As the all-Galway Connacht team took the field in sunny Nowlan Park for this M Donnelly Interprovincial Championship hurling final yesterday, they passed under a sign in their dressing-room which stated, in bold red lettering, win, win, win.

CONNACHT racked up their eighth loss on the trot, falling to Italian visitors Treviso in the Galway Sportsground last night, once again paying the price for a poor start.

MUNSTER A had to wait until the dying moments to secure a hard-earned victory over a youthful and inexperienced Connacht at Thomond Park yesterday.

CONNACHT’S longest serving player, Michael Swift, could miss the remainder of the season after fracturing a bone in his right hand during Saturday’s loss to Aironi in the Magners League in Viadana.

Connacht captain John Muldoon returns from injury to lead his side out to play Bourgoin in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup at The Sportsground on Saturday.

Ireland contenders Gavin Duffy and Sean Cronin will play for Connacht against The Ospreys in the Magner's League on Sunday at the Liberty Stadium (5pm).

ULSTER have recalled their four Ireland squad members for Saturday’s Magners League derby against Munster at Ravenhill.

Hooker Sean Cronin and out-half Ian Keatley have been brought into the Connacht team to play Glasgow in the Magners League tomorrow evening (7.30pm).

CONNACHT’S European qualification credentials receive their first real test this evening in France when they face Montpellier at Stade Yves du Manoir (7pm).

Connacht have made two changes for their Magners League game against Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground tomorrow (kick-off 7pm).

Wing Brian Tuohy, lock Bernmie Upton and number eight Mike McComish will make their competitive debuts for Connacht when they open their Magners League campaign against the Ospreys on Friday evening (7pm).

Defending champions Leinster were held 6 ½ - 6 ½ by Munster on the second day of the Golfsure sponsored Interprovincial Championships at Douglas Golf Club, while Ulster beat Connacht by 9 ½ - 3 ½ .

ROSS CARR last night named his starting line-up for tomorrow’s Ulster SFC clash with Fermanagh in Enniskillen.

THE seaside in Salthill is the only sand the Munster hurlers will see this spring after they blew a seven points lead in the final quarter of this M Donnelly Interpro semi-final at Pearse Stadium on Saturday.

GEORGE HOOK ruffled more than a few feathers after Munster’s narrow defeat to New Zealand last week when he claimed that Leinster would never have been able to produce a similar performance under the same straitened circumstances.

Michael Bradley has made just two changes to his side for Connacht’s opening match in the European Challenge Cup away to Dax on Friday (kick off: 7pm).

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made three changes to his front five as captain John Fogarty, prop Stephen Knoop and second row David Gannon come into the side ahead of their Magners League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday night.

Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin will make their competitive debuts for Connacht in the Magners League away to The Borders at Netherdale on Friday evening (7.30pm).

Coach Michael Bradley has made nine changes to the Connacht side from the loss to Narbonne for their trip to Rotherham on Friday.

Connacht are now out of the reckoning for the Heineken Cup play-offs, but they will look to finish strongly at home to The Ospreys this evening.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has put his trust in the same side that pushed Worcester all the way last week for the return encounter in the European Challenge Cup Pool Five at The Sportsground tomorrow.

ULSTER flanker Neil McMillan has been declared fit for Saturday’s crunch Heineken Cup game against Saracens at Vicarage Road.

IT’S an indicator of how fast Robert Kearney’s career is progressing that the Leinster back was disappointed not to be involved in Ireland’s Autumn internationals last month.

The late withdrawals of hooker John Fogarty (rib cartilage) and centre John Hearty (hamstring) should not hinder Connacht's destruction of Italian club Catania at The Sportsground.

Munster take on Connacht in today's M Donnelly Interprovincial Hurling final at Pearse Stadium, Galway, intent on avoiding a hat-trick of disappointments in the competition.

Coach Michael Bradley will look for inspiration from out-half Paul Warwick, a last-minute withdrawal last week, if Connacht are to overturn a 14-point deficit against Narbonne in the first round-second leg of the European Challenge Cup at the Sportsground on Saturday.

LEICESTER yesterday appointed Pat Howard as their new backs coach – and the former Wallaby has vowed to help the Tigers reclaim the glory days.

Connacht 11 Beziers 13 (Agg 29-23)

WATERFORD County Board yesterday welcomed the Munster Council’s decision to defer the club championship semi-final between Patrickswell and their county champions, who will be decided in a replay on Saturday.

Ireland 16 Argentina 7

MUNSTER’S three new signings will all play their club rugby in Limerick this year with Eddie Halvey returning to play his club rugby with Shannon, Dominic Malone teaming up with UL Bohemians and Australian prop Simon Kerr joining Garryowen.