LEINSTER 21 - EDINBURGH 13: A late shot of whiskey helped Leinster to a narrow win over Edinburgh with Jamison Gibson-Park’s try coming as last orders were being called at the RDS last night.

The mood in South African rugby is understandably glum after the Springboks lost 57-0 to the All Blacks at the weekend, but none of that worried Leinster backline coach Girvan Dempsey yesterday.

PBC 11 Glenstal Abbey 3: Not even the torrential rain and the strong, cold and swirling wind at Thomond Park yesterday could dampen the delight of Presentation Brothers Cork as they defeated Glenstal Abbey by 11-3 to capture the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup for the 29th time.

Glenstal Abbey 21  Ardscoil Rís 20 Munster Schools Senior Cup, Thomond Park: Amid tremendous excitement and high drama at Thomond Park yesterday, Glenstal Abbey bridged a 47-year gap when they just survived a magnificent rally by Ardscoil Rís to qualify to meet PBC in the final of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup on St Patrick’s Day.

Leinster have got a a bonus-point win over the Dragons at the RDS this evening.

Leo Cullen has played down fears of Johnny Sexton being forced to take an extended break from rugby, with the Leinster head coach suggesting the 31-year-old will be out of action for around three to four weeks.

Glasgow Warriors 12 Leinster 6: Connacht can sleep easily this weekend after Leinster failed to knock the Galway men off their top perch in the Guinness Pro12 last night at Scotstoun with defeat to Glasgow in a match that produced not a single try.

The company behind defunct bookseller Hughes & Hughes recorded a modest profit last year after slashing costs.

Crescent 39 Glenstal 17: Crescent turned in a superb second-half performance against Glenstal in yesterday’s Munster Schools Senior Cup game to qualify for next week’s quarter-finals. 

Dragons 25 Leinster 22: Leinster’s reign as Guinness Pro12 champions appears all but over after Matt O’Connor’s side surrendered a 22-8 lead at Rodney Parade.

Blackrock College 21 Gonzaga College 12

Two rides at Fairyhouse today and four at Punchestown tomorrow make up my weekend, says Ruby Walsh.

The hugely popular Pierce Molony, owner and manager of Thurles racecourse, has died following a long illness.

UCD 25 Cork Con 25

By Rónán Mac Lochlainn

U19 Interprovincials: Leinster were clinical defeating Munster (19-10) in Saturday’s U19 Interprovincial Championship at Templeville Road.

The Ireland U18 Schools team were defeated by England (30-14) in Saturday’s FIRA/AER European Championship final in Wronki, Poland.

Clongowes Wood College stand between Blackrock College and their back-to-back Senior Cup aspirations, after Noel McNamara’s charges held off a strong showing from St Andrew’s College to book their place in the March 16 decider.

Ireland 34 Scotland 7

The emerging force in global bloodstock, Qatar Racing have bought a 100 acre farm in County Limerick to nurture young horses.

Last Saturday the Irish Field newspaper had a fair old go at Thurles Racecourse.

A pilot project to treat high-risk patients in the community reduced their hospital admission rate by almost one-third.

THE woman on the bus was blue in the face from all the talk about primary care.

Having drawn a blank on the fourth day of Royal Ascot in the afternoon, Aidan O’Brien gave punters plenty to enjoy when recording a treble with Kingston Jamaica, Battle Of Saratoga and Demurely in Limerick last night.

Cistercian College Roscrea came up shy in a pulsating Leinster Schools Senior Cup first-round replay at Maynooth yesterday.

HOPES of an early resumption of racing in Ireland at Thurles on Thursday and Friday were dashed yesterday afternoon when both the hurdle and chase tracks were found to be unfit for racing.

ONE of the consequences of yesterday’s announcement of a new track for Tipperary is confirmation Thurles racecourse will close.

FAMILY doctors have called on Health Minister Mary Harney to halt centralisation of acute hospital services until safe and accessible alternatives are in place.

GLENFINN Captain, successful on his seasonal debut at the track, continued on an upward curve with a smooth victory in the Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

A PLEA for “ugly ducklings” to move to Mount Isa in Australia to help address a woman shortage has paid dividends, with CVs and letters flowing in.

WOMEN so ugly the tide wouldn’t take them out are in hot demand in the Aussie outback.

CONSULTANTS at a Cork hospital have sought an urgent meeting with both the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) over plans to cut weekend emergency surgery services.

THE Turf Club is still awaiting a final decision from An Bord Pleanala to enable construction of the much publicised new grandstand at the Curragh to commence.

A 54-year-old Clare man already serving a life sentence for the murder of a hackney driver has been given six five-year jail terms for other offences related to the murder.