Clontarf celebrated after an Ulster League bonus point victory over Blackrock College on Friday pushed up their points tally to 50 and helped them stretch their advantage over St Mary’s College and Young Munster, but there’s a massive title battle ahead.

CLONTARF put a major dent in Shannon’s title aspirations with a 29-8 win over the Limerick side in Saturday’s Ulster Bank League Division 1A clash at Castle Avenue.

IT’S only six months since Rory Best harboured fears for his career but his incredible rehabilitation will be complete Saturday when he should make only his second start of the season against England in Twickenham.

DOLPHIN’S hopes of an AIB Cup semi final victory over Garryowen at Musgrave Park today (2pm) have been boosted with the news that the three Munster contracted players have been released back to the club.

IRELAND – RUGBY: AIB LEAGUE: RESULTS:

BOTH Blackrock College and St. Mary’s maintained their strong challenge for AIB League honours when accounting for Munster opposition at the weekend.

RUGBY: AIB LEAGUE RESULTS -

YOUNG MUNSTER claimed the Limerick Charity Cup for the first time in 13 years with a dogged 11-10 win over UL Bohemian at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Coached by Andy Ward and Adam Larkin, Belfast Harlequins will face a trip to UL Bohemians in the next round of the AIB Cup after coming through their first round encounter with Naas at Deramore Park this afternoon.

Holders Ballynahinch have been drawn at home in the second round of the AIB Cup against Cork Constitution in a repeat of last season's final.

Ian Morgan has been made the coach of AIB League Division Two club Terenure College, it has been announced.

GARRYOWEN took full advantage of Cork Con’s slip-up at Blackrock College by surging to the top of the AIB All-Ireland League with a 45-7 demolition of Ballymena.

GARRYOWEN youngster Conor Murray provided the finishing touch to his side’s crucial AIB League victory over UCD at Belfield on Saturday.

The teams for this weekend's upcoming AIB League fixtures have been annnounced today.

LEADERS Clontarf retain top spot in the AIB League despite losing to UCD at Castle Avenue Saturday.

JEREMY MANNING will be back in Cork Constitution colours for the crucial AIB League clash with Galwegians at Temple Hill tomorrow (2.30pm).

Nenagh Ormond made history this afternoon as they qualified for the AIB Cup's third round for the first time ever.

The following is the AIB Senior Cup Third Round draw for Saturday January 10, 2009:

The draw for the third round of the AIB Cup took place in Navan RFC this evening.

OLD BELVEDERE’S resurgence continues apace after they beat Dolphin 16-11 to chalk up their third straight win of the All-Ireland League season at Anglesea Road on Saturday.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE exacted revenge for last season’s AIB All-Ireland Cup final defeat to Shannon with a thrilling 41-27 win at Stradbrook on Saturday.

The following is the Leinster Under-20 team to play Munster in Friday's Interprovincial at Donnybrook (KO: 5.30pm).

CHAMPIONS Shannon will face Shane Byrne’s Blackrock College in the AIB Cup second round in a repeat of last season’s final.

The draw for the AIB Cup took place earlier today in Dublin. The knock out cup competition brings together all 48 AIB League clubs from the four provinces.

JEREMY MANNING’S late penalty helped Cork Constitution record their fifth consecutive win in Division One of the AIB League after an 18-16 victory away to Ballymena.

Team news for this weekend's AIB League games.

Team news ahead of this weekend's All-Ireland League clashes.

DIVISION TWO:

THE Leinster squad to face Edinburgh in the opening game of the Magners League season in the RDS on Saturday (5.30pm) has been named.

Cup holders Garryowen will have to wait until the second round to make an impression in the AIB Cup when they will travel to Lansdowne.

The following is the Leinster under-20 team to play Connacht in Greystones RFC on Saturday (KO: 4pm):

The following is the Leinster under-19 team to play Munster in the Inter-provincial Championship at Musgrave Park on Sunday:

The Leinster U-19 team to face Ulster in Greystones RFC on Saturday (KO: 2pm) has been named.

All the team news for this weekend's clashes.

VERY often among GAA people, when the thorny subject of payment for players is introduced, the nay-sayers point to rugby as an example of how things went badly wrong within local clubs when that sport went professional.

The teams for tomorrow’s AIB rugby league fixtures have been announced.

CLONTARF kept up their challenge for AIB league honours when they proved too strong for Buccaneers at Castle Avenue on Saturday.

A 49-man squad has been named to prepare for the first AIB Club International between Ireland and England Counties on Friday, February 23.

A 49-man squad for the first AIB Club International between Ireland and England Counties on Friday, February 23 has been named today.

IT’S seldom Shannon players are left with the feeling of having been “mugged” at fortress Thomond Park, but this was one such rare occasion.

The draws have been made for the 2007 RE/MAX Towns and Metropolitan Cup competitions.

The teams for this weekend's AIB League matches have been announced.

The following is the Leinster 'A' team to play Connacht in Barnhall on Friday (KO: 2pm):

DECLAN COPPINGER puts out fires for a living, but this afternoon he and his charges from Clonakilty RFC hope their endeavours might just be the cause of a few.