Challenge Cup: Connacht 29 Sharks 12Connacht’s seasonal ambitions took another step forward when they advanced to the Challenge Cup quarter-final. Connacht prevailed in Dexcom Stadium as they dominated the second half, scoring three tries and a Gilbert penalty to run salt into the visitors’ wounds. Scoring sequence: 6 mins: Smith penalty 0-3; 20: Smith pen 0-6; 21: C Mullins try, Gilbert con 7-6; 31: Smith pen 7-9, 33: Smith pen 7-12. 46: Forde try, Gilbert con 14-12; 51: Hurley Langton try, 19-12; 62: Forde try, Gilbert con 26-12; 69: Gilbert pen 29-12. CONNACHT: S Gilbert; S Jennings, C Forde, B Aki, C Mullins; J Ioane; M Devine; B Bohan, D Heffernan, S Illo; J Joyce, D Murray; J Murphy, S Hurley-Langton, C Prendergast (capt).

Challenge Cup: Connacht 29 Sharks 12Cathal Forde, who crossed for two tries, said Connacht laid the foundation for victory in the opening half when they withstood enormous pressure from the Sharks. Forde then wrapped it up when Paul Boyle put him through the middle to again score under the posts. Scorers:Connacht: Tries: C Forde (2), C Mullins, S Hurley-Langton. Sharks: Pens: J Smith (4). Connacht: S Gilbert (J Devine 68); S Jennings, C Forde, B Aki, C Mullins; J Ioane (S Naughton 18), M Devine (C Reilly 67); B Bohan (P Dooley 53), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 56), S Illo (F Bealham 53); J Joyce (N Murray 63), D Murray; J Murphy (P Boyle 56), S Hurley-Langton, C Prendergast (c).

Man stole chequebook from employer and attempted to lodge fraudulent chequesA farm labourer who stole his employer’s chequebook and attempted to lodge three fraudulent cheques amounting to €20,700 is due to reappear before Athlone District Court in June. Soon after, Mr McHale returned to his home county where he attempted to lodge three fraudulent cheques at two AIB branches in Castlebar and Ballina. The first cheque was successfully lodged on November 27, 2023, in Castlebar and was for the amount of €4,700. On December 7, he attempted to lodge two cheques in Ballina amounting to €12,500 and €3,500, but those cheques were declined after banking officials became suspicious. Mr McHale pleaded guilty to three charges of using false cheques, as well as the theft of the chequebook and an accompanying charge of deception.

14 players could miss Southampton vs Arsenal FA Cup clash after injury updates givenArsenal and Southampton face major selection headaches ahead of their FA Cup clash, with Mikel Arteta providing injury updates on his injured playersView 2 Images Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given an injury update ahead of his side's FA Cup clash with Southampton. Mikel Arteta and Arsenal had an eventful international break with multiple key players returning to the club prematurely after sustaining injuries while on duty with their countries. ‌Arsenal suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final before the international break, with the two aforementioned stars absent. ‌Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal injury update after 'suspicious' England withdrawals READ MORE :Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres follows Cole Palmer and Kylian Mbappe with business move READ MORE :"Ebz is out," Arteta said. "He [Scienza] has put a lot of work into that international break because he's desperate to come back," Saints manager Tonda Eckert told the Daily Echo.

Police bodycam footage shows the 24-year-old being woken by officers in the property in Newark, Nottinghamshire, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He was found curled up on a small floor bed. Officers had been called to the house at around 3.15am after reports it was being burgled and found a smashed window. Aside from the suspect, the property was empty. Inspector Dale Smith said: “The officers responding to this incident did a great job apprehending a suspect as quickly as they did.”

Bank of Ireland chief executive Myles O’Grady said AI ‘presents both opportunities and risks’ and he is interested in using it to improve efficiency. Photograph: Nick BradshawBank of Ireland plans to invest about €1.6 billion mainly on information technology (IT) improvements out to the end of 2028. This will match its spend over the past three years, as the bank continues to improve efficiency and gradually reduce staff numbers, according to its chief executive. The bank will be able to carry out software updates and upgrades more quickly in future on the app, he added. O’Grady reiterated that the bank plans to rely on natural retirements and departures – known as natural attrition – to reduce staff numbers by about 3 per cent a year out to 2028, rather than a sweeping redundancy programme.

Jose Mourinho backed for stunning Man Utd return - 'He can carry that club'Jose Mourinho previously managed Manchester United for two-and-a-half seasons before being sacked in December 2018View 2 Images Jose Mourinho was sacked by Man United in December 2018 (Image: Getty Images)Manchester United legend Nicky Butt would support the re-appointment of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are searching for a permanent head coach after Ruben Amorim was sacked in January. FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! United return to action on Monday, April 13, with a home fixture against Leeds (8pm BST). Article continues belowThey then play just six more matches with their final game coming away at Brighton & Hove Albion on May 24.

Maura Higgins has revealed the tweakments she has undergone after leaving fans stunned by her equally ageless and unrecognisable appearance. Maura explained that she gets regular Botox but no longer partakes in filler, before claiming her drastically different appearance was in fact down to 'make-up and lighting'. Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Maura Higgins for comment. Season 22 of The Bachelorette had been due to premiere on March 22, with Mormon Wives star Taylor, 31, set to lead the series. It claimed: 'ABC exec friend said that they are looking into getting Maura Higgins to be the new Bachelorette and do a live shooting of it.

Athlone District CourtFined for importing illegal firearm from SlovakiaA man who imported an illegal firearm from a military shop in Slovakia has been convicted and fined €500 with six months to pay. The parcels had come from an army military shop based in Slovakia and, upon examining the two parcels, they discovered the gas operated airgun, ammunition and two canisters of pepper spray. He was fully cooperative, the court heard, and he told Gardaí he had paid €300 online, believing he had purchased the weapon legally. Mr Forde, who represented himself, said he has no previous convictions and had not come before the courts prior to this. I apologise.”Judge Owens proceeded to convict Mr Forde and fined him €500, giving him six months to pay.

Damien Heavin, from Castledaly, Athlone, pictured during his recent visit to Rwanda with Trócaire. Athlone man views impact of fatal Rwanda floodingDamien Heavin, from Castledaly, works with the communications team at Trócaire, the Irish charity that helps some of the world's most at-risk communities. In this article, Damien writes about a recent trip to Western Rwanda, where locals are striving to recover from devastating flooding which resulted in the deaths of well over 100 people in May 2023. ***Last month, I travelled to the Rubavu district in western Rwanda, nearly three years after severe flooding struck on May 2, 2023. The experience in western Rwanda reflects a broader reality and is not isolated.

There were 17 prosecutions for wildlife crime last year, with fines of up to €14,000 imposed, as authorities step up enforcement proceedings during the bird nesting season. The figures were released as Easter coincides with a peak period for nesting birds, when wildlife is particularly vulnerable to disturbance. Mr O'Sullivan warned that the cutting of hedgerows during this time is largely prohibited, with only limited exemptions applying. "Hedgerows can benefit from cutting from time to time, but it is important that this activity takes place outside of nesting season to avoid disturbing nesting birds and other wildlife." The guidance also details limited exemptions during the nesting season, although there is no exemption for the burning of vegetation.

The woman is also appealing an order requiring her to pay the university’s costs of defending the case. The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the three-judge Court of Appeal on July 21st. UCD reported to gardaí last year that a graphic photo of the woman was received by more than 170 academic staff and students on the evening of April 22nd, 2025. In November it was sent into a 300-member UCD students’ WhatsApp group, accompanied by deeply offensive language about the woman. The woman’s appeal against the judgment is advanced on grounds including the judge’s decision contains errors of law.

I note that the Scottish ferry debacle was one of the main topics highlighted by a recent episode of the BBC’s News at Six. Meanwhile, Arran resident, Charles Currie, drew an interesting comparison between the ferry connection to the island and the M8 (Herald Letters, March 31). Why not, Sir Keir, when the impact is every bit as serious in the devolved nations as the rest of the UK? Sir Keir Starmer: man or mouse? (Picture: PA) (Image: PA)Cowrin, tim-rous beastieSir Keir Starmer is by far the worst leader the UK has ever had, prompting the question: "Is he man or mouse?"

Leo carried a wooden cross for all of the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum, marking the first time in decades a pope carried the cross to every station. “Every person in authority will have to answer to God for the way they exercise their power,” ⁠said the first meditation. The spiritual texts, ​written by an Italian priest chosen for the task by the pope, did not name any specific world leaders. They also recognised children who were imprisoned during protests or “deported by policies devoid of compassion”, ‌without referencing specific countries. Pope Leo carried a wooden cross for all of the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on his first Good Friday as pontiff, marking the first time in decades that a pope carried the cross to every station.

Cork hurling boss Ben O'Connor has made three changes to his side for Sunday’s Division 1A final meeting with Limerick. Micheál Mullins comes into the starting 15 at wing-back alongside fellow Glen Rovers men Rob and Eoin Downey, while Séamus Harnedy and William Buckley replace U20 star Barry Walsh and Newmarket's Hugh O'Connor in attack. Inside, St Finbarr's duo Brian Hayes and William Buckley line up either side of Alan Connolly, who wears 14. Limerick: N Quaid; S Finn, M Casey, B Nash; D Byrnes, W O’Donoghue, K Hayes; A English, C Lynch; G Hegarty, A O’Connor, C O’Neill; A Gillane, S O’Brien, D Reidy. Subs: C Ryan, P Casey, C Coughlan, F Fitzgerald, M Fitzgerald, E Hurley, D Langan, D Morrissey, D Ó Dálaigh, D O’Donovan, P O’Donovan.