AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION 1 FINAL:

“WHERE to now?” came the rhetorical question from a fan as we returned from Munster’s defeat against Biarritz on Sunday night.

When the present day Munster legends finally retire, is the province facing a barren period out of the limelight?

JEREMY Manning, a player whose season has been ravaged by injury, demonstrated his potential with two smashing tries in Munster’s British & Irish Cup semi-final victory at Thomond Park on Saturday.

HAVING defeated Ulster twice this season in the A Interprovincial Championship, Munster will be fancied to complete the hat-trick as they take on the Ravens in the semi-final of the inaugural British & Irish Cup at Thomond Park this afternoon.

MUNSTER legend Anthony Foley is confident his young side will add further lustre to the province when his Munster A side takes on the Ulster Ravens in the first of a highly attractive double-header at Thomond Park on Saturday next (3.30pm).

AIB LEAGUE DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINAL:

Munster coach Tony McGahan has taken the opportunity to award debuts Declan Cusack, Simon Zebo and Danny Barnes on Sunday in the crucial Magners League game against Connacht at The Sportsground.

Leaders Cork Constitution plan to utilise Munster's Jeremy Manning at out-half with David Lyons slipping back to full-back for the first-versue-second tussle with St Mary's College in Division 1A of the AIB League at Templeville Raod on Saturday.

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).

CORK CONSTITUTION had to peak twice before shaking off the determined challenge from old rivals Shannon at Temple Hill on Saturday to enhance their position at the head of the AIB League table.

Cork Constitution 17 Shannon 10

Leaders Cork Constitution will have Munster's Jeremy Manning back at out-half at home to old rivals Shannon in Division 1A of the AIB Leagure at Temple Hill tomorrow.

MUNSTER ‘A’ play what will perhaps be the defining game in their Pool B British & Irish Cup when they take on Neath at The Gnoll tomorrow.

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne last night admitted the province face a ‘difficult’ task in finding a replacement for Jean de Villiers due to the looming Rugby World Cup.

MUNSTER have opted to give John Hayes another week off and he will sit out Sunday’s Magners League game against the Scarlets at Musgrave Park. Meanwhile, they are keeping their fingers crossed that Marcus Horan will take a full part in Shannon’s AIB League game against St Mary’s College on Saturday.

IRELAND has first call on a number of Munster players in the build up to another key Magners League clash against Ulster at Ravenhill on Saturday.

ULSTER will be at full-strength for Saturday’s Magners League game against Munster at Thomond Park in stark comparison to their injury-hit hosts.

Cork Constitution 16 UL Bohemians 3

Ireland's Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls and Donncha O'Callaghan and Auckland import Nick Williams will start for Munster for the first time this season in Sunday's sold-out Musgrave Park Magners League clash with the Dragons (5.05pm).

Jean de Villiers will play in the Munster jersey for the first time following his inclusion in the squad for Sunday’s Magner’s League tie against The Dragons at Musgrave Park.

TOMÁS O’LEARY admitted on Saturday night that he is “a stronger player and person” after he returned from the horror injury which destroyed his Lions dream.

Scarlets 20 Munster 22

TOMÁS O’LEARY has been surprisingly drafted into the Munster squad for tonight’s Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets (6.30pm), following his full recovery from a broken ankle.

Coach Tony McGahan has stuck with the same squad that beat Cardiff at the weekend for the Magners clash against the Scarlets on Saturday in Parc Y Scarlets (6.30pm).

THIS was a whole lot better than Munster had managed a week previously in Glasgow, but they were still far from impressive in defeating Cardiff Blues in front of a half-full Thomond Park last evening.

Munster 24 Cardiff 13

JOHN HAYES and Alan Quinlan are both included in a 25-strong squad from which the Munster team to take on Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park on Friday (7.05, Setanta Sports) will be finalised tomorrow.

Munster stalwarts John Hayes and Alan Quinlan are poised to make their seasonal debuts when both were included in a 25 man squad for the Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues in Thomond Park Stadium on Friday (7.05).

Glasgow 22 Munster 9

Glasgow 22 Munster 9

Jeremy Manning, Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi will bring a New Zealand flavour to Munster for the opening weekend of the Magner's League against Glasgow Warriors in Firhill tomorrow evening (8pm).

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).

Munster have named a 25-strong squad for their Magners League opener with Glasgow Warriors in Firhill.

TWO games into the new season and Munster coach Tony McGahan has every reason to be pleased with progress. For the second week in succession, Munster overcame more experienced English Premiership opposition, in front of more than 7,000 fans who came to enjoy a highly competitive match on a rare sunny summer evening at Musgrave Park.

Munster 19 Sale Sharks 17

Danny Riordan, Toby Morland and Damien Varley will make their Munster debuts in Friday’s friendly against Sale Sharks, while Julien Brugnaut has been named amongst the replacements.

Cardiff Blues 20 Munster 12

MICK O’DRISCOLL will lead his weary Munster troops into their Magners League battle against Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park tomorrow (4.35pm) after Paul O’Connell withdrew from the squad with a minor thigh injury.

Munster will be without captain Paul O'Connell for the penultimate Manger's League match of the season due to a back problem.

ANDREW TRIMBLE will miss Ulster’s Magners League clash with Connacht at the Sportsground (7pm) on Friday as Paddy Wallace fights for fitness.

IF Clontarf win a first AIB League title this season, they cannot be accused of taking the easy route.

Cork Constitution 6 Clontarf 25

DIVISION ONE SEMI-FINAL RESULT: CORK CONSTITUTION 6 CLONTARF 25