Karl Kilbride wanted the boards to open up and the ground to swallow him this time four years ago as the last seconds of the National Cup decider faded towards an inevitable and, for his Killester side, devastating end.

As Irish basketball celebrates its 75th anniversary and hosts another Cup finals weekend, Kieran Shannon speaks to several key figures in the game about its overall health

Hula Hoops Women’s National Cup semi-final.

BRAND recognition has never been Irish basketball’s strong suit. Clubs have come and clubs have gone down the years, many of them victims of the painfully thin margins on which they exist. Others have withstood long financial winters by donning the name of whatever sponsor can come up with the goods to keep the wolf from the door.

Joint Men’s Super League leaders Garvey’s Tralee Warriors and Eanna go head-to-head tomorrow in a crucial clash that is sure to attract another capacity attendance to the Tralee Sports Complex.

Griffith College Templeogue are targeting three wins from three in the Men’s Super League when they host Belfast Star on Saturday night.

At Duggan Park Rena’s legend grows with 21st national title

Cork GAA chiefs have published its club-by-club rankings table which will form the basis for new county championship structures from 2020 on.

Spacious enough for a trade-up but affordable enough to make a first home, Number 7 Springmount Road in Glanmire is a four-bed semi with a guide price of €265,000.

The Irish man arrested by police in England on suspicion of assisting 15 people with illegal entry into the UK has been released from custody.

DCU Saints, aided by the terrific Michael Bonaparte, produced a Super League masterclass to end Eanna’s unbeaten run

Earlier this week a Glanmire school in Co Cork introduced seven sets of twins starting their first day of secondary school.

A massive initiative to train a 100,000-strong army of lifesavers is underway as volunteers in Cork were honoured for reaching a milestone.

Camogie President Kathleen Woods was impressed with the standard in this thrilling Sciath na Scol C3 final in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday. Two committed teams, with the work-rate of Scoil Bhailenóra proving the decisive factor.

What can one de-deuce from this smashing Glounthaune offering? Well, just that it’s game, set and hard to match, Tommy Barker says I

Three officers of the Glanmire Ladies Gaelic Football Club have had their 24-month suspensions for bringing the LGFA into disrepute overturned by the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).

THE presence of an important wetland habitat for migratory birds by the N25 road and a commuter rail line has generated the sales and marketing motto for Cork’s latest new homes development to launch this year: Harper’s Creek invites house hunters to “Come home to Glounthaune”.

Cork City boss John Caulfield says it will be a “scandal” if the proposed €10m Glanmire Centre of Excellence falls through, warning it could threaten the very survival of the club.

KieranDonaghy has issued a call to arms to Garvey’s Tralee Warriors’ fans ahead of tomorrow night’s Super League meeting with table toppers Templeogue (Tralee Sports Complex, 7.30pm).

Esther N McCarthy takes her pick from showers, scents and sea sponges this week.

The reality of relegation is staring both C & S Neptune and Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin in the face as defeat for either side in tomorrow’s Men’s Super League clash at Neptune Stadium could seal their fate.

Fr Mathews advanced to the final of the NICC Women’s National Cup when they comfortably defeated Cork rivals Glanmire at the Neptune Stadium last night.

After the Men’s Cup action a week ago, the Women’s National Cup takes centre stage this weekend, with the four quarter-finals in the newly-named Paudie O’Connor Cup.

Dave Carey may be the Glanmire manager but he insists it is a Cork football legend that deserves all the credit for their historic run to Sunday’s All-Ireland ladies junior final.

There will be no love lost in the Women’s Super League Cork derby on Sunday when UCC Glanmire host newly promoted Fr Mathews at the Mardyke Arena (1.15pm).

A €14m plan has been drawn up to ease traffic gridlock in one of Cork’s most congested suburbs.

The setting up of a life-saving community first responder (CFR) group on the outskirts of Cork City could become a template for the roll-out of similar groups across the country.

Ambassador UCC Glanmire were crowned Women’s Super League champions following a thrilling 76-63 win over Liffey Celtics at Waterford IT on Saturday night .

Ambassador UCC Glanmire face Liffey Celtics in the Women’s Super League final as the curtain comes down on the basketball season at the Waterford IT tomorrow night.

A hectic weekend of basketball action begins tomorrow with the St Patrick’s Day Men’s SuperLeague final at the National Arena.

The Cork footballers will enjoy a seven-week run-in to their Munster SFC semi-final on June 3.

Ambassador UCC Glanmire 74 Singleton’s SuperValu Brunell 45: Ambassador UCC Glanmire easily accounted for Cork rivals Singleton’s SuperValu Brunell in the Women’s Super League clash at Upper Glanmire Sports Complex.

A number of residents’ associations are to lodge objections against one of the biggest housing projects ever proposed in Co Cork.

Whether big mileage has finally caught up with five-in-a-row chasing Glanmire is one of the seductive sub-plot for tomorrow’s Women’s Cup final at the National Arena. And whether there’s a handover of power to DCU Mercy in the offing or not, writes Tony Leen.

For those teams looking forward to Cup final duels, this weekend was a delicate balance of keeping players healthy and Superleague momentum on track.

Glanmire 77 Brunell 66: The sheets of post-match statistics don’t lie, but they don’t always capture the cut- through narrative of a ball game. 

Basketball is poised for its annual Cork extravaganza, as almost 500 players from across the country head south for the National Cup semi-finals weekend.

It’s a crucial weekend in the Women’s Super League for Ambassador UCC Glanmire with leaders DCU Mercy in town tomorrow.

It’s as much a part of Cork sporting folklore as Flower Lodge or Páirc Ui Chaoimh, as the Mardyke or Turner’s Cross. But the storied basketball crucible that is the northside’s Parochial Hall will fall silent next month when the National Cup semi-finals are played out on Leeside.

The postponement of reigning champions, Glanmire’s National Cup quarter-final, against Killester, yesterday, was one of the big talking points of a hectic cup and league weekend.

David O’Callaghan is a recently-crowned world champion kettlebell lifter. The Glanmire native lifted two 24kg kettlebells over his head 99 times in 10 minutes to add the long-cycle world title to his European gold medal.