IRELAND Under-19 manager Paul Doolin lavished praise on his young guns last night after they kicked off their European Championship finals campaign in Romania with a win.

It’s an all Premier Division clash at Hunky Dorys Park tonight as Drogheda United go head to head with UCD in the FAI Ford Cup, kick-off 7.45pm.

Dundalk face a tricky test if they are to stay top of the table as they travel to the UCD Bowl to take on UCD, kick-off 7.45pm.

UCD will be hoping to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers when they take on Galway United at Terryland Park tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

David Pollock will lead a strong Ulster outfit for the first time against a touring Portugal national side at Ravenhill in Thursday evening.

Brian O'Driscoll is confident new head coach Declan Kidney has all the right credentials to put a smile back on the face of Irish rugby.

Munster have given first-time full contracts to Welsh international Chris Wyatt, Australian Tim McGann, former Leinsterman Eoghan Hickey, Denis Fogarty, Ian Dowling, Jeremy Manning and Barry Murphy in the official announcement of their Senior Squad for the season 2006/2007.

PricewaterhouseCoopers have confirmed that it will sponsor the Ireland under-21, Ireland under-19, Irish Colleges and Irish Universities rugby squads for the next three years.

The draw for the 2006 IRB Under-19 World Championship in Dubai has pitted Ireland against England, France and Samoa in the pool stages.

Leinster’s first outing at Donnybrook for six months ended in a nervy 26-21 Celtic League win as stand-in skipper Felipe Contepomi rescued his side with his right boot.

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YOUNG Wicklow-born defender Paul McShane has returned to Manchester United after having his loan spell at Walsall cut short.