For long stages in this compelling Cork SHC third round in Mallow on Saturday, it looked like championship newcomers Charleville might prevail.

Newtownshandrum produced the shock of the Cork SHC at Mourneabbey on Saturday as last season’s semi-finalists and 2017 finalists Blackrock crashed out.

The Cork County Board are investigating an incident from last month’s Cork SHC game between Bishopstown and Newtownshandrum, where a Newtownshandrum supporter is alleged to have physically interfered with referee Cathal McAllister.

Hard work did a young Na Piarsaigh side make of this first-round Cork SHC clash.

St Finbarr’s easily accounted for Carrigtwohill on Saturday evening in a resplendent Riverstown with a magnificent performance in the first round of the Cork SHC.

It became all too easy for Blackrock with a runaway victory over Ballyhea in the second game of the Cork SHC double-header at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday

While the Cork SHC title dominance of Imokilly and Glen Rovers have garnered the headlines in recent years, the achievements of Sarsfields in the past decade have been too quickly overlooked.

Cork SHC: Erin’s Own 3-7 Ballymartle 2-8

Robbie O’Flynn is in a race against time to prove his fitness for Erin’s Own ahead of their Cork SHC tie with Ballymartle on Saturday.

After that brisk dismissal of UCC in the Cork SHC semi-final, Imokilly are warm favourites to make it back to back titles on Sunday. Colm Spillane isn’t buying that, though. The Castlelyons and Cork defender knows well that opponents Midleton won’t lie down this weekend.

Séamus Harnedy and his Imokilly teammates had just seen off UCC in their Cork SHC semi-final when they sat down to find out their final opponents.

Further experimentation, further opportunity to impress.

Divisional side Imokilly have bridged a 19-year gap to claim the Cork SHC title at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

‘Dream comes true for Imokilly’ read the headline in The Examiner on Monday morning, October 6, 1997.

DESPITE eight points from new signing Cian McCarthy, Douglas fell to a surprise 0-22 to 0-20 defeat in the opening round of the Cork SHC on Sunday.

A last minute penalty helped Blackrock secure a win over Ballyhea in the Cork SHC round 1.

Newtownshandrum 0-29 Sarsfields 0-27 (AET): Newtownshandrum rolled back the years in Fitzgerald Park, Fermoy yesterday, sending favourites and current champions Sarsfields down the route of the losers’ rounds of the Cork SHC after this epic extra-time first round victory.

Senior newcomers Ballyhea meet Blackrock in Fermoy on Sunday afternoon in Round 1 of the Cork SHC.

Sarsfields 1-18 Na Piarsaigh 0-14

Cork SHC quarter-final: Sarsfields 3-20 St Finbarr’s 1-16

Cork SHC quarter-final: Douglas 2-20 Youghal 1-9

Bishopstown 4-07 Clonakilty 1-07

Sarsfields 4-13 Blackrock 0-6

This was the first shock of the 2012 Cork SHC, underdogs Douglas downing the hot favourites Na Piarsaigh in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

Sarsfields illustrated why they are regarded as one of the front-runners for this year’s Cork SHC after carving out a deserved, but hard-fought victory over Cloyne in their opening bout on Saturday evening.

CIT will be able to compete in this year’s Munster club SHC, if they win next month’s Cork senior decider against Carrigtwohill.

THE scoreline did scant justice to Bride Rovers’efforts in this Cork SHC tie in Riverstown on Saturday night as Erin’s Own had to battle like trojans before advancing to round four.

TO the majority of hurling observers, they are a band of unknowns thrust into championship combat but Cork’s Cathal Naughton has plenty of insight into the Limerick players that face him in Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow.

Setanta Ó hAilpín is rumoured to be on the verge of making a return to club hurling this weekend in Cork.

Erins Own 1-15, Sarsfields 0-18

Blackrock 1-14 Newtownshandrum 0-12