LUNCHTIME LOCAL SPORT

RUGBY UNION

Matthew Jarvis is in for the injured Dan Parks at fly half for Connacht's trip to Harlequins in the Heineken Cup tomorrow 

Tiernan O'Halloran, whose dad won an All-Ireland football championship with Offaly, comes into the team on the right wing while fit again Johnny O'Connor is brought into the back row for the 1.35 kick off at the Stoop 

Athlone's Robbie Henshaw has played in every game for the Province this season, he's selected once again at full back 

Henshaw's Buccaneers clubmate Danny Qualter misses out on the squad through injury 


Brian O'Driscoll is on the bench for Leinster's must win match with the Scarlets tomorrow 

That means a centre partnership of Fergus McFadden and Gordon D'Arcy, Rob Kearney is full back with Isa Nacewa and Luke Fitzerald on the wings as the Blues chase 4 tries at the RDS 

The team is led by now 35 year old Leo Cullen while Tullow's Sean O'Brien makes his 30th European appearance in the back row 


Mullingar's Mark Flanagan starts in the second row for Leinster A against Pontypridd in the British and Irish Cup this Saturday afternoon 

Leinster A lie joint top of Pool 5 alongside the Welsh side on 15 points apiece ahead of the penultimate round of the Pool stages.


There's a local derby in Connacht's Junior 2 League this evening as Buccaneers' thirds welcome Ballinasloe to Dubarry Park for an 8 O'Clock kick off

Shannon host the Buccs in the National Under 21 League at 2.30 tomorrow afternoon


GOLF 

Shane Lowry is three under par and in eight position midway through his second round at the Volvo Champions event in South Africa 

Lowry birdied the opening hole in Durban this morning and parred the following eight holes 

The day's big mover and now course leader is Scotland's Scott Jamieson who is 8 under and one clear of the field 


GAELIC GAMES 

Offaly have stuck with the same 15 players that beat Athlone IT midweek for Sunday's O'Byrne Cup game with Westmeath at Cusack Park - a game you hear live on Midlands 103 from 2pm with thanks to Pro Golf Athlone and Athlone Driving Range

Faithful boss Emmet McDonnell has made just one positional switch with  Brian Darby moving to right corner back and David Hanlon switched to right half back

Alan Mulhall is in goal, Eoin Rigney is full back with Sean Pender and Brian Darby in the corners.

The half back line is David Hanlon, Derek Kelly and Graham Guilfoyle

Richie Dalton and Alan McNamee are in midfield with Ross Brady, Brian Connor and Eoin Carroll in the half forwards

And the inside forward line is Anton Sullivan, captain Niall McNamee and Matthew Mitchell


Laois will name their starting 15 for Sunday's match with Athlone IT at Portarlington at 9pm this evening


Tipperary and Offaly's senior hurling teams are set to meet for a challenge match at Templemore this Sunday at 2pm

Admission is 10 Euro with all proceeds to Our Lady's Secondary School, Templemore

The battle to wrestle away St Mary’s Edenderry’s Leinster Schools Football title begins this afternoon

North Leinster League winners Athlone Community College welcome Ardscoil na Trinoide to Athone IT for a 1pm throw in the pitch of today’s matches

Athlone, who won the competition in 2008, will be looking for a good performance from Galway minor player

Eoin McCormack as they look to see off an Athy side that have enjoyed plenty of underage success at club level in Kildare in recent years

Athy’s county colleagues at the Patrician Newbridge face St Mary’s CBS Carlow at College Park at 2pm

Moate Community School, who have narrowly missed out on provincial success in the past few years, open their campaign against Dublin’s St Bendilus who are managed by former Mayo player Alan Costello also at 2  

Knockbeg College, drawing players from Laois and Carlow will be expected to progress when they travel to Sutton for a 1pm throw in against St Fintan’s

And Dundalk Colleges, one of the favourites to win the title, are away to Malahide Community Schools where there’s a 1 O’Clock start at St Sylvesters

HANDBALL

Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy has been named Leinster handball player of the year

In a remarkable season the Mullingar man claimed the 40x20 Nationals Open title, World 40x20 Open Doubles National trials, One Wall Mens Open National title, Irish 60x30 Nationals and went on to secure a second Mens Open All Ireland Senior Softball crown in the 60x30 court

Offaly's Crinkle are the Leinster club of the year while Christina Donoghue will receive the special achievement award


SOCCER

There's a game with interest at either end of the CCFL's Senior Division this evening when reigning champions Willow Park host Gallen at 8pm

After 11 games Willow trail Mullingar Athletic by three points at the top of the table while Gallen are currently nine points adrift at the foot of the table 


Tomorrow afternoon the Division Three Cup gets underway with two games at 2pm

Colmcille Celtic take on Gallen's second team while it's an all Longford clash between Ballymahon B and Longford Wanderers

In the evening game in 4B Derry Rovers B team host Eagles FC with an 7 O'Clock kick off at Brians Park in Edenderry

Derry Rovers go into the game six points behind leaders Raharney

On Sunday it's a meeting of two of the top three in our feature game in the Senior Division as Clara Town play leaders Mullingar Athletic at 2pm

The other match in the top flight sees St Peters aim to bounce back from their FAI Junior Cup disappointment when they host Kilavilla also at 2

Clara's B team make the trip to Wexford to play Moyne Rangers in the LFA Shield at 1pm

And there's two first leg matches in the opening round of the Womens Cup at 2pm on Sunday

League leaders Mullingar Athletic travel to Gallen and Killeigh take on Clara



In the Leinster Senior League this Sunday it's a bottom of the table clash in the Major Division as Tullamore Town travel to Parkdale
Portlaoise, who have a seven point lead at the top of the Premier, travel to Wayside Celtic


BOXING

Westmeath's David Oliver Joyce is set to take part in the first ever all Irish bout in the World Series of Boxing tomorrow night

David Oliver, who won on his seasonal debut before Christmas, will represent the Germany Eagles against Eric Donovan who is on the table topping Astana team

That Lightweight fight will be a repeat of their National Elite Championship meeting last year where  Joyce was victorious against his Athy clubmate

Neither Joe Ward nor John Joe Nevin are involved this week but their British Lionhearts team are in action against Ukraine Otamans in Kiev this evening


BASKETBALL

Colaiste Choilm Tullamore are into the All-Ireland Schools Under 19 B Cup Final

They defeated Castlerea 78-43 at the University of Limerick Arena yesterday afternoon

Colaiste Choilm's Under 16's lost out to Pobail Scoil Inbhear Sceine in the Under 16 B Boy's Semi Finals while Gallen Community School's Under 16 girls team also exited the championship at the semi final stage


HOCKEY

Mullingar's mens first team travel to Navan in Division Four of hockey's Leinster League tomorrow

The Westmeath club are currently fourth in the table and 8 points behind leaders Monkstown, Mullingar's seconds take on Fingal at the Harriers in Division 6

Tullamore's ladies are away to Railway Union in Division 6, their seconds Glenanne at Smithfield

While in South East Division Two Portlaoise take on Kilkenny at Portlaoise Rugby Club in a meeting of two of the top three


AMERICAN FOOTBALL

The Midlands' newest American Football team will hold a rookie day tomorrow afternoon

Mullingar Minotaurs are welcoming interested players for the new season to a training session at Mullingar Shamrock's Astro Turf pitch from 10.30am
The Minotaurs will compete in the IAFL 1 Division alongside Tullamore Phoenix


RACING

There's an eight-race card on the all weather at Dundalk this evening which begins at 10 to 6

Golan Heights looks set to be sent off the favourite in the first division of Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap, he'll be partnered by jockey Ian Brennan who has a good recent record at the track

The second division of the same race looks a match between top-weight Balmont Flyer who will be ridden by Offaly's Pat Smullen and the Michael Halford-trained Saint By Day.

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