Goalkeepers and defenders throughout the hockey world can breathe a sigh of relief from next season as own goals will no longer be possible in the sport.

Ballymartle 5-17 Douglas 4-18 (aet)

Ballymartle 4-19 St. Finbarr’s 1-20 (aet)

Ballymartle 1-17 Na Piarsaigh 0-17

Round four of the Cork senior hurling championship at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday and also the unofficial Carrigdhoun divisional final as these two old foes went toe to toe in a typical tight derby battle.

AN excellent start to the second-half was the catalyst for Belgooly to initiate a turnaround and claim the county JBFC title with victory over Charleville at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.

IAN SLOAN gets another chance to continue his remarkable development into a top-class international hockey star after he was named in the Irish squad for next week’s INSEP Five Nations in Paris.

TO the wider hurling public Darren McCarthy has carved a reputation as an excellent goalkeeper with Cork underage teams but for his club Ballymartle he will forever be associated with his contributions outfield after the stunning conclusion to yesterday’s All-Ireland club IHC final in Croke Park.

BALLYMARTLE showed too much class yesterday for Tracton in the Evening Echo Cork Premier IHC final, edging out their local rivals by seven points in an entertaining derby game.

BALLYMARTLE justified their status as championship favourites once more in Minane Bridge last night when they staved off a spirited challenge from local rivals Courcey Rovers before triumphing in the Evening Echo Cork PIHC semi-final.

DOUGLAS turned on the style at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday, a magical second-half display leaving fancied Ballymartle for dead, setting up a mouth-watering Cork Co Premier IHC semi-final date with Blarney.

Two finals, three semi-finals and an awful lot of heartache; the near misses are scratched into the soul of every Munster supporter. Yet a dip into the sporting archives reveals that those who follow the advice of ancient Scottish king Robert The Bruce, to try, try and try again if at first they do not succeed, are very often rewarded. Eventually. SIMON LEWIS investigates.