NO PROBLEM for three-in-a-row chasing Cork senior hurling champions Erin’s Own at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday as they romped to a 1-16 to 0-7 opening-round victory over former kingpins Blackrock, who now face a dangerous backdoor test against Bishopstown to stay in the championship.

Jimmy Mangan is unfazed by the prospect of testing conditions when Conna Castle lines up in the William Hill Galway Plate.

WHEN Liam Kearney returned to Cork City this season, it was to a club which had lost some of the players who had been most familiar to him during his time at Turner’s Cross.

FOREMAN, rated the best two-mile novice chaser around for Thierry Doumen last season, heads a list of seven entries for the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

THE Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday promises to answer some interesting questions.

CONNA CASTLE, a horse rapidly on the upgrade, can take the Sheila McCarthy Novice Hurdle at Naas tomorrow.

DUAL bumper and triple point-to-point winner Conna Castle is fancied to enjoy a first success over flights in the opening division of the Festival Hospitality Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

CORK CITY resume their eircom League campaign against Bray Wanderers at Turner’s Cross tonight, boosted by the news that Liam Kearney has been named the eircom/SWAI player of the month for August.

THE curtain fell on this year's Sciath na Scol hurling finals yesterday when the concluding eight finals were decided at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Pairc Uí Rinn.

EOIN GALLAGHER is experiencing a fine season and the Conna amateur partnered a double at the Carbery Foxhounds point-to-point at Darrara near Clonakilty yesterday evening.

THE rather frustrating Greywell has a leading chance in the Murphys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cork this afternoon.

IT was a day of surprises at the Cork Cup meeting at Blarney yesterday with Rusheen Hannah, the property of Master Brendan and Miss Irene O’Callaghan of Macroom, and trained by Liam O’Callaghan, taking the Cork Cup in surprise fashion.