NUI Galway 4-14 St Pat’s Dochas Eireann 1-12: NUI Galway manager Tony Ward praised his side’s character but knows they didn’t play to their potential as they saw off a valiant St Pat’s in the Fitzgibbon Cup at Dangan in Galway.

Kilkenny 4-18 Westmeath 0-18: A flood of early goals helped Kilkenny cruise to a 12-point Walsh Cup win in Mullingar yesterday, setting up a semi-final clash with Wexford next weekend.

Limerick 1-24 Westmeath 0-18: Plenty of questions have been asked of Limerick since they crashed out of the Munster championship at the hands of 14-man Tipperary, but after another test of their mettle in Mullingar, Limerick are just one win from an All-Ireland quarter-final.

St Pat’s/Mater Dei 2-14 IT Carlow 4-17: IT Carlow claimed victory after a highly entertaining Fitzgibbon Cup clash with St Pat’s/Mater Dei in the Na Fianna’s club grounds in Dublin.

St Patrick’s Drumcondra 0-9 - Waterford IT 1-19, Fitzgibbon Cup DCU Sportsgrounds

Galway 3-18 Westmeath 0-17: Galway’s senior hurlers qualified for the semi-final of the Walsh Cup thanks to a 10-point victory over a hard-working Westmeath side in this final group game, played in Lakepoint Park, Mullingar, yesterday.

Kildare 3-16 Roscommon 3-17

Connacht signed off with a best place finish in this season’s RaboDirect Pro12 League but Eric Elwood won’t be happy with this performance.

It wasn’t perfect, but Munster’s overall display at Musgrave Park on Saturday was a whole lot better than the previous two weeks and good enough to reward them with four RaboDirect Pro12 points to keep them on course for a semi-final spot.

Munster may turn to All Black legend Tana Umaga to provide the missing link in a new coaching management team with former skipper Anthony Foley.

Winning has almost become a habit for Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro 12 league this season but on Saturday they were given a reminder that past form does not guarantee success.

Connacht will view this evening’s Pro12 fixture against Glasgow Warriors at the Galway Sportsground (5.30pm) as a must-win if they want to improve on last season’s league finish.

ISAAC BOSS came off the bench to clinch Leinster’s place in the Heineken Cup last eight and leave them in the comfortable position of playing Montpellier at the RDS next week with only their seeding in the final stages at stake.

A COUPLE of weeks ago, Joe Schmidt talked about the process of reintegrating his massive World Cup contingent and pointed out that it had taken three games for the kinks to be ironed out when his stars returned from a late summer break the season before.

THE loss of Ireland international Kevin McLaughlin and openside Dominic Ryan to ankle injuries leaves Joe Schmidt without 23 first choice players for Saturday’s trip to The Scarlets in the PRO12 League.

LEINSTER back rower Dominic Ryan is looking forward to inflicting more torture on Glasgow Warriors at the RDS tonight (6pm) in the first of at least four encounters between the sides this season.

A TRY either side of half time paved the way for Munster to maintain their winning start to the Rabo-Direct Pro12 and in the process created a new league record by winning a dozen games on the spin.

MUNSTER may have found what they’ve been looking for, after signing Australian code-jumping sensation Will Chambers on a short-term contract.

LUKE FITZGERALD will seek to put his World Cup disappointment behind him tonight when he takes his place in an unfamiliar and inexperienced Leinster side which begins its RaboDirect Pro12 campaign away to the Ospreys (7.05pm).

Glasgow Warriors head coach Sean Lineen wants nothing short of five points from tomorrow night’s Magners League clash against leaders Leinster at Firhill.

Connacht 19 Glasgow 19

FOR the first time since December, Connacht enjoy a return to the Galway Sportsground where they host playoff hopefuls Glasgow in tonight’s Magners League fixture.

ON the back of a solid start in the Amlin Challenge Cup, Connacht return to the bread and butter of Magners League action hoping to continue their winning ways against Glasgow Warriors at Firhill tonight (7.30pm).

Glasgow 22 Munster 9

PAUL WARWICK has been ruled out of tonight’s opening Magners League clash against Glasgow Warriors at Firhill but Munster, captained by Mick O’Driscoll yet again, welcome back high-flyers Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi for the big game.

MUNSTER increased their lead in the Magners League with a big win over Glasgow Warriors at Firhill last night, with man-of-the-match Niall Ronan claiming three of his side’s four tries.

STEPHEN KEOGH has been ruled out of the Leinster team for tonight’s crucial Magners League clash with Glasgow at Hughenden.

The teams for the upcoming AIB League fixtures have been announced.

SPRINT king Andy Maxwell believes the fractured Celtic League season will not get in the way of Ulster's goal of winning the title.

LEINSTER put their Heineken Cup campaign back on track, not just winning away but collecting a try bonus point into the bargain at Hughenden yesterday.

Munster 25 Glasgow 19