You might think the break in action would do Shane Dowling the world of good, but you'd be mistaken, writes John Fogarty.

The Cork senior hurlers must plan without defender Sean O'Donoghue for the next few weeks as the defender recovers from an injury suffered in training last week.

The incident occurred in the City Division U21BFC quarter-final between Na Piarsaigh and St Vincents at Páirc Uinsinn.

There are six changes to the Cork side for this evening’s Allianz HL Division 1 Group A clash with Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7pm).

The first inter-county silverware of 2020 will be handed out at LIT Gaelic Grounds today, starting with the McGrath Cup final.

The Rebels’ team includes Colm Spillane, who made his return to red-and-white in Tuesday night’s Canon O’Brien Cup game against UCC at the Mardyke after missing 2019.

Chrissy McKaigue has said Slaughtneil are determined to make their mark beyond Ulster though acknowledged the draw for the All-Ireland series has been consistently cruel on them.

Luckless Nathan Walsh’s injury woes continued Sunday in Tralee as Cork pummelled Kerry’s Under 20’s in the McGrath Cup.

New Galway hurling manager Shane O’Neill will meet the players for the first time this evening and says everyone will be starting with a clean slate.

Ballygunner sharpshooter Pauric Mahony paid tribute to his team-mates for their win over Patrickswell in Sunday’s Munster club semi-final — and to his younger brother Michael in particular.

Sunday afternoon Ballygunner host Patrickswell in the Munster Club SHC semi-final in Walsh Park (throw-in 1.30pm).

Ardscoil Rís are up and running in the Dr Harty Cup following a comfortable victory over St Francis College in Mallow.

A Ben Nyhan point two minutes from time separated these two evenly-matched teams in the Dean Ryan Cup final (16.5 A hurling) at Kilmallock today. The sides were level on five occasions, with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

A Ben Nyhan point two minutes from time separated these two evenly matched teams in the Dean Ryan Cup final (16.5 A hurling) at Kilmallock

Sixmilebridge joint-captain Seadna Morey says the club are determined to make amends for their recent poor record in the Munster championship.

A Cian Lynch-inspired Patrickswell denied Na Piarsaigh the three-in-a-row to win their first senior county title since 2016 and a record 20th in total.

Cian Lynch’s last two All-Ireland final weekends couldn’t have been more different.

Ballinkillen will go before the Leinster Council hearings committee to contest their expulsion from the Carlow SHC.

Na Piarsaigh overcame Kilmallock yesterday at the Gaelic Grounds to make another Limerick SHC final, but the former All-Ireland club champions had to fight all the way, having lost centre-back Ronan Lynch to a red card early in the second half.

Na Piarsaigh came through to face Patrickswell in the Limerick SHC final with a tough win over Kilmallock.

Irish society is bankrupt, fears Pat Daly, who is heading up the new GAA ‘Going Well’ programme aimed at cultivating well-being among secondary school students.

Tipperary U20 captain Craig Morgan says teammate Jake Morris is a hurler who “has everything”.

Cork and Tipperary have named unchanged teams for tomorrow’s All-Ireland U20 hurling final.

Thirty years on from Tipperary beating Antrim in the All-Ireland final, there was a strong Saffron influence running through the team for Sunday’s All-Ireland win over Kilkenny.

St Finbarr’s warhorses Eoin Keane and Glenn O’Connor stood up and showed their mettle, resulting in the southsiders edging past northside rivals Na Piarsaigh and into the quarter-final draw.

Dripsey are through to the next round of the Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship as they deservedly defeated Na Piarsaigh 1-15 to 1-11 in Ballincollig last night.

Cork’s new management team won’t have the defensive experience of Christopher Joyce to call in 2020, it is feared.

A Jake Morris goal four minutes into second-half injury-time secured Tipperary a stunning Munster U20 final victory.

Champions Kerry made light work of a very defensive but outclassed Limerick side in this EirGrid Munster U-20 Football Championship semi-final at Austin Stack Park, Tralee last evening.

A Jack Downey 45 in the fourth minute of second-half stoppages handed victory to Limerick in this Munster U20 football quarter-final.

Turloughmore successfully retained the John West Féile na nGael Division One Hurling title following a comprehensive victory against Na Piarsaigh in the decider.

Limerick manager Billy Lee has kept faith in the XV who defeated Tipperary in the first round as the Shannonsiders bid for a first Munster SFC final since 2010.

When Dublin, trailing by three points, were awarded a free deep into injury-time at Parnell Park and centre-back Sean Moran strode forward, the mind was drawn back to Croke Park last year.

The managers of two leading senior hurling teams in Cork have praised GAA chiefs for their efforts in improving the plight of club players.

Patrickswell hold the only 100% record after two rounds of the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick Senior Hurling Championship.

Hard work did a young Na Piarsaigh side make of this first-round Cork SHC clash.

West Cork derbies in the Cork SHC are a bit like buses; you wait years for one to arrive and then you get a mouth-watering one two years in-a-row.

Michael Moynihan looks ahead to five intriguing games taking place this Easter weekend.

Na Piarsiagh showed that they have every intent in holding onto their title after they swept aside South Liberties by 4-20 to 0-10 in Mungret.

Doon are Limerick Premier U21 hurling champions for the first time since 2005 after a thrilling win over Na Piarsaigh at the Gaelic Grounds.

Aaron Gillane was the hero as Mary Immaculate College booked their place in this year’s Fitzgibbon Cup final when they held off the NUIG challenge at Cusack Park in Ennis..

They always remember the last man standing, the man with the match ball in his hand when the final whistle sounds. Wayne Hutchinson was that man in Thurles last November when Ballygunner finally claimed that elusive second AIB Munster club SHC title.

Reigning Fitzgibbon Cup champions UL have a job on their hands to emerge from the group of death after losing their opening fixture to UCC this afternoon.