Cork Constitution lock Brian Hayes has hailed the impact made by coach Paul Barr ahead of their latest appearance in an All-Ireland League decider this weekend.

Clontarf centre Sean O’Brien is determined to follow in his older brother Conor’s footsteps and win an All-Ireland League title at the Aviva Stadium next Sunday.

Clontarf centre Sean O'Brien is determined to follow in his older brother Conor's footsteps and win an All-Ireland League title at the Aviva Stadium next Sunday.

2014 and 2016 winners Clontarf proved too strong for defending All-Ireland League champions Lansdowne as they deservedly clinched their place in next Sunday's Division 1A final after a hard-fought 23-15 victory at a windy Castle Avenue.

Dave Mervyn looks ahead to this weekend's AIL action.

Cork Constitution booked a home semi-final in All-Ireland League Division 1A after completing a season’s double over UCC.

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.

Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner Rob Russell got among the tries as Dublin University claimed the scalp of All-Ireland League leaders Cork Constitution to take a step closer to a historic semi-final place.

Over 5,500 tickets have been sold for the game at Musgrave Park, which kicks off at 7:15pm on Friday night.

Cork Con scored a last-gasp try to beat rivals UCC 18-20 last night at the Mardyke in the second round of the All-Ireland League.

A thundering and typically spirited display by the Shannon pack, with skipper Lee Nicholas and flanker Charlie Carmody in inspirational form saw them to a decisive 23-10 victory over Young Munster in a highly enjoyable and keenly contested All-Ireland League encounter at Thomond Park last night.

Talk to Len Dineen, they said. There’ll be stories, they said. Well, the Limerickman, who recently retired after 40 years as a rugby commentator, settled in ...

Far away from the madding crowds of the Six Nations last weekend, Tom Clifford Park, the famed home of Young Munster, hosted my own club Cork Constitution in the latest of a series of hotly contested Ulster Bank League Munster derbies.

Cork Constitution’s Gerry Hurley made his first AIL start of the season last Saturday after his return to amateur rugby following a two-year stint in the south of France.

A lot has happened to Joey Carbery in the year since his remarkable Test debut in that historic victory over the All Blacks in Chicago, though not enough to stop his drive to become one of the best players in the world.

Cork Constitution secured their third consecutive Cork Charity Cup title with a hard fought win over UCC at Temple Hill on Saturday.

After three years of All Ireland League heartache Limerick based UL Bohemian's womens rugby team returned to the top with an an amazing run of form and collecting the All Ireland League, All Ireland Cup, and Munster Cup.

There was relief for Dolphin RFC as they celebrated victory in the All-Ireland League play-off at Musgrave Park to retain their Division 1B status.

Former Westmeath minor footballer Conor O’Brien might this week be preparing for a Leinster SFC semi-final showdown with Kildare in Croke Park, but instead it’s the World Rugby U20 Championship final.

Cork Constitution’s Conor Kindregan was last night named as the Ulster Bank Player of the Year for Division 1A, cushioning the blow of losing the final to Clontarf.

Cork Constitution head coach Brian Hickey insists his club’s bid for an historic four in a row of Bateman Cup victories today will be enough to prevent minds wandering to next weekend’s Ulster Bank League Division 1A final.

The glory days have been few and far between in the recent history of All-Ireland League stalwarts Sundays Well but tomorrow’s Musgrave Park clash with Greystones provides a chance to make amends.

Jimmy Woulfe canvasses with Willie O’Dea and finds knowledge of the local area is his number one asset.

It was 1995 when a certain “tall, gangly looking fella with a red head of hair” arrived at Young Munster for the first time.

The issue of concussion in professional rugby has been at the forefront of discussion over the last number of seasons.

Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1A

What do you do when your mentality is questioned? When the stain of losing tarnishes your reputation? Perhaps you call Jim McGuinness, or, in Newcastle West’s case, his brother-in-law.

Cork Constitution may be underdogs for today’s Bateman Cup, but with a three-in-a-row within their grasp they have players with the experience of managing such cup final occasions.

Rugby history was made in at Musgrave Park, Cork last night when Helen O’Reilly became the first female to referee a men’s All-Ireland League game.

Helen O’Reilly, the first woman to be selected for the IRFU National Referee Panel, last night described her historic appointment as "a dream come true".

In rugby’s professional era, the public perception of the Munster Senior Challenge Cup would be quite different to the view within the clubs.

Leinster 37 Cardiff Blues 23

If you accept that full-time clubs were essential for the future of Irish football there’s an obvious follow-up question: how do we create sustainable full-time clubs in Ireland?

Cork 1-18 Tipperary 3-08

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE:

After arriving in a blaze of fanfare as a potential precursor to an All-Ireland League in 2005, yesterday’s announcement of the 2014 Setanta Sports Cup was delivered amid its latest setback.

Shannon 24 UL Bohemian 22