Last season’s finalists Castlehaven won their opening battle for supremacy in the Cork senior football championship in Newcestown yesterday afternoon after a fiercely contested tie against East Cork outfit Aghada.

THE glory they experienced in the third-level arena last spring ensured 2011 would always be filled with special memories for the UCC football camp.

A HUMBLING experience on a Sunday afternoon last February helped focus Castlehaven’s minds ahead of last month’s county SFC semi-final against Carbery Rangers, according to attacker Seanie Cahalane.

THEY suffered the dejecting experience of coughing up a five-point lead in injury-time to 13-man Castlehaven in the drawn clash last month but Ballincollig atoned for that in style in yesterday’s Evening Echo Cork SFC fourth round replay in Bandon.

MAURICE McCarthy is sitting in the bar of the Nemo Rangers’ complex, the rest of the squad going through their warm-up outside, as he remembers the bitter-sweetness of last year’s county final.

Paddy O'Shea is set to make his first championship start for Cork in Sunday's Munster SFC semi-final against Tipperary at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds, throw-in at 3.30pm.

The Cork team to take on Mayo in Saturday's must-win NFL Division 1A clash at Pairc Ui Rinn, throw-in 7.30pm, shows three changes to the side that lost to Dublin last time out.

All-Star midfielder Nicholas Murphy as recovered from a flu bug to be named in the Cork team for Saturday's NFL Division 1A showdown with Dublin (Parnell Park, throw-in 7.30pm).

ALLSTAR Nicholas Murphy returns to the Cork team for Saturday’s Allianz NFL clash with Dublin at Parnell Park.

Cork 0-15 Tyrone 0-7

The return of Kevin McMahon to the Cork football team for Saturday night’s crunch league encounter with Tyrone is a considerable boost, according to selector John Corcoran.

Goalkeeper Alan Quirke, centre back Ger Spillane and centre forward David Niblock will all make their championship debuts for the Cork footballers on Sunday.

Cork manager Billy Morgan has made one change to the side that started last week's win over Dublin for Sunday's NFL Division 1A clash with Mayo (Castlebar, throw-in 3.30pm).

Cork 1-11 Dublin 1-10

Cork Under-21 Michael Shields has been afforded the chance to impress senior manager Billy Morgan as he starts Saturday's floodlit NFL Division 1A tussle with Kerry at Pairc Uí Rinn (throw-in 7.45pm).

ST FINBARR’S promising U21 player Michael Shields has been given a starting place on the Cork team to meet Kerry in the second round of the Allianz NFL under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night next.

Offaly 0-12 Cork 1-05

Cork 1-9 Kerry 0-6

Cork's Derek Kavanagh is a definite non-starter for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Kerry.

Cork have three injury concerns ahead of this Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final meeting with

In keeping with what has gone on in recent years, Seandun go into this Cork County SFC game against Muskerry at Páirc Uí Rinn, 8pm, with little or no preparation.

John Hayes could be doubtful for Sunday’s NFL clash with Westmeath, after being forced off injured in UCC’s Sigerson Cup win over St Mary’s yesterday, according to the Evening Echo.

Martin Cronin has been named at full-back for Cork's National Football League clash against Leinster champions Westmeath in Mullingar on Sunday.

Allianz National Football League, Division 1A result:

Cork are overwhelming favourites against Fermanagh in today’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash at Croke Park.

Cork have made three changes from the side that defeated Clare in the last round for Saturday's football qualifier against Fermanagh in Croke Park.

THE three substitutes who inspired Cork to victory over Clare have been retained for Saturday’s second All-Ireland SFC qualifier with Fermanagh at Croke Park.

Cork 0-15 Clare 0-11

THERE are four debutantes on the Cork Senior football team for Sunday’s Munster Championship semi-final against Kerry in Killarney.

Westmeath 0-14 Cork 0-12

Wexford 3-14 Cork 0-9

THE semi-final pairings from the Allianz NFL will be finalised this weekend, with a number of places still in the balance.

Cork 1-8 Westmeath 2-5

A last-minute fisted goal from Cork substitute Padraig Griffin spoiled what would have been a famous win for Westmeath, as Billy Morgan began his new term as Cork manager with a 1-8 to 2-5 draw at a sodden Pairc Ui Rinn in tonight’s Allianz NFL Division 1A clash.

PÁIDI Ó SÉ was on a spit and Kerry were roasted, but amid the cackle of electricity that reverberated around Páirc Uí Rinn, the only real winner from last season’s opening night floodlit extravaganza in the Allianz Football League was the coffers of Cork’s County Board.

Castlehaven's Dermot Hurley has been handed his inter-county debut by Cork boss Billy Morgan ahead of Saturday night's NFL opener.

PHILIP CLIFFORD has been given the chance to resurrect his inter-county career after being picked at right corner-forward on the Cork team for Saturday’s Allianz NFL against Westmeath at Páirc Uí Rinn (7.30pm).