NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS secured revenge over Connacht for an opening day Magners League thrashing in Galway this season by clinching a one-point victory at Rodney Parade.

CORK chairman Jerry O’Sullivan heaped praise on the county’s All-Ireland winning footballers and insisted that their hurling counterparts “have the talent and the ability to compete and win at any level.”

TABLE-TOPPERS Harlequins lived up to their favourites’ tag with an impressive victory over Connacht in last night’s Amlin Challenge Cup clash at the Twickenham Stoop.

CONNACHT showed continuing improvement in their away form last night, grabbing a third bonus point on the road this season despite ultimately losing out against Edinburgh.

CONNACHT were denied their second home victory of the Magners League season when the Ospreys struck for a match-winning try in the 78th minute at the Galway Sportsground last night.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood was left to reflect on what might have been at the Sportsground on Saturday night after his side threw away what could ultimately prove a crucial Magners League point in the final minutes of their 18-6 defeat by Leinster.

THE GAA has to address the issue of people being paid to manage club teams, former Clare goalkeeper Seamus Durack warned at the Bord Gais Energy-sponsored Munster GAA awards presentation on Saturday night.

RORY BEST will lead Ireland’s tour to America as one of five Grand Slam winners included in the 25-man squad.

MUNSTER’S challenge for the Magners League title remains very much on course after Saturday night’s 25-10 defeat of Connacht at Thomond Park but if they happen to be caught at the post, they may well rue the failure to take a bonus point from this game.

BY his own admission, GAA President Christy Cooney favoured “fresh blood” in is choice of chairmen of 31 national committees, which he announced at a meeting of the Central Council in Cork following the completion of Congress.

LEICESTER captain Martin Corry admits his side’s Heineken Cup hopes are “out of their hands” after sinking to a 22-11 defeat in Toulouse.

IRELAND A’S hopes of making the Churchill Cup final were left in tatters as the New Zealand Maori ran in seven tries in a one-sided contest at Sandy Park.

WASPS captain Lawrence Dallaglio last night hailed the Londoners’ Heineken Cup final victory over Leicester as the greatest Twickenham final of his glittering career.

THEIR winning margin was just a point less than the lead they enjoyed after five minutes, but Erin’s Own were never pushed in this Evening Echo Cork SHC clash at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

CLONTARF qualified for the All Ireland League Top Four final at Castle Avenue on Saturday with a well-deserved victory over Cork Constitution.

BEATEN Evening Echo Cork Co Premier IHC finalists last season, Aghada got a tough battle from up and coming Bishopstown at Midleton last night and in the end both sides settled for a replay, 0-13 to 1-10.

FOLLOWING champion Newtownshandrum’s opening round Cork County SHC victory over Bride Rovers on Friday, Cloyne, the beaten finalists for the last two years, got down to business in fine style at Ballynoe yesterday when beating Killeagh 4-10 to 3-6.

Tralee CBS 2-13 Coláiste Choilm 0-6

Cork Constitution 37 St. Mary’s College 12

QUB 0-10 UUJ 1-6

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has applied for three new player licences for his Celtic League squad ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park (5.15pm).

Shannon 17 Cork Constitution 20

OUTGOING Cork County Board chairman Jim Forbes believes that serious consideration should be given to confining playing activity at U-21 level to those aged between 19 and 21 and at minor level to players aged 17 to 18.

THE Allianz Sciath na Scol football finals finally got underway at Páirc Ui Rinn yesterday and produced four marvellous contests that had followers in full voice.

Munster 33 Leinster 9

Munster are without John Hayes and new south African centre signing Trevor Halstead for this afternoons clash against Leinster at Musgrave Park, adding to the southerners injury list.

PAUL DEVLIN is the major fall-out victim in Declan Kidney’s 36-man Heineken Cup Squad, announced yesterday.

Nemo Rangers 3-10 Bantry Blues 1-5

MUNSTER have received a welcome boost for tomorrow night as Lions Paul O'Connell, John Hayes, Ronan O'Gara and Donncha O'Callaghan all start for the Celtic League clash against Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park (7.10pm).

Munster coach Declan Kidney is giving the youngsters on the panel plenty of opportunities.

MUNSTER will be boosted by the return of Lions Ronan O’Gara and Donncha O’Callaghan for Saturday’s Celtic League clash with Glasgow in Scotland.

Munster 37 Ospreys 10

St. Vincent’s 3-10 Kilbrittain 1-16

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has named flanker David Wallace on the right wing for tonight's Celtic League opener against Border Reivers at Thomond Park (7.10pm).