Should Nemo secure an eighth All-Ireland crown this Saturday, there’ll be much stock placed on what the players endured during the month of December.

“I don’t like coming second best either.”

They didn’t need to win a first county senior title for Harry Gleeson to be told his Adare footballers were in bonus territory. He’s had those words ringing in his ears since the middle of last summer.

Since transferring clubs, I’ve become highly conscious of the little differences between urban and rural clubs, writes Eimear Ryan.

Between 1971 and ‘80, Glen Rovers, St Finbarr’s and Blackrock held near exclusive ownership of the Munster Club SHC title.

Rebel with a cause: Michael Moynihan looks at the life of John Horgan, Cork hurling captain, and Blackrock club legend

Bishopstown 1-20 Killeagh 1-11: Bishopstown retained their Cork senior hurling status in style at Riverstown on Saturday. One wondered how they were ever in this relegation decider such was their assertive and forceful play.

Tonight’s SHC fourth round clash between Midleton and St Finbarr’s in Páirc Uí Rinn (7.45pm) is just the clubs’ second meeting since 2005, but for older spectators it is sure to recall memories of an epic rivalry in the 1980s.

Blackrock 2-11 St Finbarr’s 0-15: “We are delighted to bury the memory of Ballyhea,” said Blackrock coach, Eddie Murphy, following this Cork SHC second-round victory at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Blackrock take on St Finbarr’s tomorrow in the second round of the Cork senior hurling championship, but whereas 30 years ago that was a county final pairing, this season both clubs are struggling.

Eoghan Cormican examines the contenders for this year’s Cork SFC, which kicks off this weekend at several venues.

The pain in Patrick Kelly’s calf became unbearable as the Derry game wore on last Sunday, and the Cork forward eventually had to come off injured.

Ballincollig 3-15 Carbery 1-11

St Finbarr’s 2-7 Ballinascarthy 0-4

Castlehaven manager Finbarr Santry has revealed taking the scalp of Nemo Rangers was the inspiration behind their second successive Cork title.

Eighteen years after they first met in the Munster championship, Clare’s Ollie Baker and Fergal Ryan of Cork came face to face again this week to recount the good, and not so good, days of their inter-county careers.

Size matters when it comes to supporting the Cork hurlers.

Former GAA President Christy Cooney is set to take over the management of his home club, Youghal, for the coming year.

Hurling with the Barrs.

In extracts from his new book, Bill O’Herlihy recalls his childhood in Cork, an Evening Echo secret, and why he has an eternal soft spot for both Dunphy and Giles

Some weekends are more important than others.

Most of the headlines regarding last Sunday’s St Finbarr’s-Castlehaven SFC quarter-final centred around events in the aftermath of Jason Sexton’s late equaliser for the Barrs, when a brawl broke out.

Ilen Rovers are the early leaders in Division 1 of the Cork County Football League – though only on point scored – after they were one of three two-point winners in the first round of games yesterday afternoon.

Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry Murphy could be plotting against a familiar face in his first competitive match back in charge of the Rebels if Kerry defeat IT Tralee in the preliminary round of the Waterford Crystal Cup this Sunday.

THREE points without reply in the last five minutes was enough for St Finbarr’s to snatch a draw against Douglas in this City JAFC final played in atrocious conditions in Ballinlough on Saturday.

CASTLELYONS’ fairytale season at minor hurling level continues as they head into tomorrow’s Premier 1 final against favourites Blackrock.

JUST imagine what it is like to be singled out on a regular basis as being the last man to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup for your county.

THERE IS a growing public perception that this season’s AIB Munster Club Football Championship is destined to climax in a Crokes v Nemo Rangers face-off, but both clubs still have some work to do before that glamour pairing becomes a reality.

A GOAL by Alan Cronin deep in injury time gave county champions Nemo Rangers a dramatic victory over St Finbarr’s in the Red FM Division One league final at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

GLEN ROVERS will meet Na Piarsaigh in the final of the city division U21 hurling final after they beat St Finbarr’s in extra time at Ballinlough yesterday.

DOUGLAS hurling manager Pat Duffy accepts his side did well to pip Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) by an extra-time point in last weekend’s Cork SHC quarter-final, but as he says, they can’t live on last week’s dinner.

Friendships formed on football fields twenty years apart bind together two of the country’s best know sporting families. But near tragedy has brought them even closer. Tony Leen addressed yesterdays and tomorrow with the Egans and the Cahalanes.

A tasty City Division J‘A’FC final at Ballinlough yesterday as holders Whites Cross and St Finbarr’s battled to the finish but could not be separated after an entertaining contest that ebbed and flowed.

NA PIARSAIGH claimed local bragging rights after crushing neighbours Glen Rovers in the opening round of the Evening Echo Cork senior hurling championship at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.

CHRIS MORRISSEY was there back in the days when Newtownshandrum were fighting for respectability at junior level in North Cork.

THEY’RE back.

TWENTY-FOUR years is a long time to wait for an appearance in a county senior football final in any man’s language.

SHE may have stockpiled a slew of honours in the last few years, but Aoife Murray’s appetite for success has not been sated. Gazing ahead to Sunday’s All-Ireland camogie decider against Kilkenny, the Cloughduv goalkeeper finds the same levels of feverish anticipation building up.

HE trained to be a newsreader, but he never announced a headline.