He may have been one of the best players of his generation but Trevor Giles was always an understated superstar and that penchant for modesty is alive and well these days as he works on the minds and bodies of those following in his footsteps.

After sitting out this year's Bord na Mona Walsh Cup, it has been confirmed that the Antrim hurlers will compete in the early season Leinster-based competition in 2013.

AS ALWAYS with the Heineken Cup, the cream tends to rise to the top when the knockout stages come calling in April.

LANSDOWNE’S promotion ambitions suffered a serious setback in this fiercely-contested AIL division 1B clash at the Mardyke on Saturday afternoon, as UCC came from behind in the final quarter to turn an 11-3 deficit into a glorious victory.

LET Meath march on as Leinster champions, and Louth as runners-up — and, later in the year, when the dust has settled, replay the Leinster final as a standalone fixture.

Tony Smeeth’s Dublin University edged out Clontarf 16-14 in a close fought encounter in Section C of the Leinster Senior Cup with a last gasp Simon Mitchell touchline conversion of Martin Garvey’s try at Castle Avenue yesterday.

CIARAN McMANUS is desperate to avoid a repeat of six years ago, when league success for Offaly was soured a few short weeks later by a premature and traumatic Leinster SFC exit.

Leinster make seven changes for their Celtic Cup clash with Neath-Swansea Ospreys at Donnybrook on Friday evening.