Ulster’s new director of rugby Less Kiss has named Rory Best and Ruan Pienaar on the bench for tomorrow’s Guinness PRO12 clash away to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Irish head coach Billy Walsh hailed Adam “The Guard” Nolan after he dumped No. 1 seed Radzhab Butaev out of the European Elite Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria yesterday.

An elderly dog abandoned at a shelter in a hot box with no water and maggots under her fur has been reunited with her previous owner.

Jennifer Lawrence has been named Hollywood’s highest-grossing actor of 2014.

The Queen has resisted the urge to interfere in a bloody power battle on her trip to the North.

POLITICS is rock ’n’ roll for the ugly, and the shucksters, bounders and bumpkins who hang about in Leinster House are a motley crew.

Busy Irish star Liam Neeson is to stay in his new all-action mode for his next movie — playing one of the Texas Rangers who hunted down and killed notorious robbers and outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE RESULTS: Division 1A and 1B

Ballymena 6 Garrowen 24

For the second day of the Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt in South Africa, Pádraig Harrington finished with a double-bogey seven and, having also dropped shots on the previous two holes, the Dubliner’s 73 left him, and Open Champion Darren Clarke (68), with eight shots to make up to leader Branden Grace.

Ballymena claimed the scalp of Bruff, who are always a formidable prospect at Kilballyowen Park, as John Andrews’ side moved up to fifth in the Division 1B table.

The teams for this weekend's All-Ireland League fixtures have been announced.

The teams for this weekend's round of AIL rugby fixtures have been announced today.

The teams for this weekend's round of All-Ireland League rugby matches have been announced.

Leaders Cork Constitution have been able to select Munster's Billy Holland in their back row for Saturday's AIB League clash with Dolphin.

Ballymena 15 Dungannon 25

CHUNKY fly-half Callum Patterson was the hero for Ballymena Academy as they lifted the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup for the first time in 29 years at Ravenhill yesterday.

Leaders Cork Constitution will have Munster's Jeremy Manning back at out-half at home to old rivals Shannon in Division 1A of the AIB Leagure at Temple Hill tomorrow.

Cork Constitution bring back Munster-capped tight-head Stephen Archer into their front row for the clash with Garryowen in Division One of the AIB League at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

Leaders St Mary’s College bring hooker Richard Sweeney, prop Kevin Carroll and lock Stephen Bradshaw in for a shot at Garryowen in Division 1A of the AIB League at Templeville Road.

Leinster wing Michael Keating comes back into the Clontarf side as they go toe-to-toe with Shannon in the AIL at Castle Avenue on Saturday.

Leaders St Mary's College will give a debut to scrum-half Cormac Quinn in a first versus second encounter with Blackrock College, who have been decimated by Magner's League and Ireland U19 commitments, at Templeville Road.

AIB LEAGUE DIVISION 1B:

League leaders St Mary's College will look to take their excellent form into the AIB Senior Cup third round on the road to Garryowen this weekend.

Cork Constitution will give an AIL debut to possible Ireland Under-20 second row Brian Hayes at home to UL-Bohemian at Temple Hill tomorrow.

Ballymena 15 Ballynahinch 13

Former Leicester Tigers hooker Gavin Hickie has returned to St Mary's College ahead of their season opener at home to Dublin rivals Clontarf at Templeville Road.

CORK CONSTITUTION coach Brian Walsh insists Ballymena will be anything but cannon fodder as his side look to win a desperately tight race for a semi-final playoff place in the AIB All-Ireland League.

Teams for this weekend's All-Ireland League clashes.

Teams for today's All-Ireland League ties.

Blackrock College 27 Ballymena 10

ALL IRELAND LEAGUE.

Team news for this weekend's AIB League games

Buccaneers 17 Ballymena 21

All-Ireland League team news

All the AIB All-Ireland League teams have issued their team sheets for tomorrow's games.

AIB League teams

These are the teams for the AIB Senior Cup:

Ballymena 5 Galwegians 19, Eaton Park

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

Lucan's Richard O'Donovan recorded a fine opening round of 70 to lead after day one of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Portumna Golf Club.

Following the success of his latest movie, In Bruges, Dubliner Colin Farrell will head home for his next … he starts work on Triage for Bosnian helmer Danis Tanovic. First there’s a six-week shoot in Europe and then a four-week stay in Dublin.

Terenure College 14 Ballymena 12, Lakelands Park

Dolphin 19 Ballymena 12