but such is the rather strange way of things as the pool stages fade into memory.

RONAN O’GARA does not get that many opportunities these days to display his skills at Musgrave Park, but he treated the crowd of almost 7,000 last night to a superb display of kicking in appalling conditions.

DOLPHIN 14 GARRYOWEN 3

Garryowen 25 Shannon 13

MUNSTER 15 GLOUCESTER 10

CONNACHT are set to be with-out Ray Ofisa for their mam-moth Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final against Toulon on Friday.

AIB LEAGUE DIVISON 1A:

MUNSTER’S worsening away form threatens to scupper their hopes of defending the Magners League title following this latest defeat.

Ballynahinch 17 Buccaneers 22

Clontarf 14 Garryowen 15

Clontarf 18 Cork Constitution 20