The situation entering the final week of Division 1B is very straightforward with quarter final spots already decided leaving just the promotion battle to be settled.

As Cork make the long trip to Ballycastle on Sunday in the search for a handsome win over Antrim to boost their scoring difference, Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made six changes to the side that beat Offaly last weekend.

Aidan Walsh has been handed his first start for the Cork senior hurlers as they face Limerick in tomorrow night’s Division 1B league opener at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Cian McCarthy has won a starting place on the Cork team for Saturday's All-Ireland SHC final replay against Clare at Croke Park (throw-in 5pm).

Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry Murphy has named his team to face Clare in the All-Ireland hurling final on Sunday, with Brian Murphy the only change from the team that beat Dublin.

The Cork hurling management will have to make their biggest call of the year tonight when they reveal their starting 15 for next Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Clare, according to the Evening Echo's John Horgan.

Dónal Óg Cusack believes his former Cork team-mate Tom Kenny is the "obvious choice" to be the Rebels' 'extra man' in Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final against Clare.

To recall Brian Murphy to the starting 15 or to prevail with the status quo.

Stephen White always believed this could be Cork’s year, writes Diarmuid O’Flynn

Refereeing and referees was a topic for discussion at the Clare media day on Wednesday, in advance of this year’s All-Ireland senior hurling final, selector Mike Deegan stating that the Clare management would try to have a meeting with the man in the middle before every game to try to ascertain what they will or won’t allow.

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has selected an unchanged team for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Dublin at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

St. Ita's clubman Seamus Harnedy will make his Championship debut for Cork when they take on Clare in Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 4pm).

Fit-again duo Shane O'Neill and William Egan will start in defence for Cork in Sunday's Allianz Hurling League Division 1A relegation play-off against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 3pm).

Kilkenny 0-20 Cork 2-12

The lessons a manager can learn from the league will help shape the decisions they make for the championship.

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made four changes to the team that started against Galway last weekend for Sunday’s crunch Allianz Division 1A showdown with Kilkenny.

Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy feels that Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A trip to Waterford will tell more about his side than their opening-night victory over Tipperary.

The main questions exercising the minds of Cork fans before their opening game of the league surrounded the defence.

Both Cork and Tipperary will field players making their first Allianz Hurling League starts when they meet in tomorrow's Division 1A opener at Páirc Uí Rinn (throw-in 7pm).

Confidence is not in short supply in and around the Cork senior hurling panel according to Stephen White.

Cork 3-20 UCC 1-16

Sarsfields 3-11 CIT 0-14

CIT 1-26 St Finbarr’s 1-12

It was edge of the seat stuff as Ballygarvan had to survive a stiff challenge from Barryroe in the fourth round of the Cork IHC at Cloughduv on Saturday, setting up a quarter-final meeting with Charleville.

Cork seek a fourth successive intermediate win over Tipperary when they clash in the curtain-raiser at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow (2pm).

Ballygarvan were forced to defend deep into the last frantic moments of this game to record a merited victory over St Catherine’s at Watergrasshill last night.

Muskerry became the first side to exit the divisions and colleges section of the Cork County SHC as Cork IT were far too strong for them at Riverstown last night.

Damien Cahalane will make his senior league debut for Cork in Sunday’s Division 1 clash with Galway in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy makes four changes from the team that defeated Dublin in Croke Park last Sunday.

The adverse weather impacted on the spectacle but Saturday’s eagerly-awaited Fitzgibbon Cup final in the Mardyke concluded in a blaze of drama as UCC claimed a thrilling extra-time success as they celebrated the centenary of the competition in style on home soil.

UCC 2-15 CORK IT 2-14, the Mardyke (after extra-time)

For only the second time in their history, Cork IT will be battling for honours on Fitzgibbon Cup final day after producing a commanding and professional performance to halt Limerick IT’s charge in yesterday’s semi-final at the Mardyke.

UCC and Cork IT will face off in an all-Cork centenary Fitzgibbon Cup final at the Mardyke tomorrow afternoon (throw-in 3pm) after semi-final wins over Limerick sides UL and LIT respectively.

Last year they had nine points to spare in their Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final triumph over Dublin IT and yesterday Cork IT replicated that commanding performance at the same stage against NUIG in Bishopstown.

They were a subdued force in the first-half and trailed by five at the interval yet Cork IT produced a dynamic second-half display to claim a critical victory over Waterford IT in Group A of the Fitzgibbon Cup at their grounds in Bishopstown last night.

DENIS WALSH’S Cork development squad breezed past Davy Fitzgerald’s LIT side at a bitterly cold Mallow GAA complex last night by 5-15 to 2-14.

AN ENTHRALLING game at Brinny last night as Ballygarvan booked a Cork County IHC semi-final berth after a gutsy performance against pre-tournament favourites Bandon.

CORK are chasing their 13th Munster intermediate hurling crown when they take on Waterford in tonight’s decider at Fraher Field, Dungarvan at 7.30pm, a repeat of last year’s final encounter in Páirc Uí Chaoimh when Cork enjoyed a 5-24 to 3-9 triumph.

TIPPERARY have named nine senior panellists in their starting 15 for tomorrow night’s opening defence of their provincial crown in the Munster U-21HC quarter-final against Cork in Semple Stadium at 7:30pm.

Galway 4-16 Cork 1-11

CLARE expect to have centre-back Gerry Quinn back in action for the Allianz NHL clash with Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday.

Tipperary 1-21 Cork 0-17

BRIAN DARBY will keep up the family tradition by lining out with Offaly against Westmeath in Saturday night’s Leinster senior football championship in Tullamore.

PAUDIE O’SULLIVAN, younger brother of full-back Diarmuid, will make his first start in this season’s League when Cork take on Galway in the semi-final at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.