Ulster and Connacht are doing battle in Belfast tonight. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

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• Pádraig Harrington‘s hopes of qualifying for next week’s Masters are all but over after he endured a nightmare start to his second round at the Houston Open. 
• Leo Cullen is expecting an intense battle when Leinster meet Munster in the Pro12 derby at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening.
• The two provinces have named their teams for the inter-pro with Johnny Sexton starting for Leinster while Anthony Foley has made five changes.
• Dublin have made just the one change in their team named for tomorrow’s EirGrid Leinster U21 football final.
• Tonight’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game between Finn Harps and St Pat’s has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
• Irish duo Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow have work to do if they are to make the cut at the first Major of the year, the ANA Inspiration.
• Mark Hughes has provided an update on the fitness of Jon Walters, and he hopes the striker will return before the end of the season.

Leo Messi arrives for training ahead of Saturday's El Clasico. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Away

• Angel di Maria has launched a scathing criticism of his former Man United manager Louis van Gaal. 
• Canadian second-row Jamie Cudmore has announced he is leaving Clermont to join Oyonnax at the end of the season.
• Five members of the US Women’s National Team filed a wage discrimination complaint against the US Soccer Federation this week.
• Nate Diaz has slammed the UFC’s decision to hand Conor McGregor a rematch.
• Allister Coetzee has emerged as the frontrunner to become the new South African head coach ahead of their series with Ireland in June.
• Aston Villa have suspended Gabriel Agbonlahor while they carry out an internal investigation after pictures of him holding a shisha pipe emerged.

The Best Thing We Shared

Munster paid a visit to Crumlin Children’s Hospital earlier and put smiles on plenty of faces.

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

On The Record

“The level of play was very high and I was quite nervous to enter the pitch alongside the big names. O’Neill and Keane gave me a few tips and made me feel at home.

“O’Neill told me to play my own game and not to be afraid to shoot. Roy Keane told me I made the right choice to join Cambuur. He said getting out of my comfort zone will help me improve as a player.”

Ireland U21 international Jack Byrne on his recent involvement with the senior squad.

Where We Were Today

Ryan Bailey was at Leinster HQ to hear from Leo Cullen and Isa Nacewa ahead of Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated visit of Munster.

Gary Carr / INPHO Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO

The Fixture List

• The Premier League returns with eight fixtures on Saturday. Liverpool’s clash with Tottenham (5.30pm) is the pick of the bunch.
• In the Pro12, prides will collide at the Aviva Stadium as Leinster host Munster in a crunch inter-pro derby.
• The Allianz Hurling League quarter-final is down for decision as Dublin face Limerick at Parnell Park (7pm).
• In the Division 1B relegation playoff, Kerry host Laois (5pm) while Wicklow go head-to-head with Donegal in the Division 2B relegation playoff (2.30pm).
• Dublin and Kildare contest the EirGrid U21 Leinster football final (2pm) while Roscommon face Mayo in the Connacht final (6pm).

Showbiz, Baby!

For the day that’s in it, Croke Park‘s Twitter account had a big of light-hearted fun – and they weren’t the only ones.

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The Munster squad were putting smiles on faces today at Crumlin Children’s Hospital

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