There will be two Highfield men in the Munster front row at Thomond Park this evening when James Cronin and Kevin O’Byrne pack down against the Scarlets.

Five months on from retaining their Division 1A status through the play-offs, UCC are the early leaders of the Energia All-Ireland League following a terrific 30-20 win at Dublin University.

Following three promotions in just five seasons, Cork side Highfield are set for a huge leap forward when they begin their All-Ireland Division 1B campaign against Malone at Woodleigh Park tomorrow afternoon.

It has been a tale of perseverance for Highfield as the Cork club finally gained promotion to Division 1B of the All-Ireland League after back-to-back second place finishes in recent seasons.

Located just outside the village of Emly in Co Tipperary and a short distance from the county town itself, a 43-acre residential holding represents something of a sleeping giant for anyone looking for a substantial Golden Vale acreage.

Organisers of the Academy Awards have announced they will put new rules in place for the year’s ceremony to avoid a repeat of last year’s envelope mix-up.

Johne Murphy has quickly established his credentials as a coach just two years after signing off on a memorable career that saw him play over 200 top class games for Leicester, Munster, Emerging Ireland and the Wolfhounds.

Cork Constitution’s dominance of the Munster Senior Cup will be challenged at Temple Hill (7.30pm) this evening when lower ranked but high-flying local rivals Highfield hope to stun their illustrious opponents.

The day I met PJ Mara we were both green and looking a little lost. I had been sent by a newspaper in Dublin to cover an event in the offices of the Construction Industry Federation. I stepped out of a lift to be met by Mr Mara.

Highfield’s David Kelly has joined a select All-Ireland League club, whose members are as rare as they are durable.

Munster A are fighting for their lives in today’s British and Irish Cup tie with Moseley at Billesley Common (2pm).

Ballinahow, Tipperary €750,000

Long before entering the political stage, Albert Reynolds had already forged a successful career by changing the Irish showbusiness landscape.

Leading Irish designer Joanne Hynes was among the top designers who showcased their work at a unique gathering of up-and-coming designers in Limerick last night.

1872-built national school owned by cartoonist/writer Flann O’Riain has price slashed to €80,000, Tommy Barker reports

Leinster’s new overseas signing, Quinn Roux, will make his home debut when the Heineken Cup champions take on Newport Gwent Dragons in tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash at the RDS.

ALEXA, THE

IF our future depends on exports, then designers are trying to get in on the act.

Washington: US politicians have faulted China’s currency policy as predatory as they disagreed on the need for legislation that would punish China for keeping its currency undervalued.

FORMER Munster and Ireland U19 prop Tim Ryan has quit big-spending French club Toulon a year early to try to carve out a first-team place at Newcastle Falcons.

Newcastle have bolstered their front-row options by signing prop Tim Ryan from Toulon on a one-year deal.

IT is not such a long way to Tipperary for any relocating Department of Justice officials moving from Dublin – and, appropriately enough, those relocating to Tipp town are from the Department’s immigration and naturalisation services (INIS.)

Limerick GAA club Fr. Casey's are today awaiting news of a horror injury to senior player Tom Cahill.

LIVING in the south of France: after the summer we’ve had, who wouldn’t do it?

Cork Constitution have delved into the transfer market to take Scott Deasy, Stephen Archer, Ian Nagle and Peter Murphy away from UCC ahead of the start of the AIB League.

England star Jonny Wilkinson is expected to be unveiled tonight as Toulon’s marquee signing for next season.

OLD rivals Cork Constitution and Shannon, two of the most highly featured teams throughout the history of the AIB League, meet in a hugely important clash at Temple Hill this afternoon (2.30pm) — a fixture postponed due to adverse weather conditions in January.

MUNSTER’S youngsters, with a little help from some seasoned campaigners, turned in an impressive performance and secured a deserved win over Leinster in this A clash in Waterford yesterday.

CORK Constitution are ideally poised to bridge a 20-year gap when they take on Old Crescent in the final of the ODM Munster Senior Cup at Clifford Park on Sunday (kick-off 2pm).

CORK CONSTITUTION coach Brian Walsh won’t find it difficult to motivate his troops before today’s ODM Munster Senior Cup semi-final with old rivals Garryowen at Musgrave Park (2.30pm).

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan might have been excused for taking Sunday off after the nerve-wracking ending to the previous day’s Heineken Cup action.

Mick O'Driscoll will lead Munster out against the All Blacks for the 30th anniversary of the legendary 12-0 win over the tourists at Thomond Park in 1978.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan must feel like a man trying to play poker with the aces removed from the deck this morning, following yesterday’s selection of the Ireland team to play New Zealand on Saturday.

Denis Leamy will return to rugby as number eight on the Munster side to play Harlequins A at The Stoop next Monday (5pm).

Cork Constitution 16 Young Munster 21

Cork Constitution 43 Terenure College 19

Cork Constitution 18 Garryowen 8, Musgrave Park

PAUL O’CONNELL, Alan Quinlan, Tony Buckley and Peter Stringer return to strengthen Munster’s Magners League challenge this weekend, but the search for Ronan O’Gara’s back-up seems set to continue after Jeremy Manning’s announcement that he is to return to New Zealand at the end of the season.

CORK Constitution will forever be grateful to an Irish immigration official who gave their outhalf Jeremy Manning a stay of execution at Dublin Airport on Saturday morning.

Ireland's Paul O'Connell has been named in a 24-man Munster A squad to pay Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday.

Dolphin number eight James Coughlan will lead Munster A into battle with their Leinster counterparts in an 'A' interprovincial at The Sports Bowl in University of Limerick on Thursday (2.30 kick-off).

THREE up-and-coming Irish fashion designers will have a chance to showcase their collections alongside top international labels such as Armani and Prada.

MUNSTER rugby giants, Cork Constitution and Garryowen, bring their provincial rivalry to the national stage in this afternoon’s AIB League final at Musgrave Park (2.30pm).

BY their own admission, Cork Constitution got out of jail and sneaked through to the AIB League final against old rivals Garryowen at Musgrave Park next Saturday.