Last year they had nine points to spare in their Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final triumph over Dublin IT and yesterday Cork IT replicated that commanding performance at the same stage against NUIG in Bishopstown.

IT Carlow just prevailed in this Fitzgibbon Cup group tie at the IT grounds in Carlow yesterday after a competitive contest which featured a shootout between the respective centre-forwards – the home side’s TJ Reid and NUIG’s Niall Burke.

LAOIS began life under Cork legend Teddy McCarthy with a battling extra-time victory over DIT in Rathdowney on Saturday.

COROFIN, denied a first ever three-in-a-row of Galway SFC titles last year, advanced to the semi-finals of this year’s title race with a replay win over neighbours Claregalway at Tuam Stadium on Saturday evening.