When Ireland last played Australia in a one-day international in Belfast, it took just three deliveries for Aussie fast bowler Brett Lee to underline the vast chasm in quality between the sides.

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.

Ballincollig 1-15 St Finbarr’s 1-12: Let’s put to one side for a second Ballincollig’s successful opening bout in their county title defence, that much we expected, for the more pressing items emerging from Páirc Uí Rinn were Patrick Kelly’s ongoing struggle with a calf injury and the straight red card shown to John Miskella.

Ballincollig 1-09 St Finbarr’s 1-08

Scariff/Ogonnelloe (Clare) 2-17 Butlerstown (Waterford) 0-03

St Finbarr’s 1-13 Ballinhassig 0-15

St Finbarr’s 0-15 St Nicholas 2-8 (after extra-time)

Galway 1-14 Cork 1-11

Cavan 1-11 Cork 0-15

Cork 0-15 Cavan 1-11

CADBURYS U21FC ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL

Cork 1-17 Tipperary 0-9

Ireland U19 15 England U19 16

You’d have to wonder where the Tom Clancys of this world find their energy.

The Cork U21 footballers have named an unchanged side from the team that beat Kerry a fortnight ago in the Munster quarter-final for tomorrow night’s last-four clash with Limerick in the Gaelic grounds (7.30pm).

Roger Wilson will make his return from injury today as Ulster Ravens kick off their British & Irish Cup campaign against Bridgend Ravens in Deramore Park. Wilson will line out in his familiar number 8 position while former Ireland U20 captain Niall Annett starts at hooker.

New Bruff coach and former Munster centre Mike Lynch could hardly contain his admiration for a developing team, following a surprising but thoroughly deserved Ulster Bank League Division 1B victory over favourites Ballymena at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday.

Ulster Ravens 17 Munster A 19

With 26 county senior championships wins between them, you can count on near city neighbours Nemo Rangers and St Finbarr’s producing pretty fierce rivalry.

Though they didn’t have it all their own way in the opening half, St Finbarr’s turned in an eye-catching second-half exhibition of point-taking to comfortably see off the challenge of Newmarket at Mallow on Saturday night.

Despite a few late scares, including the concession of a goal two minutes from time, the better team lifted the Liam Farr Cup after yesterday’s South-West cork U-21 AFC final at Aughaville.

Ulster prop Callum Black has been named on the Ravens starting team to play Leinster 'A' at Donnybrook on Friday night (6pm) after months of inactivity due to a neck injury.

ST FINBARR’S produced a workmanlike performance to see off a Douglas outfit that never got into their stride in an uninspiring Cork City JAFC final replay at Riverstown last night.

The Leinster medical team have reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 clash with Connacht at the RDS (5pm).

THREE points without reply in the last five minutes was enough for St Finbarr’s to snatch a draw against Douglas in this City JAFC final played in atrocious conditions in Ballinlough on Saturday.

New signing Jared Payne is in line to make his Ulster debut at Ravenhill this Friday against Cardiff Blues (7.05pm) after he was named in the preliminary 29-man squad by Brian McLaughlin.

TOMÁS O’LEARY, John Hayes, James Coughlan and Johne Murphy are named in the 28-man Munster squad for Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 opening fixture against Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park (7.45pm).

NEW boy Ricky Andrew returns to ‘home’ soil this evening when he makes his Ulster debut in a pre-season friendly against Bayonne at the intimidating Stade Jean Dauger stadium.

FELIX JONES, Niall Ronan and Peter O’Mahony all made successful returns to action following injury at Shaws Bridge, Belfast, yesterday as Munster easily disposed of Ulster Ravens in an A Interprovincial.

ST FINBARRS’ strong grip on minor football affairs in Cork continues after they swept to victory over Douglas in the Cork PMFC (1) final replay in CIT yesterday.

Douglas 1-8St Finbarr’s 0-11

Tyrone 1-13 Cork 1-12

MUNSTER A produced a top-class display to overwhelm the Ulster Ravens at Nenagh yesterday.

CORK’s qualification for next month’s All-Ireland final has led to county board chiefs postponing club matches fixed for next week involving members of the starting 15 that defeated Dublin in last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

CORK super sub Stephen O’Mahony struck for a sensational injury time goal to snatch a semi-final spot away from a stunned Armagh outfit, who had looked the dominant team for the opening three-quarters of this game.

CORK boss Brian Cuthbert has made three changes to his starting 15 for next Sunday’s Munster MFC final against Kerry in FitzGerald Stadium, Killarney.

AS EXPECTED, Cork qualified for a July 4 Munster final meeting with old rivals Kerry after this semi-final win over Tipperary in Semple Stadium last night, but they were made to earn it.

LIMERICK and Tipperary are both bidding to break the stranglehold that Cork and Kerry have exerted in the Munster minor football grade, when the semi-finals of the competition take place tonight.

CORK boss Brian Cuthbert has made six changes for tomorrow night’s Munster MFC semi-final against Tipperary in Semple Stadium at 7pm from the team that scraped to victory over Clare in their quarter-final in Ennis four weeks ago.

Leinster wing Michael Keating comes back into the Clontarf side as they go toe-to-toe with Shannon in the AIL at Castle Avenue on Saturday.

Former Leinster and Leicester Tiger hooker Gavin Hickie will start in the middle of the front row as St Mary's College go about maintaining their 100% start to the AIB League on the road to UL-Bohemian in round five on Saturday.

League leaders St Mary's College will look to take their excellent form into the AIB Senior Cup third round on the road to Garryowen this weekend.

BRAGGING rights will be at stake as Munster A take on Ulster Ravens at Musgrave Park this afternoon (2pm), but both sides will also be treating the clash as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming British and Irish Cup, which starts the weekend after next.