Allianz FL Division 1

Tommy Walsh is likely to make his return to competitive football for All-Ireland champions Kerry off the substitutes’ bench, after he was kept in reserve for Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 1 opener against Mayo at Fitzgerald Stadium (2pm).

While allowing fringe players the chance to impress, the McGrath Cup is also fulfilling a practical purpose for Cork senior football manager Brian Cuthbert.

Colm O’Neill will make his first start of the year for the Cork footballers in Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 1 clash with Mayo at Elverys MacHale Park (throw-in 2.30pm).

Captain Michael Shields returns to the Cork side for Sunday’s Allianz FL Division 1 clash with Derry in Páirc Uí Rinn (throw-in 1pm).

Cork will not mount any further opposition to the decision to run the Féile na nGael without top-tier competitions in both 2014 and ’15.

Ruairí Deane, Alan Cronin and Donal Óg Hodnett are some of the notable newcomers to the Cork football squad for the Allianz Football League Division 1 campaign, though Ray Carey is not included.

CORK JAFC FINAL:

Duhallow 1-11 Avondhú 1-7

It was difficult not to be heartened by the sight of Colm O’Neill dancing around Gaelic Park last Saturday evening.

Kilmurry 2-12 Ballyclough 1-10

Ballyclough 0-10 Mitchelstown0-7

Despite not scoring for the final 16 minutes of play, Avondhu progressed to the Cork SFC quarter-finals at Ilen Rovers’ expense in Macroom on Saturday night.

A scoring surge in the final 10 minutes enabled Avondhu to pull clear of Beara at rainswept Newcestown on Saturday.

An injury-time point by Colm O’Neill kept last year’s semi-finalists Avondhu in this year’s Cork SFC.

Cork 2-14 Laois 0-10

NEWS of the death of John Myers, aged 93, former chief executive of Ballyclough Co-op, now part of Dairygold Co-op, was received with sadness across the Irish dairy industry.

DAVID HIGGINS believes his vast experience will stand to him as he bids to end his seven-year itch and clinch his return to the European Tour at the “dreaded” Qualifying School Finals at PGA Golf de Catalunya.

TO apply some context to this headline result in Fermoy on Saturday, one should underline that this is only the second Cork SFC game Nemo Rangers have lost over the past five years.

AVONDHU enter unchartered territory for the division in modern times when they contest the Cork SFC quarter-final next weekend after they fashioned an extra-time win over Aghada in last night’s fourth round replay in Castlelyons.

A TENSE and exciting all North Cork Co IFC relegation final at Glantane yesterday went Killavullen’s way, Ballyclough now going down to junior ranks.

GLANWORTH reached round four of the Cork IFC last night after a good night’s work at Kilavullen’s GAA grounds.

AGHABULLOGUE cruised into round four of the Cork IFC after brushing Ballyclough aside at Donoughmore yesterday.

AVONDHU became the first side to qualify of the third round of the Cork SFC when they eventually battled past the determined challenge of CIT in a pulsating clash in Fermoy last night.

CORK’S Noel O’Leary was inspirational for Cill na Martra as they overcame Aghabullogue 0-13 to 1-7 in the fourth round of the Cork IFC at Macroom on Saturday.

OVER two decades, the landscape has shifted irrevocably. During Cork’s football hegemony in gaining consecutive All-Ireland senior titles in 1989 and 1990, their scoretakers in the full-forward line came from the city powers of Nemo Rangers and Bishopstown, and the West Cork strongholds of Castlehaven and O’Donovan Rossa.

FOR the first time since he began his illustrious career 14 years ago, Darragh O Sé has been excluded from the Kerry team to meet Cork in Sunday’s glamour Munster SFC semi-final clash with Cork at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

ARMAGH have suffered a massive blow prior to their crunch Ulster SFC clash with Tyrone as 12 players were quarantined when a stomach bug forced them into a one-week shutdown.

Cork's All-Ireland U21 football-winning captain Colm O’Neill has been named as the 2009 Cadbury Hero of the Future at an awards ceremony in the Player’s Lounge in Croke Park.

COLM O’NEILL capped a month to remember when he was named the 2009 Cadbury Hero of the Future at Croke Park last night.

NICHOLAS MURPHY is likely to be fit to play with Cork in Saturday’s Allianz NFL clash with Laois at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise. The All Star damaged a tendon against Fermanagh last week and was replaced by John Hayes.

A CELEBRATION in Mallow to mark the foundation of the Ballyclough Co-op 100 years ago heard that “lessons could be learned” from the society’s proud history.

MISSION accomplished. Kilworth are the new Evening Echo Cork junior hurling champions, but not without a mighty battle from never-say-die Dungourney.

A HUGE statement of intent from red-hot Glanmire in Mayfield yesterday, as they powered past Ballinora in a one-sided Evening Echo Cork Co Premier IFC clash (0-17 to 0-7).

HOLDERS Cork will field seven of the squad which trounced Limerick in last year’s provincial final in tomorrow night’s opening round of the ESB Munster Minor Hurling Championship at the Gaelic Grounds (6.30).

A QUINTET of All-Ireland winning stars, Donal Óg Cusack, Wayne Sherlock, Brian Murphy, Tom Kenny and Timmy McCarthy return to the Cork team for Sunday's crucial Allianz NHL clash with Wexford at Wexford Park.