The long road starts here as the race to make Ireland’s World Cup squad for Japan this September ramped up, after Joe Schmidt named a 44-player training squad.

A raucous Sportsground welcomed Connacht’s progression into the play-off stages of the PRO14 as their team turned in a bonus point performance in their most important game of the season so far.

Connacht are back in the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time in three years after man-of-the-match Jack Carty inspired their 29-22 Guinness PRO14 bonus point win over Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground.

Connacht got the result, but not the performance they required in this fraught win over Michael Bradley’s Zebre.

Jack Carty returned to the Sportsground after his Irish debut in the Six Nations to guide them to a priceless victory in their quest for a knockout place and Champions Cup rugby next season.

Ultan Dillane, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty and Tom Farrell will line-out for Connacht after their Ireland call-ups.

Andrew Porter's last-gasp try topped off a fantastic late fight-back as Leinster overcame Connacht 33-29 in an enthralling nine-try PRO14 derby at the RDS.

It says a lot about Connacht under Andy Friend that they were disappointed not to claim a bonus-point win over Top 14 outfit Bordeaux-Bègles as both teams tested the extent of their squads. But the coach left his players in no doubt that they have to improve their discipline or risk being dropped.

Niyi Adeolokun's late try put the seal on Connacht's rousing 33-20 Guinness PRO14 win over Scarlets at the Sportsground, with Bundee Aki and 18-point fly-half Jack Carty starring for the winners.

Connacht 26 Glasgow Warriors 27

Connacht 47 Leinster 10: On a day when Connacht bade farewell to their talisman from Portumna, along comes another farmer’s son from a few miles away on the other side of the River Shannon to lay down a marker and offer hope for the future with hooker Shane Delahunt producing a remarkable display on a day of celebration in Galway.

Guinness PRO14: Connacht 23 - Cheetahs 15: Tiernan O’Halloran has no qualms about being left out of the Irish squad for the autumn internationals, but the 26-year-old will be keeping a bag packed over the next few weeks in case there is a call from Joe Schmidt.

Connacht 15 Worcester Warriors 8: You suspect the more Kieran Keane settles into life in Galway the more he appreciates exactly what his predecessor Pat Lam achieved, not just with limited resources but the manner in which he got them to play in the difficult climatic conditions.

SCARLETS 36 - CONNACHT 27: No surprise result against the Scarlets, no reversal of fortunes for Connacht yet, but they came ever so close, producing their best attacking performance this season.

Connacht paid the price for a shocking first-half display as they were beaten 21-8 by the Dragons in Newport.

Connacht 14 - Dragons 9: Connacht coach Pat Lam says Kieran Marmion is fit to make his first start in the Six Nations next Saturday against France if called into action.

Guinness PRO12

Ospreys 29 Connacht 7: Connacht’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarter-finals were hit when out-half Jack Carty added to their growing injury list in a 29-7 defeat to the Ospreys.

Holders Cork emerged from a game for the ages to book their place in a third successive All-Ireland minor A ladies football final.

Ulster 18 Connacht 10: For Ulster the misery of the a month which saw them slump to fifth ended in a hard-fought win in Belfast over a Connacht side which never took a backward step but was undone by injuries and some unforced errors.

Connacht announced new deals for half backs Jack Carty, Caolin Blade and John Cooney today.

Bayonne 27 Connacht 29

A fine evening for Connacht has seen a very tight win for the men from the West.

Athlete Oscar Pistorius is due to return to court today as sentencing begins following his conviction for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Last week we brought you a story about five puppies abandoned in Cork - here is what has happened since.

The highlight of this year’s Degree Show at the Crawford is undoubtedly Olivia O’Mahony’s installation in and around the staircase in the college.

Check out our tips from today’s horse races across the UK.

CENTRE Rory O’Loughlin and replacement wing David Busby finished off well-worked moves for the Ireland Schools to outgun the Ireland Clubs in this Age-Grade International at Merrion Road yesterday.

HOPES have risen that a baby girl who received a liver graft from her mother this week will see her first birthday.

AN infant girl will have to wait another two months before doctors decide she is ready for a life-saving liver transplant.

Whoopi Goldberg has defended jailed actor Wesley Snipes and insists he has been used to "set an example" to the American people.

Derek Riordan has admitted he wants to quit Celtic in January in a bid to play first-team football elsewhere.

Wesley Snipes alienated everyone on new movie Blade Trinity because he spent the entire shoot in-character.

John Travolta is taking a break from playing good guys on screen and is signing on to play the villain in The Punisher, a film based one of Marvel Comics’ most popular titles.

Hat-trick seeking Needwood Blade heads a field of 16 for the Group Two Duke Of York Heartshead Homes Stakes at York tomorrow.

Eminem plans to travel to his London gigs by boat to avoid protesters.