The return of Dónal Óg Cusack to the Cork fray was never going to run smoothly. And the award for most obvious hurling statement in 2019, beating “Liam Sheedy has the x-factor” and “you can never write off Kilkenny”, goes to...

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Paul O’Donovan will be the next manager of the Nemo Rangers senior footballers, though his start date is as yet unknown.

Fr O’Neill’s 1-18 Kildorrery 1-14: Driven on by a man-of-the-match display from Declan Dalton, Fr O’Neill’s were crowned Cork IHC champions in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

Chat-show host and comedian Graham Norton remains Ireland’s best-paid broadcaster, earning a whopping €3.14m (£2.52m) in fees last year.

Cork SHC: Carrigtwohill 2-27 Killeagh 0-18

He may be a high-flying honest-to-goodness celebrity these days, but chat show host Graham Norton has never once forgotten his roots.

Glen Rovers 0-13 Carrigtwohill 0-12 (Cork SHC): Even Richie Kelleher accepted this was daylight robbery.

Erin’s Own 2-22 Carrigtwohill 0-16: Erin’s Own looked comfortable winners throughout this Cork SHC first-round tie in Lisgoold on Saturday night.

While reflecting on Tuesday’s first round Sigerson Cup rout of Cork IT, Billy Morgan revealed the UCC management had spent several hours the night previous deliberating over a starting XV.

Former Cork selector Ger Cunningham, who left Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s backroom team at the end of last season, has been named the new manager of UCC’s Fitzgibbon Cup team.

Graham Norton’s new book will focus on his life and times, from childhood in Bandon to TV talk show host.

Cork GAA announced a series of high-profile underage appointments for their development squads at last night’s Rebel Óg awards.

Sarsfields 2-20 Carrigtwohill 2-10

Carrigtwohill 1-13 Glen Rovers 0-14

SATURDAY

BBC chat show host and comedian Graham Norton is laughing all the way to the bank after receiving €3m in fees and dividends from his production firm last year.

An array of Irish sporting stars are giving their backing to a sports prediction website which has been established by two Cork GAA stars as a novel method to help clubs raise funds.

EXPERIENCE, that was the major difference between these sides in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday as Crusheen advanced to the Munster Club SHC final against Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh on Sunday week.

THIS was a day that highlighted the beauty of the club championship.

GENERALLY viewed as deceased the world over, it turns out romance is actually alive, and may be seen, living and breathing, in a small town off the main Cork-Waterford road.

THROUGHOUT the year Carrigtwohill have been confounding expectations, so why should yesterday be different?

TEN MINUTES into the interview the mood changes.

THEIR winning performance was almost dwarfed by the massive achievement in ending a 74 year wait for a place in the Cork SHC final, but it took an outstanding team display from Carrigtwohill, highlighted by inspirational play from Niall McCarthy and superb defending, to thwart Midleton in Páirc Uí Chaoimhy esterday.

MUSKERRY entered this Cork SHC tie with three championship wins under their belt, but apart from the opening five minutes, during which the sides were level twice, it was Carrigtwohill who looked the more menacing.

WHOEVER said gambling was a fool’s game must be feeling slightly red-faced right now.

THE battles on the infamous uphill climb after the last obstacle aren’t the only ones that will be played out on the Cotswolds this week.

Carrigtwohill 2-14 Killeagh 1-10

SOME of the world’s best poker players as well as a host of hopeful amateurs gathered at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin for the start of the Paddy Power Irish Open.

THREE points in the second period of extra time by Conor Lehane gave Midleton a thrilling victory over neighbours Carrigtwohill in a gripping Evening Echo SHC relegation semi-final replay at Castlemartyr last night.

Carrigtwohill 1-12 St Catherine’s 1-10

A HOLLYWOOD heartthrob and internationally-known comedian are set to attract huge crowds to two community events in west Cork tomorrow night.

THE RICHEST sporting event of 2008 in Ireland will play out this weekend. But instead of golf clubs or rugby gear it is more likely to involve stetson-wearing, cigar-chomping, coffee-swigging men and women who pride themselves on never breaking a sweat while “playing”.

CARBERY reversed last year’s result at the same stage of the championship with a comfortable victory over Imokilly in the opening round of the Evening Echo SFC at Ballygarvan last night.

TRACTON made it hat-trick of wins over Carrigtwohill in the county Premier IHC with a deserved two-point victory over the East Cork side in a keenly contested first round tie at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

WITH their Munster SHC semi-final game with Clare just three weeks away (May 28), team coach John Allen will be keeping his fingers crossed that none of his players pick up an injury this weekend as the county championships kick-off in earnest.

Niall McCarthy’s all-action displays for Cork have lit up many fine stadiums. Michael Moynihan met him at the field where he learned his trade.

Imokilly 1-8 Carrigdhoun 0-11