Glen Rovers’ quest for a third Cork SHC title in a row will begin against Bride Rovers in the 2017 preliminary round.

“In training, they’ll do anything you ask them to do. They’d go through a brick wall for you"

There were several thrilling matches in a weekend of action in Cork.

All-Ireland Junior B Hurling final: Shanballymore 0-17 Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry 1-12

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.

Cork football champions Ballincollig open the defence of their first title with a repeat of their opening fixture in this year’s competition.

Éire Óg 0-14 Rockchapel 0-06

Two of the last six All-Ireland Club hurling finalists will meet at the semi-final stages of the Offaly SHC next month after Kilcormac-Killoughey and Coolderry both eased through their quarter-final ties this weekend.

Cork county senior football champions Castlehaven’s quest for a three-in-a-row will face a stiff challenge, after they were drawn against Carbery Rangers in last night’s fourth-round draw.

Cork GAA chiefs are hopeful that the county championship fixture programme will not be greatly affected regardless of how next Sunday’s Munster SHC final goes.

Limerick manager TJ Ryan will pick from a full panel for Sunday week’s Munster SHC clash with Tipperary, with Declan Hannon, Seamus Hickey and David Breen all available for selection.

Munster sides landed three national titles from a possible four over a memorable weekend at Belfield.

A sizeable proportion of the Munster hockey community is decamping to Belfield this weekend as four of the province’s teams go chasing Irish cup glory.

Youghal are the Munster Club IHC champions following a titanic battle with Ballina at Mallow yesterday.

MUNSTER CLUB IHC QUARTER-FINAL:

Ballyea caused a shock at Cusack Park on Saturday, defeating 2010 and 2011 champions Crusheen in the Clare SHC quarter-final.

Cork SHC semi-final

Cork duo Aidan Walsh and Ciarán Sheehan could miss the second Test of this year’s International Rules Series if the county IHC final is not postponed.

CORK PREMIER IHC FINAL:

Aghabullogue 1-19 Dromina 0-17

Inniscarra 0-20 Kilworth 0-16

Loughmore-Castleiney and Éire Óg Nenagh, as expected, qualified for the Tipperary SHC quarter-finals with comfortable round four wins over Roscrea and Silvermines respectively on Saturday evening.

Cork defender Lorcan McLoughlin is hoping “common sense” prevails and Pat Horgan is cleared to face Kilkenny in the All-Ireland hurling quarter-final on Sunday week.

Having re-established their respective places in the senior hurling ranks in Cork and Limerick, Ballinhassig and Ballybrown go in search of further silverware when they meet in the quarter-final of the AIB Munster club IHC at Páirc Uí Rinn today.

A total of 119 days separated Fermoy’s first game in this year’s Cork County IFC and their second, but they showed few ill-effects of the lay-off as they beat Cloyne by 11 points at Lisgoold on Saturday evening.

Tipperary have named an unchanged starting side for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final clash with Kilkenny, but the major talking point is the inclusion of Toomevara’s John O’Brien at full-forward. O’Brien’s brother Thomas passed away earlier this week.

“It’s a great night for us, the pressure is off, and from now on we will be able to hurl with freedom and without fear,” were Dromina coach Gary Morrissey’s words of praise after his side scraped past Dripsey in round three of the IHC in Kanturk on Saturday night.

On a weekend that provided more than its fair share of drama, only three of the quarter-finalists have been confirmed after the penultimate round of games in the group stage of the title race.

Donal Óg Cusack remains involved with the Cork senior hurlers, despite the achilles tendon injury that has ruled him out for the season.

As they face into the unknown this Saturday, an All-Ireland semi-final in Parnell Park against the experienced Loughgiel Shamrocks of Antrim and Ulster, if the young hurlers of Na Piarsaigh need inspiration they don’t have to look very far.

CORK senior hurling champions Carrigtwohill will open the defence of their title against this year’s Premier IHC champions, Courcey Rovers, in the first round of the 2012 championship.

AS Cappamore and Charleville ready themselves for battle in Sunday’s Munster Club JHC final, there is one uncanny parallel between them, as outlined by Cappamore player/coach Seamus Coffey.

COUNTY managers have been accused of recklessly holding up club fixtures in Waterford according to West Divisional Board secretary Pat Grant.

“ALL for one and one for all,” the motto coined by Alexandre Dumas for his fictional Three Musketeers; it could instead have been coined for the very real hurling warriors of Effin.

WHOEVER in the GAA came up with the idea of nominating a club to represent their division in a county championship has a lot to answer for.

DIVISIONAL forces have been commonplace in Cork and Kerry senior championships for several years but embracing the concept in Tipperary has led to an unlikely football success story.

BANDON put on a five star performance to demolish Fr O’Neill’s in a one-sided county IHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and in the process bury the ghosts of 2007.

REIGNING Waterford SHC champions De La Salle needed an injury-time point to salvage a draw, 1-13 apiece, against Foumilewater in a thrilling group championship game at Dungarvan yesterday.