The Morning Sports Briefing

Odds against Leinster in Pro 12 race

With last weekend’s defeat to Toulon putting to bed European dreams for another season Leinster now turn their attention to the improbable task of finishing in the Pro 12 top four.

Matt O'Connor's men sit in fifth place in the table and are eight points behind fourth side Ospreys, meaning three wins from their final three fixtures, including two bonus point victories, will most likely be necessary if they want to qualify for the league play-offs.

Their last two games are at home to Treviso and then away to Edinburgh, but first up they travel to a packed out Ravenhill on Friday night to face a full strength Ulster side.

O'Connor is likely to field the same side who were beaten in extra time in Marseille apart from Fergus McFadden, who undergoes thumb surgery on Wednesday which is likely to keep him out for eight weeks.

If Leinster fail to finish in the top four it could have a detrimental effect on their European hopes next season as it could see them being third or fourth seeds in the Champions Cup pool stages, writes Gerry Thornley.

Leinster's conquerors Toulon could be about to add another galactico to their squad in the form of Paul O'Connell, with president Mourad Boudjellal keen to tempt the Munster and Ireland warhorse across the water for a sunny swansong.

McCarthy pleased to be injury-free

After juggling club, county and college playing commitments, all while battling a persistent groin problem which forced him to take cocktails of painkillers in order to get on the field, Dublin's James McCarthy is pleased to be back fit and has an Allianz League final to look forward to.

Down face Roscommon in the Division Two final at Croke Park on Sunday having reinvented and rediscovered themselves as a footballing county, something which Donal O'Hare puts down the commitment of the 30 players who are on the panel.

Elsewhere it has been confirmed Conor O'Sullivan has opted out of the Cork panel, citing an inability to make the necessary commitment.

Dundalk stay top

Champions Dundalk remain top of the League of Ireland after a Richie Towell hattrick helped them sweep past Galway 3-0 last night.

Cork City kept up the pressure in second place with a 2-0 win over Longford at Turners Cross while Shamrock Rovers made it five wins in a row as they beat Bray 3-0 away from home.

Sligo Rovers are still without a home win in the league after they played out a stalemate with Bohemians, while winless Limerick remain rooted to the foot of the table after they were beaten 2-0 by Derry City.

Bayern Munich have plenty to do in the second leg of their Champions League quarter final against Porto tonight as they look to overturn a 3-1 deficit, while PSG travel to the Nou Camp also trailing 3-1.

Woods to miss out on matchplay

Jim Furyk's win in the RBC Heritage has confirmed the field for next week's WGC-Cadillac Matchplay Championship, with Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell set to take part, although Tiger Woods and Ernie Els both miss out.

What to watch out for:

Snooker

World Championship, The Crucible, BBC 2, 10am-noon, 1pm-2pm, 3pm-6pm

Eurosport, 10am-1.45pm, 2.30pm-6pm, 7pm-11pm

Tennis

ATP Barcelona Open, Sky Sports 3, 12.30pm-6.30pm

Cricket

2nd Test, D1 West Indies v England, Sky Sports 2 from 2.30pm

Football

Champions League Quarter-finals

Barcelona (3) v Paris St-Germain (1), UTV from 7.30pm, Setanta from 7.30pm

Bayern Munich (1) v FC Porto (3), TV3 from 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1 from 7.40pm