NOT A great week for clubs in rugby, if you look at the headlines.

A MAN who has crusaded tirelessly for the elderly for over six decades was yesterday named the Cork Person of the Year for 2010.

Political divisions were put to one side today as the funeral took place in Cork of seven-year-old Léana Martin, the daughter of Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

HOOKER Sean Cronin believes his decision to leave Munster and head to Connacht has paid dividends after he was named in Ireland’s starting line-up for their Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Hooker Sean Cronin believes his decision to leave Munster and head to Connacht has paid dividends after he was named in Ireland’s starting line-up for their one-off Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

MUNSTER’S Marcus Horan last night revealed the physical and mental anguish he endured before being successfully treated for an irregular heartbeat which threatened his career.

Mick O'Driscoll will lead Munster out against the All Blacks for the 30th anniversary of the legendary 12-0 win over the tourists at Thomond Park in 1978.

Marcus Horan says Munster will be ready for whichever Gloucester side lines out at Kingsholm, writes Diarmuid O’Flynn.

FOR years in Europe, Munster have thrived on the underdogtag which inspired famous victories against opposition deemed by neutrals to be far superior.

Glasgow 11 Munster 11

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is bringing Geordan Murphy, Gavin Duffy and Brian Carney with him to the Rugby World Cup, although Tommy Bowe will travel and train with the squad as emergency cover for Shane Horgan.

TUESDAY lunchtime in the opulent Killiney Castle Hotel, side by side they ambled into the press conference, one grin wider than the other.

Eddie O'Sullivan is set to name his starting 15 today for Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Wales.

Ireland coach Eddie O’ Sullivan has named a 24-man squad from which the team and replacements to play Wales in the opening game of the Six Nations Championship will be selected.

WHILE Llanelli, Biarritz, Munster and Leinster can derive comfort and satisfaction from securing a Heineken Cupquarter-final in March, they will know that their final seeding, to be decided this weekend, could make or break their challenge for ultimate honours.

Eddie O'Sullivan is set to name his starting line-up for Sunday's match against the Pacific Islands at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.

Holders Munster will face Guinness Premiership outfit Leicester in a difficult pool in the Heineken Cup following today’s draw at Twickenham.

JUST over a year ago Jerry Flannery was a club player, and played a central role in Shannon’s successful All-Ireland League campaign, doubling up occasionally in the Celtic League as Frankie Sheehan’s understudy for Munster.

JERRY FLANNERY and Alan Quinlan have followed Paul O’Connell by agreeing terms that will keep them with Munster, respectively, for three and two years.

IT IS inevitable that some day Munster will lose a Heineken Cup game at Thomond Park.

SPORTS fans in Galway are spoiled for choice this weekend.

Celtic Warriors 29 Munster 25

OUTHALF Ronan O'Gara limped out of Munster training at Musgrave Park yesterday with an ankle injury, eleven days before the province's Heineken Cup quarter final against Stade Francais.

Shane Byrne, who has learned the hard way that patience is a virtue, is ready to step into the biggest boots in Irish rugby history.

IN sport, the opportunity for redemption rarely comes so quickly. In the aftermath of Munster’s defeat in Kingsholm, the team, and the forward unit in particular, were seething.

Martin Johnson is not expecting Ireland to try and capitalise on his current disciplinary problems.

Full time: Ireland 35, Samoa 8.

Ireland lead by 13 points at half-time thanks to a Frankie Sheehan try and three penalty kicks and one conversion from the boot of Ronan O'Gara.

An excellent drive by the Irish pack sees Frankie Sheehan pile over the line for the first try of the game.

The introduction of Lion Ronan O’Gara kickstarted Munster’s charge to an easy victory over Connacht in tonight’s Celtic League match at Thomond Park.

Clontarf 35 Cork Constitution 33

Munster coach Declan Kidney has named his 15 to face Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup Semi-Final tomorrow in Lille.

A major shadow has been cast over the future of this year’s six nations rugby tournament because of the foot and mouth scare and this could also affect the selection process for the Lions tour.