FORTWILLIAM Park welcomes back Championship 1 football this Saturday when Tobermore United entertain Limavady United with a 3pm kick off.

THE MacRory Cup footballers of St Patrick’s Maghera will return to the Morgan Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Friday evening (7.30pm) for the semi-final of this year’s competition when they face no less an opposition than the reigning MacRory and Hogan Cup Champions in St Colman’s Newry. It will be a return to the ground also for the champions as they destroyed the St Mary’s Belfast challenge there last week in a quarter-final replay when they rattled over 17 points and probably should have added at least three goals to that tally such was their dominance and quality of performance. St Colman’s will be favourites for the game and the Maghera boys will certainly need to up their performance if they are to upset the odds in what is a clash of the traditional MacRory Cup giants from yesteryear.

The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday has been named and coach Declan Kidney has opted for an unchanged lineup.

REIGNING U18 Ulster Vocational Schools, champions, Holy Trinity College, Cookstown, put their title on the line, when they clash with County rivals St.Ciaran’s Ballygawley, in Thursdays Markey Cup final, writes Jason Quinn.

HOLY Trinity College will attempt to capture the McDevitt Cup (Under 14), Ulster Vocational Schools Title for the first time next Wednesday. The school has been defeated in two previous finals and this is the only Vocational Schools title that they have failed to win.

Cookstown 4 Annadale 2

THE sheer weight of the Highfield pack, added to a succession of careless errors behind the scrum, proved too much for Rainey Old Boys at Woodleigh Park where the Leesiders defeated them 29-13.

COAGH United sealed their place in the quarter finals of the Irish Cup with a stunning 4-1 victory over Newbuildings United at Hagan Park.

Ireland’s rugby squad finally get the opportunity to bounce back from the opening Six Nations defeat to Wales this week.

AARON Hughes announced his return to the international setup after he reversed his decision to retire from Northern Ireland duty.

COOKSTOWN Olympic made the long journey to play FC Larne last Saturday and after battling terrible weather conditions managed to come away with a six four win. The match started with a sleet and then snow shower but Olympic were hot and gained the opener after 4 minutes when a Lee Mitchell corner to the back post was headed home by Conor O’Hare.

Cookstown 53 Ballynahinch 3

GIRLS aged 4 – 5 years can participate in football at the Football Development Centre which is commencing on 3rd March 10.30 – 11.30

COAGH United and Newbuildings United will have it all to do again on Monday afternoon as they look to secure their place in the next round. A lucrative quarter final tie against Cup holders and Premier League giants Linfield await the winners.

Banbridge 1 Cookstown 2

AFTER ten games, South Tipperary newcomers Cashel and Banbridge occupy the automatic promotion places in Division 2 B of the AIL and do not look like slipping up. Barnhall, Rainey Old Boys and Highfield, from Cork, head the pack eyeing the play-off spot.

THE Cookstown and District Motor Cycle Club celebrated their 90th anniversary in style with a special chat show at the Royal Hotel.

THE Rainey girls travelled away to Coleraine on Saturday on secure a well deserved 4-0 win over Coleraine.

IN Conference 4, Rainey O.B. 2nd XV went under 32-7 at Shaw’s Bridge where Instonians 2 pipped them by only one point in the league earlier in the season. Kenny Irvine scored Rainey’s try, with Ronan Devlin adding the points.

Ireland rugby star Cian Healy’s amongst the country’s international rugby stars trying to get their head around one of the most bizarre weeks ever in the sport.