Munster 41 Caerphilly 0

FIONN McLoughlin, son of Gerry (Ginger), the renowned Ireland Triple Crown-winning prop in 1982, is a replacement on the Caerphilly team to meet Munster in the final group qualifying match of the Celtic League at Thomond Park tomorrow night (7.30pm).

JONNY BELL is the latest Ulster casualty prior to Friday’s Celtic League game against Llanelli at Ravenhill.

Ulster Coach Alan Solomons today named his side for the winner-takes-all encounter with Llanelli at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Home advantage in the Celtic League quarter-finals on the last weekend of November is the golden carrot on offer in the final round of pool matches this weekend.

SEVEN or eight players good enough to represent any team in the Heineken Cup sat in the Thomond Park stand on Saturday watching their Munster comrades battle their way to a hard earned victory over Perpignan.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney will have a full panel, apart from long-term injury personnel, to select from as he ponders the team to open this season’s Heineken Cup campaign against Gloucester on Saturday evening.

After the penultimate round of the 2002 Celtic League Pool stages, Cardiff and Edinburgh both secured spots in the quarter-finals, whilst Irish province Connacht lost their unbeaten run in decisive style as they crashed 0-40 at home to Pontypridd, who now take over at the top of Pool B.

Ulster significantly improved their chances of reaching the Celtic League quarter-finals with an emphatic eight-try demolition of Caerphilly at Virginia Park.

Ulster lead Caerphilly by 27-8 at half-time in their Celtic League clash at Virginia Park.

MOSSIE LAWLOR mightn’t want it heard, much less printed for posterity, but one of his youthful highlights involved sitting on Mick Galwey’s knee.

Alan Solomons has named both David Humphreys and Gary Longwell - who have returned from international duty - in his side to play Caerphilly in the Celtic League on Saturday at Virginia Park.

MUNSTER captain Jim Williams is to return for the crunch Celtic League game against Neath in Wales on Saturday.

MICK GALWEY leads Munster into Celtic League action against Ulster at Ravenhill this evening as Jim Williams is ruled out due to injury.

REIGNING Celtic League champions Leinster haven’t given up on their title just yet, although coach Matt Williams says they have to win all three remaining games to stand any chance of making the top four in Pool B.

Caerphilly 32 Edinburgh 66

Celtic League Pool A:

Celtic League Pool A

Celtic League latest

Celtic League latest

Celtic League latest

Celtic League latest

IRISH provinces have been tipped to dominate the Celtic League season ahead of today’s kick-off, with last year’s finalists Leinster and Munster installed as joint 5/2 favourites by British bookmaker William Hill.

Rob Howley looks certain to miss Cardiff’s remaining six Welsh-Scottish League games this season after suffering a potentially serious knee injury.

Unbeaten Connacht have mounting injury problems ahead of tomorrow's Parker Pen European Shield clash with Pool Four leaders Sale in Galway.

Connaught completed what was a very successful weekend for the Irish provincial sides with a comprehensive victory over Caerphilly at the Sports Grounds in Galway.

Munster, Ulster and Leinster all recorded wins today's fixtures of the Celtic League and have all secured home advantage for the quarter finals, which will be played on December 1.

Three of the four Irish provinces are in action today in the new Celtic League.

Ireland international centre Mick Mullins helped himself to four tries

These are the half-time results in tonight's Celtic League action Ulster v Bridgend result to come.

Cardiff weathered a long period of pressure from Caerphilly, but ran out comfortable 49-15 winners after a late second-half burst.

Celtic League results

Celtic League latest

Celtic League latest

Celtic League latest

The England Under-21 selectors have made six changes for Saturday morning’s clash against Italy at The Stoop.