Cork City's general manager Paul Wycherley is leaving the club after two years at the helm.

Johann van Graan said from the outset that when it comes to European pool campaigns every minute of every game is crucial.

The new PRO14 campaign may be in its infancy but for the Cheetahs their clash with Munster this evening kick-off 5.15pm) has a real end-of-season feel to it in Bloemfontein.

Munster claimed a second bonus-point victory in a week as their perfect start to the PRO14 season continued in Port Elizabeth against Southern Kings.

The Ireland Under-20s paid the price for a nightmare first quarter during which they conceded 26 unanswered points, a sturdy platform on which New Zealand secured a 40-17 victory in today's 7th-8th place play-off at the World Rugby U-20 Championship.

Versatile back five player Fineen Wycherley is Munster’s only new injury concern as they start preparing for next weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens.

Size isn’t everything. Generations of Irish forwards have learned that much.

Johann van Graan’s glass remained half-full as he argued Munster are still very much in Guinness PRO14 title contention despite defeat to the Scarlets in Llanelli.

A single tackle in a rugby match has rarely generated such debate and controversy as the one the virtually unknown Fineen Wycherley rocked World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton with in the opening minutes of the Munster-Leinster Guinness PRO14 game at Thomond Park in December.

Munster head coach Johann van Graan reserved special praise for his young players and the experience of scrum-half Alby Mathewson after his team survived a big scare in Newport.

There was a spell there when the old enmities inherent to the Munster-Leinster rivalry appeared to be buried beneath the bonhomie borne of Irish duties and Leinster’s dominance, so Saturday night was a return to the most bitter and biting of the good old days.

Munster hit the new ground running last night as they won their opening pre-season game on Musgrave Park’s freshly installed playing surface to defeat Declan Kidney’s London Irish.

A double-winning season is quite the foundation for Cork City’s new general manager to be starting from. But Paul Wycherley’s primary focus remains budgets and balance, he tells Martin Claffey.

Munster are hoping for another new contract boost with the retention of Ireland back-three star Andrew Conway to follow extended deals announced last night for forwards Billy Holland, Stephen Archer, and Kevin O’Byrne.

Munster’s Sam Arnold has been issued with a three-week ban following a red card disciplinary decision yesterday.

Johann van Graan is hoping for a welcome boost to Munster’s depleted midfield resources with a return to action for outside centre Chris Farrell this Saturday at home to Connacht.

The FAI Cup final might not be taking place until Sunday afternoon but the tackles are already flying off the field, with Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny, at his pre-match press conference yesterday, accusing Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty of a lack of class.

Munster’s Lions trio are set for their seasonal debuts on Saturday with Tommy O’Donnell believing Peter O’Mahony has returned from the New Zealand tour a better captain.

As if presiding over a performance Rassie Erasmus yesterday described as the “worst” of his Munster tenure was not painful enough, last Friday’s heavy defeat has further depleted the province’s second-row stocks.

Munster coach Rassie Erasmus knew all about his fellow South African Gerbrandt Grobler and so regarded him as the ideal player to fill the gaps left in the Munster second-row by the departures to France of Donnacha Ryan and Dave Foley and the long term injuries to Darren O’Shea and Dave O’Callaghan.

Munster 51 - Cheetahs 18: Munster coach Rassie Erasmus has warned against reading too much into the province’s eight try-rout of his native Toyota Cheetahs in a hopelessly one-sided Guinness PRO14 game at Thomond Park on Saturday.

The morale-boosting result for Peter Malone's injury-ravaged squad will see them compete for ninth place in Sunday's final round.

Schools’ rugby has transformed lately and, this year, I was blown away by the physical condition of the boys, writes Duncan Casey.

It won’t be easy, but Munster A head coach Peter Malone believes his side have a fighting chance of getting through to the knock-out stages of the B&I Cup.

Women are naturally more cautious than men when it comes to promoting their businesses, says Helen Wycherley, the president of Network Cork.

The Abbey, Dublin

An elderly couple were shot dead by their daughter and son-in-law, who then buried their bodies, stole from their bank account and tricked family members into believing they were still alive, a British jury heard.

Venue: Mick Lally Theatre, Galway

ACTOR Don Wycherley came to national attention in the hit TV dramas Ballykissangel, Father Ted and Bachelors’ Walk.

Carrigaline 2-9 Ballinora 1-9

Former county star Micéal Ó Croinín showed class is permanent as Naomh Abán had a perfect start to the Cork Premier IFC at Kilmurry on Saturday night.

With prices from €230,000, these holiday homes are sure to draw buyers, Tommy Barker reports.

THE Government must take a long-term view and invest in vital infrastructure to help regenerate Cork’s docklands, a respected developer said last night.

Oh dear, we do so want our Irish films to be good … and too often, as here, they let us down.

Ilen Rovers, Cork 1-11 St Michael’s, Donegal 1-4