CLOYNE and Ballinhassig served up a classic third-round tie in the Cork SHC.

DEFENDING champions Sarsfields got off to a winning start in the opening round of the Cork SHC at Carrigtwohill on Saturday, but they were forced to sweat before overcoming a stubborn Cloyne challenge.

NAVAL recruits have taken an oath of allegiance for the first time since the recruitment embargo came into force two years ago.

TALK about a deceptive scoreline.

CORK 3-15 WATERFORD 2-22

DIARMUID O’SULLIVAN may have been absent, but younger brothers Colm and Paudie were to the fore as Cloyne beat White’s Cross in the Evening Echo County JAFC quarter-final at Carraig na bhFear on Saturday.

A GOAL by Kieran O’Callaghan a minute into injury time earned Glen Rovers a draw in this Evening Echo Cork SHC first round tie at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.

Cork have made three changes to the hurling panel in advance of the Munster first-round meeting with Clare on Sunday week.

Cork's Diarmuid O'Sullivan is racing to be fit for his side's opening Munster SHC clash with Clare on Sunday week.

Cork's Diarmuid O'Sullivan is racing to be fit for his side's opening Munster SHC clash with Clare on Sunday week.

Wayne Sherlock has withdrawn from the Cork senior hurling panel - the versatile defender is understood to be angered at his lack of game-time in recent weeks.

Cloyne clubman Diarmuid O'Sullivan has been restored to his regular full-back position in the Cork team to face Wexford this Sunday.

The second round of the NHL gets into swing this weekend and the onus will be on Wexford, Kilkenny and Tipperary to bounce back from disappointing opening games.

Former Hurler of the Year John Gardiner has been named in the Cork starting line-up for Sunday's mouth-watering NHL Division 1A clash with Waterford (Walsh Park, throw-in 2.30pm).

The placing of Kevin Canty at wing-forward is one of the main features of the Cork team for next Sunday’s NHL showdown with Waterford at Walsh Park.

CORK have been rocked by injuries to squad members ahead of next week’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Waterford at Croke Park.

FOLLOWING champion Newtownshandrum’s opening round Cork County SHC victory over Bride Rovers on Friday, Cloyne, the beaten finalists for the last two years, got down to business in fine style at Ballynoe yesterday when beating Killeagh 4-10 to 3-6.

WITH Cork’s Munster SHC semi-final against Clare only three weeks away, John Allen and the Cork selectors will be keen, if nervous, observers as the Cork SHC and IHC kicks off in earnest this weekend.

There are four newcomers on the Cork senior hurling squad for the Munster championship opener with Clare on May 28.

Kilkenny 0-19 Cork 0-11

BRIAN MURPHY and Tom Kenny are to return to the Cork team for Sunday’s Allianz NHL clash with Waterford at Pairc Uí Rinn.

WEXFORD veteran Adrian Fenlon looks set to retire from inter-county hurling. Manager Seamus Murphy confirmed yesterday that while the midfielder had not made contact, he believes that the Enniscorthy Rapparees man has called time on his Model career.

CORK have omitted seven members of last year's All-Ireland-winning panel for the upcoming Allianz Hurling League campaign.

Cork 3-14 Galway 1-10

Imokilly 0-11 Carbery 0-6

Na Piarsaigh 0-17 Cloyne 0-10

‘THE BROTHER’ was a comic but credible character created after the Second World War by the great columnist Myles na gCopaleen, kept alive nowadays in a superb one-man show by actor/comedian Eamonn Morrissey.

Cloyne 1-14 Newtownshandrum 0-14

TINY Killeagh sprung a huge surprise in Midleton yesterday as the permanent tsb Cork County SHC got into full swing with six opening round games.

A FIRST-EVER Cork county senior hurling semi-final appearance for Cloyne this Sunday is ironic — given that Christy Ring, the man with the most senior county championships ever in Cork (ever was, ever will be), was a native.