Senior Cup final day invariably draws past-pupils together in fierce shows of pride. Today, most of the Glenstal Abbey side of 47 years ago will reconvene at Thomond Park, memories still sharp of the only other occasion the school made a senior final.

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.

THE Irish travel operators involved in providing charter services for the big Heineken Cup games throughout Europe have defended their patch in the wake of criticism from rugby star Marcus Horan.

MUNSTER rugby fans are dusting down their maps, flicking through the phrase books and cranking up Google Earth as they prepare for another assault on mainland Europe.

VETERAN golf tour operator Sean Skehan still has a plaque on his office wall from 1975, when he pioneered a golfing trip to Arizona with golf pro David Jones.

STILL searching for those green shoots of recovery the economists have promised? Be alert, then, as the cameras pan out into the stands at the Stade de France tonight.

TOPFLIGHT, which has been voted Ireland’s Best Ski tour operator for the 14th successive year, has a new winter ski brochure.

IT’S BACK — and if this year is anything to go by, it’s back with a bang.