Cork suspend celebrations

The AIB All-Ireland League champions Cork Constitution will suspend the celebrations temporarily today as they host Young Munster in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup.

Constitution will definitely be without Australia bound flanker David Corkery and scrum-half Brian O'Meara and probably number eight Ultan O'Callaghan who missed the league final with an arm injury.

They are likely to provide several squad members with starting places against what will be very tough opposition. Young Munster will be without prop and captain Peter Clohessy also bound for Australia with the national squad.

Shannon host Sunday's Well at Thomond Park and they will be looking for some silverware having lost their All-Ireland League crown. Suitably motivated they should have too much ability for Sunday's Well.

Highfield host Midleton at Woodleigh Park while tomorrow Waterpark will be hoping to account for junior qualifiers Bruff at the second time of asking. In the other match that day, Dolphin host UCC at Musgrave Park and at this stage the Students may not bemoan the end to a long and demanding season, the obvious highlight of which was their European Cup success.

The Leinster Senior Cup is at the quarter-final stage. Romantics will be hoping that Barnhall, newly promoted to Division Four of the AIB League, can follow up their success over Bective Rangers by defeating Skerries at Pearsonstown.

Any lack of focus on the part of the visitors would probably be disastrous but given their disappointing season to date in which they suffered relegation, last season's beaten finalists Skerries would prefer to finish on a positive note.

DLSP, conquerers of St Mary's College travel to Greystones for a tilt against Ciaran Fitzgerald's young side. If the home team can manage to secure a platform up front then they have the backs to maximise that return. Holders Lansdowne travel to Co. Carlow and will need to be resolute in the commitment to defending the title.

In the Ulster Senior Cup, the big four, Ballymena, Dungannon, Instonians and Malone enter the fray at the quarter-final stage and the only major casualties could be Instonians who face a difficult trip to Stevenson Park. Portadown should join Ballymena, Dungannon and Malone in the semi-finals.

Clive Woodward last night relished sending a virtual full-strength England team to Australia this summer. The only notable absentees from Woodward's squad are injury-plagued trio Paul Grayson, Will Greenwood and Phil Vickery.

England (Squad): Backs - N Beal, M Perry, T Stimpson; S Hanley, L Lloyd, D Luger, D Rees, J Guscott, M Tindall, P De Glanville, B-J Mather; M Catt, A King, J Wilkinson; M Dawson, A Healey, K Bracken. Forwards - J Worsley, R Hill, T Diprose, L Dallaglio (captain), M Corry, N Back, T Rodber, G Archer, D Grewcock, M Johnson, D Garforth, W Green, V Ubogu, R Cockerill, P Greening, N McCarthy, J Leonard, G Rowntree, T Woodman.