Party time never seems to end for Cork Golf Club these days. Just as calm returns to Little Island after their successful 125th year celebrations, they are now turning their attentions to next week’s Irish Cups and Shields finals at Royal Tara for which they have qualified in the Barton Shield and Irish Senior Cup.

When Newmarket-on-Fergus captain Enda Barrett received the Canon Hamilton Cup at the end of the Clare county final he said he was receiving it on behalf of Newmarket teams going back 31 years.

Carrickshock, captained by Offaly star, David Franks, claimed their first major title at senior hurling level in Kilkenny since their championship glory of 1951 when they won the senior league final at Nowlan Park yesterday.

THE tail-end of Hurricane Katia has made the practice rounds for the Chartis Irish Cups and Shields finals at Castlerock, Co Derry over the past few days more a test of stamina than skill, although it is confidently expected calm will have been restored when the festival gets under way today with the semi-finals of both the Barton Shield and Irish Junior Cup.

Kilkenny and Offaly claimed victories in the Walsh Cup and Shield semi-finals respectively this morning.

Dublin 3-13 Offaly 0-7

Portumna, Inniskeen Grattans, Shannon Rovers and Tourin claimed the four All-Ireland Hurling Sevens titles that were on offer in mixed weather conditions in Dublin yesterday.

The 2010 Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship was launched at Croke Park today where the competition sponsors also unveiled a new team of ambassadors who will support this year’s campaign of activity to promote U-21 hurling.

TULLAMORE, a splendid midlands course originally designed by James Braid and subsequently upgraded by Patrick Merrigan, is the venue for the finals of the Bulmers Irish Cups and Shields from September 16-19.

Chelsea 2 Manchester United 2 (Chelsea win 4-1 on penalties)

England won a dramatic final against New Zealand in Wellington with Ben Gollings kicking the winning drop goal on the stroke of full-time.

LAOIS 1-13 CARLOW 1-06

GMIT booked a spot in the final of the Connacht Hurling League following a close 1-13 to 1-11 win over Mayo in Ballyheane this afternoon.

IRISH broadcaster, Setanta Sports, has claimed another rights success over Sky Sports and the BBC.

CO SLIGO comfortably disposed of Limerick by seven holes in a one-sided Bulmers Barton Shield final at Enniscrone yesterday.

GALWAY GOLF CLUB go in search of a rare treble at Rosslare this week when they contest the finals of the Bulmers Irish Senior and Junior Cups and Barton Shield.

THIS is a huge week for golf in Ireland and Britain with at least four major tournaments down for decision.

THE 18th Arrabawn Co-Op All-Ireland U16 hurling championship will be held in Tipperary this weekend. Twelve counties will take part with the holders, Galway, bidding for three in a row.

Charlie Mulqueen

Thierry Henry insisted there will be no hangover from Arsenal’s Community Shield defeat by Chelsea when they start their Premiership campaign against Newcastle this weekend.

Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium will stage the European Challenge Cup and Shield finals this season.

Ireland picked up their first win of the two-day IRB Dubai Sevens tournament this morning, defeating Canada 24-17 to earn a place in the Shield final.

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) has decided not to enforce Regulation 9 which requires clubs to release their players to play for Argentina against South Africa in Buenos Aires on December 4.

Glasgow became the first British side to qualify for this season’s Parker Pen Challenge Cup with a comfortable 38-13 victory at home to Montpellier.

ALL-IRELAND Club champions Nemo Rangers may have taken three and a half hours of football and two replays to decide the issue, but the Cork kingpins finally delivered at Bishopstown on Saturday, proving too strong for St Finbarr’s, 1-10 to 0-09, in a lively Kelleher Shield quarter-final.

American goalkeeper Tim Howard was a shock starter for Manchester United in the Community Shield today.

IT’S celebration time at Kenmare tomorrow as the club rings in a new century of golfing activity.

Connacht have set up a Parker Pen Shield quarter-final against Pontypridd after beating French side Narbonne yesterday at Corinthian Park.

MICK MORRIS and Billy Rice once played unavailingly in an Irish Senior Cup final for Limerick Golf Club against Shandon Park.

Nick Barmby is on the brink of completing his £2.75m move to Leeds as Australian star Brett Emerton issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to Liverpool.

London Irish will make their first English cup final appearance for 22 years on Saturday, with rugby director Conor O’Shea declaring: ‘‘We don’t want it to be a flash in the pan.’’

Israeli troops took control of the largest city in the West Bank today as hundreds of Palestinian gunmen barricaded in a nearby refugee camp put up fierce resistance.

Parker Pen European Shield

Parker Pen European Shield