Two late goals for Waterford United sealed a victory they deserved, but one they were far from certain to secure throughout the last 15 minutes of this Airtricity clash.

VETERAN Alan Kirby’s 65th minute strike helped leaders Longford Town to a comfortable three points over Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park last night.

LEO CULLEN’S shoulder injury has given Leinster’s senior statesman, Malcolm O’Kelly, a golden opportunity to wrap up his illustrious career on a high in the Magners League final at the RDS (6.30pm) on Saturday.

Stand-in captain Shane Jennings will lead Leinster into the Magner’s League final on Saturday.

Captain Leo Cullen has been ruled out of the extended Leinster squad to play Munster in the Magner’s League semi-final at The RDS on Saturday.

SHANE HORGAN and Alan Gaffney led the tributes yesterday for Girvan Dempsey who is to retire from professional rugby at the end of the month.

Jonathan Sexton has failed to recover from a broken jaw allowing Shaun Berne to line out at out-half for Leinster against Toulouse in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi final at Le Stadium (kick off: 3.45pm Irish time).

LEINSTER’S Heineken Cup hopes received a major boost yesterday with the news that both Brian O’Driscoll and Eoin Reddan will return for the province in tomorrow’s Magners league game away to Connacht.

THEY have yet to claim the honour of being their nation’s best, nor have they won a Heineken Cup, but Michael Cheika had little hesitation yesterday in describing Clermont Auvergne as the most complete side in France.

AN OUTSIDER doesn’t get to captain Leicester Tigers without being a deserving recipient; neither, even, does a homegrown player get to lead Leinster in the face of a challenge from national captain and rugby’s iconic Brian O’Driscoll.

ALAN GAFFNEY might be going ‘home’, but he doesn’t expect to feel at ease in Thomond Park on Friday night.

MICHAEL CHEIKA hailed match-winner Jonathan Sexton but damned Leinster’s attitude as his side sneaked to a fortuitous Magners League win over Connacht at the RDS on Saturday.

THE BIG guns will return to Leinster next week and they’ll be patting their teammates in the extended squad on the back after they completed their third win during the Six Nations.

MUNSTER have the ideal opportunity to atone for their disappointing performance against the Newport Gwent Dragons when they face the Llanelli Scarlets in a postponed Magners League game at Musgrave Park on Thursday, (7.35pm).

LEINSTER’S young guns steered them back to the top of the Magners League table and now they have a four-point lead over champions Munster with a game in hand.

LEINSTER will have plenty of experience to help guide them through an expected tough Magners League experience against Cardiff Blues at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday (4pm).

THE highs and lows of professional rugby were very evident at the RDS on Saturday evening as Leinster clocked up their fourth win over the Scarlets who must be sick of the sight of them by now.

SHANE JENNINGS will captain a Leinster side that is boosted by the inclusion of the four other Ireland internationals in the pack for tonight’s Magners League encounter with the Scarlets at the RDS (6.30pm).

LEINSTER have included internationals Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O’Brien, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton in their squad for Saturday’s Magners League clash with Scarlets at the RDS (6.30pm).

LEINSTER have included three internationals in the ‘A’ side to face the Exeter Chiefs in today’s British & Irish Cup clash in Sandy Park (3pm).

IRELAND internationals Girvan Dempsey, Trevor Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O’Kelly and Mike Ross have been named in the extended Leinster squad for Saturday’s British & Irish Cup clash against Exeter at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm).

LET’S dispense with the basic arithmetic first.

Jonathan Sexton and Shane Jennings return to the Leinster squad ahead of the Friday’s Magner’s League tie at home to Glasgow.

THE Leinster team to face Connacht in today’s Magners League derby at the Sportsground (4pm) has been named and Ireland trio Girvan Dempsey, Trevor Hogan and Mike Ross come into the team for the trip to Galway in a side that includes nine Ireland internationals in the starting line-up.

LEINSTER consultant coach Alan Gaffney says that despite defeating Ulster, his squad are looking for a marked improvement against Connacht in their Magners League match at the Sportsground this weekend (Saturday, 4pm).

LEINSTER’S injured out-half, Jonathan Sexton, may return to full fitness in time for the province’s Magners League trip to Connacht on Saturday week.

BARELY a week has passed in the last six months when the unholy alliance between sports and cheating hasn’t raised its ugly head and one of this year’s most controversial incidents was on the menu again yesterday.

MICHAEL CHEIKA has declared his confidence in back-up out-half Shaun Berne despite admitting he had attempted to recruit fellow Australian Matt Giteau on a short-term contract last week.

Prop Stan Wright returns to an extended Leinster squad ahead of the Heineken Cup encounter with The Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika has ordered Isa Nacewa to wrap himself up in cotton wool to ensure his availability for Heineken Cup action against Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday week.

THOMAS DEEHAN scored 10 points to inspire 14-man Clara to a deserved victory over Rathvilly and book a Leinster club SFC semi-final against Portlaoise in the process.

LEINSTER head into the Magners League mid-term break in a strong position, but coach Michael Cheika will still want to know why a vastly under strength Cardiff Blues side caused them so much trouble at the RDS on Saturday.

WORLD CUP winning prop forward CJ van der Linde appears to have put his injury woes behind him and is named in Leinster’s squad for Saturday’s Magners League derby clash with Ulster at Ravenhill (6pm).

GET ready to rumble. The Heineken Cup reopens for business this weekend and the tie of the round may well have come and gone by Friday evening when Leinster welcome London Irish to the RDS.

MICHAEL CHEIKA has tasted victory as often as he has defeat against Munster but the Australian now wants his side to establish clear bragging rights in one of world rugby’s most passionate rivalries.

TIMING is everything. And Leinster coach Michael Cheika hopes to get it right by re-introducing some of his international stars for the Magners League clash with Edinburgh at Murrayfield tonight.

LEINSTER’S Lions, Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney are included in Michael Cheika’s squad for Saturday’s Magners League clash with top-of-the-table Edinburgh in Murrayfield (6.30pm).

AS Leinster bring back some heavy hitters for Friday’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium, it’s fair to assume defence coach Kurt McQuilkin has put the players through the wringer this week.

MICHAEL CHEIKA admitted ill discipline cost Leinster dearly after the reigning Heineken Cup champions slumped to a shock opening day defeat to the Scarlets in the Magners League.

LEINSTER may have ended a run of near-misses and underachievement in glorious fashion by winning the Heineken Cup, but that will not stop Michael Cheika from imposing a change of playing style this season.

MUNSTER are hopeful Paul Warwick will be available to take his place at out-half when they begin their defence of the Magners League against Glasgow at Firhill on Friday night, (8pm Setanta Sport).

NEW Leinster second-row Nathan Hines has pinpointed the province’s progression from nearly men to European kingpins as a deciding factor in his decision to join from Edinburgh.

Captain Leo Cullen, Rocky Elsom and Brian O’Driscoll return to the Leinster Squad to prepare for the Heineken Cup final against Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika admitted his team still has a way to go before it can successfully compete on two fronts after their Magners League campaign ended with defeat at Newport Gwent Dragons.