The tag of raging hot favouritism meant that for Cork this journey into the West Clare night was first and foremost about avoiding any potential banana skins they might encounter along the way.

Ronan McCarthy's Cork footballers made it four wins from four attempts in Allianz League Division Three on Saturday night, but only after a ferocious battle with Tipperary in Thurles.

Deferred by 24 hours due to poor weather conditions, Clare were not deterred by the delay, with attackers Mark McInerney and Shane Meehan on song for the Banner.

This game was watched by a crowd of 1,658 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Cork this afternoon continued their winning start to life in Division 3, the visitors to Carrick-on-Shannon recording their second league victory to remain firmly in the hunt for promotion.

The first inter-county silverware of 2020 will be handed out at LIT Gaelic Grounds today, starting with the McGrath Cup final.

The Rebels’ team includes Colm Spillane, who made his return to red-and-white in Tuesday night’s Canon O’Brien Cup game against UCC at the Mardyke after missing 2019.

A second victory for another experimental Cork side in round 2 of the McGrath Cup in Mallow last night.

Having been set to take time away from football after his spell as Kildare manager, Cian O’Neill has revealed how Ronan McCarthy coaxed him into the Cork set-up as a coach to the senior footballers.

A devastating ten minute period after half-time propelled Fr O’Neill’s into the quarter-finals of the Cork PIHC as they saw off the challenge of Fermoy at Ballynoe yesterday.

Roscommon finished their Super 8s campaign on a positive note with this three-point win over Cork.

Midfielder Killian O’Hanlon, who missed the Dublin game because of a head injury, is back in the Cork team to face Tyrone.

The Cork footballers must be “streetwise” and “patient” during Saturday’s must-win Super 8 tie against Tyrone, a fixture which selector Sean Hayes has described as the “game of our lives”.

The inconsistency which plagued Cork football in recent seasons is no longer an issue, according to goalkeeper Mark White.

A Shane Aherne point in the 81st minute handed victory to Fermoy in this see-saw Cork PIHC first-round contest.

Martin Brennan was the toast of Fermoy as he landed an injury-time winner to secure victory over Castlehaven at Brinny yesterday.

Seán Powter will start his first game for the Cork footballers in almost 14 months this weekend.

It ended with bodies being flung, arms spread wide, legs hacking chaotically, and the general confusion of a final ’45 dropped upon close to 28 players.

Dr Crokes midfield Johnny Buckley was last night cleared to play in the All-Ireland club SFC final after successfully contesting his one-match suspension.

It might only be the McGrath Cup, but the Cork footballers, for a variety of reasons, would be best served by ensuring the pre-season silverware is perched at the front of the team bus when it pulls out of Willie Clancy country tomorrow afternoon.

Cork will meet Clare in the McGrath Cup final this Saturday after comfortably dismissing Limerick in today’s penultimate round clash at a venue which had neither a stand nor a scoreboard.

Kilcummin claimed the AIB Munster club IFC title in Mallow today. A strong finish to the first half and an impressive second half showing from the Kerry champions meant this is the 12th title for the Kingdom and fifth-in-a-row for Kerry clubs.

The Cork football team to face Tipperary in Saturday’s Munster SFC semi-final contains two championship debutants.

The Cork football team to face Tipperary in Saturday’s Munster SFC semi-final contains two championship debutants.

Debutant Ronan O’Toole is one of three changes on the Cork football side for Sunday’s final Allianz FL Division 2 clash with Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park (3pm).

Waterford manager Tom McGlinchey has received an eight-week sideline ban after he chose not to contest the proposed suspension last night.

Cavan maintained their grip on top spot in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League with a deserved three-point win away to Cork, writes Stephen Barry.

Cork 2-11 Louth 0-10: An unusual game at Páirc Uí Rinn: Cork cruise to victory, despite having two men sent off, while simultaneously being flattered by a seven-point winning margin.

Tipperary 3-16 Cork 1-16: A dominant second-half showing from Tipperary in the curtain-raiser at Páirc Uí Chaoimh handed the Premier footballers their second competitive victory over Cork in three years.

Avondhu 3-20

Tipperary 0-14 Clare 0-10: Tipperary survived a determined Clare rally in the closing 20 minutes of the inaugural Munster U17 football quarter-final at Semple Stadium, Thurles, last evening to clinch a semi-final clash with Kerry next month.

Tyrone chairperson Roisin Jordan has insisted the county executive is fully behind Mickey Harte and his team, and fully supportive of their efforts to win a first All-Ireland title since 2008.

Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony has yet to decide if he will continue with the Kingdom for a 15th campaign.

Kiskeam 2-12 Fermoy 0-14: Founded in November 1945, Kiskeam are a relatively young club, but that didn’t mean that the joy of reaching senior football for the first time was any less sweet.

Cork 3-6 Reardens All Stars 1-6: The bad weather spoiled this inaugural challenge match between the Cork seniors and an All Star club selection in Clonakilty yesterday.

Ian Maguire will make his first senior football appearance for Cork in almost a year in Sunday’s McGrath Cup opener against Limerick in Mallow (2pm).

Fermoy 0-7 Mayfield 0-7 (Cork IFC Final): The more it went on, the more you thought it had to be some sort of rope-a-dope tactic.

Fermoy 1-8 Glanworth 0-6: Fermoy could afford the luxury of a missed first-half penalty and still finish comfortable winners over Glanworth in Saturday’s Cork IFC semi-final at Castlelyons.