Ian Maguire will make his first senior football appearance for Cork in almost a year in Sunday’s McGrath Cup opener against Limerick in Mallow (2pm).

As Cork make the long trip to Ballycastle on Sunday in the search for a handsome win over Antrim to boost their scoring difference, Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made six changes to the side that beat Offaly last weekend.

Grenagh 0-12 Aghabullogue 0-05

Grenagh 1-10 Kilbrin 2-5

CORK JAHC FINAL:

Kilbrin 0-16 Castlemartyr 0-15

Castlemartyr 0-14 Kilbrin 0-14

Cork folk in Duhallow are usually gearing up for the All-Ireland football final, but the rise of hurling in the division is no accident.

Defenders Shane O’Neill and William Egan return to the Cork senior hurling team for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A relegation play-off clash with Clare in the Gaelic Grounds (3pm).

Champions UCC are within an hour of retaining their Fitzgibbon Cup title after a comprehensive defeat of UCD in sun-splashed Carnmore yesterday, a powerful second half enough to defeat Nicky English’s charges.

Kilbrin 2-17 Banteer 3-12

Niall McCarthy is rated a very doubtful starter for Cork’s Munster SHC opener with Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Sunday week.

William Egan believes a lot of Cork hurling supporters got carried away with themselves in the lead up to the Division 1 final earlier this month.

After claiming a dramatic late draw last week, UCC seized their chance in last night’s replay in Cloughduv to prevail against Carbery in the divisional-colleges section of the Cork SHC.

A last-gasp extra-time point by Whitechurch player Sean Keane salvaged a draw for UCC in a highly entertaining opening round tie in the divisions-colleges section of the Cork SHC in Cloughduv last night.

THEY’RE not done yet – a little matter of a Munster club JHC final on December 11 still to come – but already it has been a season to remember for Charleville.

COURCEY ROVERS survived a late rally from Youghal to win the Cork Premier IHC final by 0-15 to 1-10 at Páirc Ui Rinn yesterday — an inspirational display from centre-back and man-of-the-match Vince Hurley going a long way to helping them gain senior status.

TODAY

KILBRIN have qualified to meet Charleville in the semi-final of the Cork JAHC following their two-point replay victory over St Oliver Plunkett’s at Coachford on Saturday.

DAMIEN CAHALANE has been drafted into the Cork team at full-back for tomorrow night’s Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC final against Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds at 7.30pm.

CORK U21 hurlers have named five senior panellists for tomorrow night’s Munster hurling championship semi-final with Tipperary in Thurles.

TO appreciate the scale of William Egan’s achievement in bagging a starting spot for Cork next Sunday, you have to understand where he has come from.

BOTH Cork and Tipp report strong hands for their eagerly-awaited Munster SHC opener this Sunday in Thurles.

A LATE point by Conor Lehane earned Midleton a deserved draw, 0-19 to 2-13, with Glen Rovers in a keenly contested Evening Echo Cork SHC quarter-final at Páirc Ui Chaoimh yesterday.

PATRICK CRONIN is set to miss Cork’s entire National Hurling League campaign after suffering a serious knee injury. Cronin will be out of action for a minimum period of three months but it is hoped he may be able to make a return before Cork’s Munster SHC opener against Tipperary in Páirc Ui Chaoimh on May 31.

ARAGLIN survived a storming finish to edge out Kilbrin in a superb Evening Echo Cork ‘B’ JFC semi-final at Doneraile yesterday.