Ireland are set to field their strongest show jumping team of the season so far for the Swedish Nations Cup at Falsterbo on Friday.

In finals, where it’s all on the line, you want your big players influencing the game, and that’s exactly what Carbery Rangers got yesterday when they needed it.

Ballincollig 1-12 Carbery Rangers 1-15: Honours to Carbery Rangers in yesterday’s Cork SFC final — the west Cork men were just too good for Ballincollig in a high-scoring, entertaining game as they won an emotional first senior county title.

John Hayes didn’t experience much of the build-up to the 2014 county final... and quite the build-up there was, too, given Carbery Rangers hadn’t been involved in the showpiece event of Cork football for 108 years.

It may all end tomorrow in a Cork football final at Páirc Uí Rinn, an odd setting for a stellar Kerry career to finish. Tomás Ó Sé’s achievements are among the most storied in the GAA, but beyond that bristling ball of fire with No 5 on his back is an intriguing and engaging character — at least to those who truly know him.

Nemo Rangers 1-11 Carbery Rangers 0-13: Nemo Rangers were hanging on desperately at the end, but when you’ve been there, done that and wore the t-shirt, it’s likely you’ll still get over the line in front — even if it’s by a nose.

Castlehaven are through to a fourth county final in five seasons after overcoming near-neighbours, O’Donovan Rossa, in an exciting semi-final at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

Carbery Rangers 4-10 Ilen Rovers 1-4 (Cork SFC): An irate member of the Ilen Rovers management team stormed onto the field midway through the second period and began roaring at his players to “get in their face”.

Valley Rovers 2-10 Carbery Rangers 0-14: IT isn’t often the sporting planets align to deliver a match climax that maintains the high pitch of everything that preceded it, but such were the delights of last night’s intense Cork SFC first round clash at resplendent Ballinascarthy.

Ireland manager Robert Splaine yesterday had one piece of advice for Bertram Allen going into next week’s World Cup final: Play your usual game, writes John Tynan.

Ballincollig’s Patrick Kelly and Daniel Kearney of Sarsfields were the big winners at last night’s Reardens Cork GAA club All Star awards.

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.

Carbery Rangers 3-10 Nemo Rangers 0-9

Ballincollig 1-13 Carbery Rangers 1-10

Carbery Rangers 2-14 Castlehaven 1-08

Francis Connors retained his Connolly’s Red Mills Munster Grand Prix League title at Banteer Show, Co Cork, yesterday.

Killeagh 1-18 Courcey Rovers 0-16

Shane Breen was taking a lead from his horse’s name yesterday as he prepared for the first Chinese leg of the Global Champions Tour.

Ballymartle 3-16 Courcey Rovers 0-15

“When the game was over, Loughnane slumped to the ground in frustration, and as he thumped his hurley off the turf, one could imagine his feelings and those of the many other Clare people in the ground. It was a sad setback for a hopeful team and one that may take some time to get over”

Bishopstown 5-10 Carbery Rangers 0-14

Killeagh 2-11 Courcey Rovers 2-14

Finuge (Kerry) 2-9 Pallasgreen (Limerick) 1-9

Castlehaven 2-09 Carbery Rangers 0-09

Carbery Rangers 1-11 Bishopstown 1-10

Ireland’s show jumpers joined the Netherlands, Germany, the US, Belgium and Portugal in failing to make the second round of the five-star Promotional League Nations Cup at Gijon, Spain, on Saturday.

Paul Beecher yesterday claimed the famous Hickstead Derby for only the 13th time for Ireland in its 52-year history.

Ireland achieved a season’s best result in FEI Top League yesterday, when fourth in the Dutch Nations Cup in Rotterdam.

An historic day for a historic club in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening as Courcey Rovers beat Blackrock 0-16 to 1-8 for their first ever Cork SHC.

Seamus Hayes, Clare Champion sports editor, on the heady Ger Loughnane days, email disasters and poorly planned media days.

Show jumper Shane Sweetnam just missed out on a €50,000 bonus when winning the puissance class at the nations cup show in Rome on Saturday.

Inspired by county star Niall McCarthy, 2011 Cork SHC champions Carrigtwohill got the defence of their title off to a good start in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening but they were tested all the way by the 2011 Premier IHC champions Courcey Rovers.

Eventing rider Sam Watson pulled off a stunning recovery to finish eighth in the three-star at Saumur, France, yesterday.

Carbery Rangers produced a significant statement of intent at the opening hurdle of the Cork SFC in Dunmanway last night when they swept past Clonakilty in convincing fashion.

Carbery Rangers issued a significant statement of intent at the opening hurdle of the Cork SFC in Dunmanway last night when they swept past Clonakilty.

St Finbarr’s remain top of Division 1 of the Cork County Football League Division 1 following a 0-17 to 0-5 victory over Ilen Rovers yesterday.

Ilen Rovers claimed their first silverware as a senior football club when they won the Tadhg Crowley Plate final by beating Bishopstown after extra-time in Baltimore yesterday.

FANCY getting your hands on the local garda, a GAA star, a top chef or a musician to sing sweet nothings in your ear?