A pulsating and absolutely magnificent All Ireland intermediate hurling club championship final eventually went the way of Tullaroan at Croke Park this evening.

Neighbouring clubs Fr O'Neill's and Russell Rovers arrive to play All-Ireland finals in Croke Park on Saturday at the end of an idyllic period for this East Cork region. There is none of the rancour between these clubs so often associated with proximity. PM O’Sullivan explores why so many houses have been flying two flags.

John Fogarty previews the weekend's GAA fixtures.

Declan Dalton has become so adept at finding the net that it seems preposterous now to think it was his job to guard it through most of his teens.

As it stands the pair will miss the All-Ireland final against Tullaroan in Croke Park on Saturday week.

Thirteen-man Fr O’Neill’s held out against 14-man Tooreen to book their place in the All Ireland intermediate club hurling final against Tullaroan following a dramatic and hard-fought four-point victory in Bord Na Móna O’Connor Park Tullamore today.

Not for the first time in this Munster intermediate hurling club championship has the resolve and character of Fr O’Neill’s been tested. This provincial final victory in Fraher Field, Dungarvan was built on a fierce work-rate and will-to-win, just like they showed in their extra-time victory over Blackrock earlier this month.

A Munster Club IHC final against Waterford’s Ballysaggart awaits Fr O’Neill’s as the Cork champions made easy work of their Clare counterparts Broadford in Midleton.

Blackrock and Fr O’Neill’s served up a hurling classic at Kilfinane, a Munster club intermediate championship quarter-final that defied the tough conditions for this time of the year and that was fully enjoyed by the huge crowd at the Blackrock venue.

Relive a historic three-in-a-row win for Imokilly in enthralling final for the ages

Mistakes by goalkeepers which lead to scores are always magnified, particularly those that involve short puckouts. It was a defensive mistake by Glen Rovers that handed the East Cork side the golden opportunity to goal for the second time just before the break.

Before you make your position known you had better state your terms.

A Séamus Harnedy goal in first-half injury-time proved to be the vital score as Imokilly created history in Páirc Uí Rinn this afternoon as they completed the three-in-a-row in the Cork SHC.

When I travelled to last year’s Cork county final, I felt right at home when I saw the black and white flags and the huge swell of Midleton support.

Over the years, some outstanding teams have claimed the Seamus Long Cup, and on Saturday night in Páirc Uí Rinn, Fr O’Neill’s joined this illustrious group.

“I am thrilled with the performance. This is massive."

“That’s history. The past is the past,” replies Kilworth manager Shane Tobin when it is put to him that his team has had no joy when facing Fr O’Neill’s in recent years.

Eoghan Cormican in preview box The three-in-a-row has become a rare commodity in the Cork Senior Hurling Championship.

Fr O’Neill’s held off Blarney in today’s tense Cork PIHC semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn.

The incessant rain continued to make life difficult for both Imokilly and Sarsfields in the second Cork senior hurling championship quarter final at Páirc Uí Rinn tonight. However, it was three-in-a-row seeking Imokilly, and favourites for the title, who are through to meet St Finbarr’s in the last four.

The full-house signs will be up well before the 7pm throw-in time in Carrigtwohill Sunday evening for the eagerly awaited Cork senior hurling championship third-round showdown between champions Imokilly and Midleton.

On a weekend at Croke Park where people were eager to see if Cork’s players in both codes would sink or swim, two men shone like beacons for their respective causes, writes Peter McNamara.

Shane Kingston, a youngster that performed in the second half like a man hellbent on reclaiming a starting position in the team struck three wonderfully-executed points upon his introduction.

Lehane limped off injured against Limerick last Sunday week while Spillane’s back issue has kept him out of action in Cork’s first two championship games.

When you watch a match back for a second time, you become aware of a million more nuggets of information you might have missed while witnessing a contest in real-time.

Diarmuid O’Sullivan believes the work-rate of the Cork attack has to improve significantly if they are to bounce back from Sunday’s defeat to Tipperary.

In the BBC hit comedy Dad’s Army the butcher Corporal Jones always carried a bayonet. When asked why, his answer was ‘They don’t like it up ‘em’.

Fr O’Neill’s survived a titanic battle with Ballincollig in a lively opening round of the Cork Premier IHC at Carrigtwohill tonight.

The Imokilly juggernaut remained on track for three-in-a-row when they swept aside the challenge of Carbery in the final stage of the Divisional/Colleges section of the Cork SHC in Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Reigning back-to-back Cork senior hurling champions Imokilly saw off the challenge of Carrigdhoun in round one of the Colleges/Divisions section of the championship at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Promising Cork attacker Declan Dalton is facing a period on the sidelines following a knee operation, it has emerged.

Both managements referred to the playing surface after yesterday’s game in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, with Cork selector Donal O’Mahony not mincing his words.

Springtime may not have landed in Nowlan Park quite yet, given the chill in the Kilkenny venue yesterday, but the virtues and habits of the men in the striped jerseys remain evergreen.

Mallow in early January will never be mistaken for Broadway, and the chill in the north Cork evening made it a testing venture for the 2,021 spectators in attendance for Cork and Waterford in last night’s Co-Op Superstores Munster SHL clash.

It started as a puck-around and ended with managers tangling on the sideline, the kind of pre-season game that picks up momentum before a breathless finish.

Ger Fitzgerald is steeped in Midleton history. His illustrious club career saw him rack up four senior county medals, two Munster club titles as well as one All-Ireland club crown. There’s also the small matter of two Celtic Crosses from his days on the inter-county scene.

Just when you thought this hurling summer could spoil us no more, the youngsters from Tipperary and Cork go and produce a most incredible finish to the last ever All-Ireland U21 final.

Having scored four points in a row, Tipp were given a great opportunity to forge further clear as Robert Byrne’s clearance broke for Mark Kehoe, who did well to claim possession despite being outnumbered by Cork defenders.

First off, Tipperary won’t be as deficient as they were in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Similarly, Cork’s collective output won’t be at the same untouchable level that it was at on July 4. What you’ll find materialising will be somewhere in the middle.

The red wave is coming.

Cork lived up to their favourites’ billing to reach the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC final with a win over Waterford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night, but they were pushed all the way.

Kerry 1-23 ... Cork 1-13: A historic day in the world of Kerry hurling as they defeated a Cork team for the time in a competitive senior fixture since 1891 — en route to the Kingdom’s first and only All-Ireland title.

Clare 4-17 Cork 0-18: The Munster Council have brought forward the Munster SHL final between Clare and Limerick by one week to avoid the counties meeting on successive weekends.

Defending champions Limerick will have to go the long route if they are to retain the Munster U21 hurling title following last night’s draw at Aras na Mumhan in Castletroy.