Cork will play in Group A of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 for 2020 after coming from behind to take a two-point win over Kilkenny in Nowlan Park this afternoon.

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.

Newtownshandrum 2-14 Kanturk 0-15: Former Cork senior, Jamie Coughlan, lit up this keenly-contested Cork SHC first round tie at Charleville on Saturday evening, the Newtown full forward’s impressive 2-7 haul proving the difference against newly-promoted Kanturk.

That finally brought an end to the gripping match five minutes short of three hours – one which is being labelled the longest inter-county hurling game of all time.

Conor Lehane knows from experience that Saracens will be facing a freak of nature if he plays in the Champions Cup semi-final in Dublin on Saturday.

Blackrock 2-18 Newtownshandrum 2-9: Blackrock swept past Newtownshandrum in the second half of Saturday’s RedFM SHL final at Páirc Uí Rinn to capture the title for the first time since 2008.

Cork IT 3-11 University of Limerick 2-19: UL’s greater balance in front of goal took them past Cork IT last night and into the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Recalls are the story of Kieran Kingston’s first Cork League panel which sees Cian McCarthy, Conor O’Sullivan and William Egan returning to the group.

Glen Rovers 1-22, Newtownshandrum 2-12

Newtownshandrum 3-18 Blackrock 1-18: A dynamic display from Newtownshandrum in Mallow yesterday saw them advance to a Cork SHC quarter-final tie with Glen Rovers.

Cork 0-20 Clare 0-17

The Department of Agriculture has identified a suspected case of BSE in Co Louth; Lord of the Rings actor Cristopher Lee has died at the age of 93; Traveller families are refusing to move 200 yards from their old cramped halting site to a new purpose-built €5m housing scheme in Cork. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Only half of GPs sign up for U-6s scheme; One man is still critical after an industrial accident which killed another in Dublin; and travellers are refusing to move in to a €5m facility in Cork. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Cork hurlers are set to lose the services of a third player this season as Jamie Coughlan considers spending the rest of the summer in the US.

Newtownshandrum 0-29 Sarsfields 0-27 (AET): Newtownshandrum rolled back the years in Fitzgerald Park, Fermoy yesterday, sending favourites and current champions Sarsfields down the route of the losers’ rounds of the Cork SHC after this epic extra-time first round victory.

CORK 4-18 KILKENNY  3-21: Brian Cody does not believe Kilkenny’s championship efforts will be hindered by the 11-week layoff leading into their Leinster opener.

GAA officials have confirmed to the Irish Examiner that a rule change passed at this year’s Congress will have to be revisited as a result of Tipperary forward Seamus Callanan’s late clearance to play in Sunday’s NHL semi-final against Waterford.

Cork 1-25 Laois 0-24: Cork senior hurling manager Jimmy Barry Murphy expects Mark Ellis and Alan Cadogan to return for the Rebels Allianz League semi-final against Dublin on Sunday week.

Eoghan Keniry scored 1-3 and Dan Landers contributed eight points as Killeagh inflicted a second successive defeat on county champions Sarsfields in the RedFM SHL at Riverstown yesterday.

Fitzgibbon Cup

Cork IT 0-19 NUI Galway 0-10: Cork IT are just one more win away from a third Fitzgibbon Cup final in four years after they advanced past NUI Galway at the CIT Sports Stadium yesterday.

Cork will be close to full-strength for Saturday night’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A opener against Kilkenny in Páirc Uí Rinn (7pm).

Cork IT 1-14UCD 1-10 

"Hi Anthony, just wondering how often do you get your teeth whitened???"

While the rigours of the Dublin senior hurling manager’s job have yet to fully kick in for Ger Cunningham, he remains busy in his other sideline role, that of guiding the hurlers of UCC.

The third annual Reardens Club All Star awards take place next Monday at 7.30pm, with 45 hurlers and 45 footballers in contention to be recognised for their excellence in the senior championships this season.

Shandrum 4-20 Duhallow 2-16

Cork Co U21 AHC

Na Piarsaigh 3-15 Newtownshandrum 0-14

Newtownshandrum 1-19 UCC 0-21

Half-time was important for Cork. I’d say a few harsh words were spoken.

Waterford manager Derek McGrath has dismissed calls for Cork’s Anthony Nash’s free-taking technique to be outlawed, even if he might be lamenting the Rebel keeper’s goalscoring touch this weekend.

Creggan Kickhams are to hold onto their All-Ireland JHC Club title, the CCCC ruled last night.

Cork attacker Luke O’Farrell may require surgery on a shoulder injury sustained in the county’s opening Allianz League Division 1B clash with Limerick last month.

Cork IT 2-22 NUI Galway 0-11

Cork IT 1-12 Limerick IT 0-10

Cork 2-19 UCC 1-14

So we’re all back in Croke Park for another day out. But Clare and Cork head there with a major worry — their defences.

If past form is a guide, a cherished All Star award is still within reach for many of the men taking part in the All-Ireland final replay

Jimmy Barry-Murphy's decision to recall Cian McCarthy for the All-Ireland SHC final replay against Clare has been supported by his former Cork team-mate Tomás Mulcahy.

Cork make just one change to their starting 15 while Clare remain unchanged for the All-Ireland SHC final replay this Saturday evening (throw-in 5pm), with Cian McCarthy of Sarsfields coming in to replace Jamie Coughlan at centre-forward.

Cian McCarthy has won a starting place on the Cork team for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC final replay against Clare at Croke Park (throw-in 5pm).