A rousing second-half performance from a relatively young Blarney team enabled them to get past Ballinhassig in the opening round of the Cork Premier IHC at Ballincollig.

Ballinhassig 3-23 Tracton 0-18: Ballinhassig served notice of their championship credentials with a polished second half performance against South-east neighbours, Tracton, in round one of the Cork Premier IHC in Carrigaline on Saturday.

Ballinhassig 4-17 Castlelyons 1-12: A polished second-half performance powered Ballinhassig to a comprehensive win over Castlelyons in the Cork Premier IHC quarter-final on Saturday evening.

Galway 0-23 Cork 0-14: After capturing their first All-Ireland Intermediate hurling title in 13 years, Saturday night was all about rest and recovery for the Galway hurlers ahead of a Sunday morning training session.

Galway clinched the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship tonight, piling more misery on Cork in the process.

SHC (Divisions/Colleges) second round, Duhallow v Carrigdhoun, Cloughuv, 8pm

The returning Brian Murphy is one of three changes to the Cork side for Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final with Waterford in Thurles.

Sarsfields 0-14 Carrigdhoun 0-11

Carrigdhoun 0-18 Carbery 1-12

Carrigdhoun 1-19 Duhallow 1-12

St Finbarr’s 1-13 Ballinhassig 0-15

Killeagh 1-14 Ballinhassig 0-14

Darren O’Malley and Conor Daly are the two Roscommon debutants for Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final clash with Mayo at MacHale Park in Castlebar (4pm).

Dónal Óg Cusack is unlikely to captain the Cork senior hurlers in 2013, with a new skipper likely to be appointed in the next fortnight.

Cork 4-16 Cork IT 1-17

Ballybrown (Limerick)3-10 Ballinhassig (Cork) 2-7

Ballinhassig 1-19 Bandon 1-15

Kilmurry 0-09 Ballinhassig 1-03

Tracton 2-7 Ballinhassig 1-10

Ballinhassig 2-18 Inniscarra 0-9

Ballinhassig stormed into the last four of the Premier IHC on Saturday night after a terrific four-point victory over Ballyhea in Mallow.

It was slated as the game of the championship between two of the campaigns pre-tournament heavyweights but in the end you’d have to wonder was the hype misplaced.

This is a big year for Ballinhassig. Not alone will they endeavour to regain their senior hurling status but they will also play their first games in their new development at Ballinaboy.

Neil Ronan was the hero for Ballyhea when his late free from the touchline sealed a 0-13 to 0-12 win over Newcestown in a heated Premier IHC meeting in Mallow yesterday.

DOUGLAS got their Cork SHC campaign back on track last night in Páirc Uí Chaoimh when they unleashed a powerful display in the closing stages to stave off the challenge of Ballinhassig in this second round clash.

LIMERICK IT nailed down a Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final berth at Moylish yesterday and left this year’s hosts on the brink of missing the finals weekend.

IT MAY have taken a late quality point from full-forward Keith Hogan to save UCD’s bacon in this thrilling Fitzgibbon Cup game at WIT’s Carriganore venue yesterday, but it was well deserved on a day hurling itself was the real winner.

CORK attacker Niall McCarthy is set to make his comeback from injury in Sunday’s senior hurling challenge against Galway. The match, which is a repeat of the recent NHL Division 1 final between the counties, takes place in Castlelyons at 5pm.

DAVID CUNNINGHAM, Glen Rovers, takes over the full back slot left vacant by the injury to Eoin Cadogan for Cork’s last game in the preliminary rounds of the Allianz NHL against Galway at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

University of Limerick 0-14 Waterford IT 1-15

IF THERE are prerequisites for a successful Fitzgibbon Cup finals weekend, this year’s model looks to have ticked all the boxes.

Limerick 1-14 Cork 2-21

Waterford IT 0-18 UCC 1-10

A useful exercise for new Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin in this first round Waterford Crystal senior hurling tournament in magnificent Meelick yesterday afternoon, as his charges chiselled out a gritty three-point win over WIT (Waterford Institute of Technology).

Sarsfields 2-23 Ballinhassig 3-8

BALLINHASSIG issued a powerful statement of intent at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday when sweeping Midleton aside in the Evening Echo Cork SHC second round.

IN defiance of the dire weather predictions, a large crowd made their way to Castletownroche on Saturday evening for this senior hurling challenge, anticipating perhaps that with time running out to the championship, they would see a real contest between two sides that would be coming close to full strength.

A GOAL from converted defender Cian O’Connor was the critical score as Erin’s Own fought their way through to the third round of the Evening Echo Cork SHC with this narrow 1-12 to 0-13 replay victory over Ballinhassig at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night.

TWELVE months after last meeting at this juncture, UCC and Waterford IT cross paths in this afternoon’s Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final at the Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club, Ringsend, in Dublin.

LAST March they produced, by common consent, a sublime classic, and in Limerick this afternoon Limerick IT and Waterford IT renew Fitzgibbon Cup battle once more.

CHAMPIONS WIT face a critical encounter at home to DIT this afternoon, in one of three Fitzgibbon Cup ties down for decision.

BALLINHASSIG maintained their senior hurling status as they had four points to spare over Carrigtwohill at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

“VERY happy,” declared Cork manager Gerald McCarthy following last night’s senior hurling challenge win over Waterford, “especially in the circumstances in which we found ourselves.

NEWTOWN can thank the O’Connor twins, Ben and Jerry, for their SHC win over Bishopstown at Mallow yesterday.

THE spoils went Sarsfields’ way, thanks to hitting a purple patch in the opening quarter, but Ballinhassig left Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday with their pride intact after an admirable second-half recovery.