Newtownshandrum produced the shock of the Cork SHC at Mourneabbey on Saturday as last season’s semi-finalists and 2017 finalists Blackrock crashed out.

Mallow remain top of Division 2 of the RedFM Cork Hurling League as they made it seven wins from nine.

It became all too easy for Blackrock with a runaway victory over Ballyhea in the second game of the Cork SHC double-header at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday

For 20 years Michael Corcoran has been working in RTÉ, covering and commentating on the Irish provinces’ exploits in Europe, writes Kieran Shannon.

The cheers that greeted captain Ciarán O’Sullivan’s celebratory roar ‘Up the Village’ when he raised the silverware in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday said it all. It was a day that will dwell long in their memory as Ballincollig regained their Cork Premier IHC status. They did ply their trade in the top tier in the past but were forced to drop down over the years.

Cormac Walsh is well fitted to the mould of the modern-day wing-forward. He covers the ground, takes his scores and gets through an amount of work that often goes unseen. The Midleton man’s positivity and openness is as impressive as his on-field exploits and he has very much enjoyed his side’s run to Sunday’s Cork SHC final.

Here's your round-up of club action...

In this first hurling final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh Nua, Imokilly were the better side and deserved their win, says Donal O’Grady.

We were impressed with how Blackrock went about their business in the semi-final victory against Na Piarsaigh.

‘Dream comes true for Imokilly’ read the headline in The Examiner on Monday morning, October 6, 1997.

In a division where football is the religion of choice, Kanturk’s victory in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling final last Saturday evening was a watershed result.

Often, in the aftermath of seismic victories, players and managers can be accused of finding meaning in the realm of the cliché. They can sing the song of having been written off by everyone, play the tune of not being given a chance by anyone, or even ask Joe Brolly what he thinks about it all.

A rousing closing quarter from Blackrock – during which they outscored their opponents by 0-6 to 0-1 – advanced them to a first Cork SHC final since 2003.

Cork is renowned as a sports-mad city, boasting a rich seam of success in all codes, whose heroes on the field of play attain iconic status.

Blackrock 2-18 Newtownshandrum 2-9: Blackrock swept past Newtownshandrum in the second half of Saturday’s RedFM SHL final at Páirc Uí Rinn to capture the title for the first time since 2008.

He has finally collected his Olympic medal but Rob Heffernan remains as committed to improvement as ever as he vows to ‘go to war’ one last time. He just wishes people wouldn’t take it so personally when he pushes to raise standards for all Irish athletes.

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

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

Blackrock and Cork legend John Horgan, who died yesterday, was a member of the three-in-a-row All-Ireland winning senior hurling team of 1976-78 and was also an All-Ireland winner in his first season in 1970.

Blackrock 1-22 Ballyhea 1-13: Twelve months after losing heavily to Ballyhea, Blackrock were this time standing on the winner’s rostrum after a low-key Cork SHC first round clash at sun-splashed Mallow yesterday.

Cork’s progression to the All-Ireland U21 final, on Saturday, April 30, looks set to disrupt local football championship fixtures.

Barrow Rangers (Kilkenny) 2-14 Shanballymore (Cork) 1-15: Kilkenny’s Barrow Rangers advanced to the All-Ireland JBHC final after defeatomg Cork champions Shanballymore in Killeedy yesterday.

Who pushed the boundaries this year?

Banbridge’s reign as Irish Senior Cup holders came to an abrupt end while there were also big successes for non-EY Hockey League sides on a turbulent cup weekend.

Blackrock 1-21 Duhallow 0-8: Blackrock collected their third Cork U21AHC title in four years – their fifth overall — at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Blackrock 1-12 Duhallow 1-12: A courageous fightback by 14-man Duhallow earned them a deserved draw in the Cork U21AHC final at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday. 

You are witness to an unprecedented experiment in sports journalism here this morning — if not quite a match report written before the match then something not too far off it.

After earning 61 caps and scoring 14 goals for his country, Kevin Doyle has exceeded his own expectations but still believes he can contribute to the Irish cause in their time of need.

Ahead of the resumption of European Championship qualifying with the game against Gibraltar in Faro on Friday, the Irish team will get its first taste of its new training base when they commence preparations at Abbotstown on Monday morning.

Newtownshandrum 3-18 Blackrock 1-18: A dynamic display from Newtownshandrum in Mallow yesterday saw them advance to a Cork SHC quarter-final tie with Glen Rovers.

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 3-18 Na Piarsaigh 1-12: Blackrock completed a five-in- a-row in the Seandun Sportsturf Solutions U21 A hurling championship following a 12-point win over Na Piarsaigh at Ballinlough on Saturday.

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’s David Cashman lit up their RedFM SHL clash with St Finbarr’s on Saturday as the Rockies engineered a 16-point victory in Togher.