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.

Cork Institute of Technology put in a gallant performance as they faced Dundalk IT in the Trench Cup semi-final in Portlaoise on Wednesday evening.

Cork showed that they are in fine shape to defend their U20 All-Ireland title after they defeated Kildare in the John Kerins Cup final.

Mary Immaculate booked their place in the Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final following a 4-24 to 1-19 win over Limerick Institute of Technology at the Mary I GAA Grounds.

Gleeson was in devastating form prior to his enforced departure.

Kiely is looking towards the end of January as much as next weekend’s Munster League final against Cork.

Cork just about did enough to record a deserved victory over Kerry in this John Kerins Cup opener in Tralee this afternoon as the hosts very nearly salvaged an unlikely draw from a deficit of five points entering injury time. 1-1 from substitute Darragh Hayes appeared to be enough to ensure Cork’s win but a penalty from Paul Walsh followed by a Killian Falvey point nearly ensured the match ended on parity.

St Mullin's produced the shock of the club championship weekend as the Carlow representatives stunned former All-Ireland champions, Cuala, at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Super-sub Colm O’Keeffe was the hero for Blackrock as his second-half goal ensured his side will play senior hurling for the first time since 1998 after this Limerick Premier IHC final replay win.

Blackrock will play senior hurling for the first time since 1998 after this Premier IHC final replay win.

It was certainly a game of two halves in Mallow last night. St Michael’s doing all the work in the opening 30 minutes of this Cork PIFC semi-final, leading at the interval by five points.

A strong, all-round performance from Duhallow in wet Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening, indicated their determination to get back to the Cork SFC final this year.

The Cork U20s overturned an early nine-point deficit to secure the county’s first All-Ireland football title since 2010.

Cork and Kerry played out a thrilling John Kerins Cup U20 League draw in Clonakilty last night.

Cork and Kerry played out a thrilling John Kerins U20 Cup League draw in Clonakilty this evening.

Camogie President Kathleen Woods was impressed with the standard in this thrilling Sciath na Scol C3 final in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday. Two committed teams, with the work-rate of Scoil Bhailenóra proving the decisive factor.

Brian Cody’s 21st championship campaign got off to a winning start thanks to an inspirational display by captain TJ Reid.

Three goals in as many second half minutes earned Kanturk victory at the expense of Castletownbere in an error-strewn Cork PIFC first round replay at Ballingeary yesterday.

This was a convincing and routine win for Galway as they easily bettered Dublin to claim both the league points on offer at Pearse Stadium.

Limerick U21 manager Pat Donnelly was correct to say this performance won’t be sufficient to overcome Tipperary in the Munster semi-final on June 21.

Clare’s Jason McCarthy expects tonight’s Banner crowd “will be going mad” for the county’s U21 clash with All-Ireland champions Limerick in Cusack Park.

Courcey Rovers 3-18 Inniscarra 0-19: Ultimately, it was Seán Twomey’s first-half hat-trick that propelled Courcey Rovers into the third round of the Cork PIHC in this proverbial game of two halves played at the pristine Ballygarvan venue yesterday.

Cuala (Dublin) 1-17 Liam Mellows (Galway) 0-11: The champions of the last two years will meet in the All-Ireland club hurling final, but it will take a monumental performance from Na Piarsaigh to deny this Cuala team a two-in-a-row.

David Treacy scored seven points for Cuala who overwhelmed Liam Mellows and advanced to another All-Ireland final at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Jackie Tyrrell makes his first since last year’s Leinster final as one of five changes to the Kilkenny side for tomorrow’s Allianz HL Division 1A clash with Galway at Nowlan Park tomorrow (2pm).

Jason Forde hit 1-5 as Tipperary manager Michael Ryan celebrated his first competitive game in charge with a big Allianz Hurling League Division 1A victory over Dublin this evening.

DCU 6-14 Athlone IT 1-7: Monaghan’s Shane Carey fired a brilliant 3-6 as holders Dublin City University made a strong statement of their intention to capture back-to-back Sigerson Cup titles for the first time.

Laois 1-9 Dublin 2-20: Dublin advanced to the Walsh Cup semi-finals as they easily accounted for Laois in O’Moore Park yesterday.

O’Byrne Cup - Offaly 0-13 Louth 1-9: A late Louth rally came up short as Offaly rang in the new year with a win in Darver. 

Blackrock 3-18 Na Piarsaigh 1-12: Blackrock completed a five-in- a-row in the Seandun Sportsturf Solutions U21 A hurling championship following a 12-point win over Na Piarsaigh at Ballinlough on Saturday.

Cork Premier IHC: Valley Rovers 3-20 Inniscarra 0-5

Youghal 2-6 Adrigole 0-6