Before getting into how both Cork and Kerry will be better for last Sunday, let’s start by acknowledging and appreciating that Cork-Kerry itself has hardly been better than last Sunday.

Gate Theatre, Dublin

From Nidge to Peaky Blinders, Ireland’s top casting directors discuss the secrets of their trade with Richard Fitzpatrick

Cork SHC champions Sarsfields hold their agm tonight, beginning the quest to match what club chairman Tadhg Murphy describes as the club’s "best-ever year".

Tomorrow afternoon Sarsfields of Cork take the field against Limerick champions Kilmallock in the Munster club championship.

With three county SHC titles since 2008 and another one to be possibly added next Sunday week, Sarsfields are now a bona fide Cork hurling superpower.

Graepel’s Factory, Kinsale

A factory in Kinsale has proved to be the perfect location to put on the Irish premiere of a typically energetic play by Enda Walsh, writes Alan O’Riordan

Day two of the Ballabuidhe festival featured the Murphys/Western Beverages Grand Prix final, with six runners who qualified from Sunday’s heats.

It’s hard not to get nostalgic as a Cork person in a week such as this, but it doesn’t necessarily mean getting all romantic either.

This is already showing signs of being a good year for film production, with a number of high-profile projects scheduled to begin filming around the country.

A fire has broken out in a building beside Connolly Station in Dublin.

The similarities between the two Sarsfields battling for supremacy in tomorrow’s Munster Club SHC semi-final doesn’t end with a shared name.

WEXFORD senior hurler Eoin Quigley is set to transfer to reigning Cork county champions Sarsfields for the coming season.

“THE best of friends and enemies, the best I’ve known by far.”

DON’T look down as the curtain goes up.

GAA PRESIDENT Nickey Brennan remains to be convinced that it would be ‘practical’ to complete the AIB All-Ireland stages of the club championships before Christmas.

THE draw for the fourth round of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling qualifiers will be televised live on RTÉ on Sunday.

AT St Declan’s Community College, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, last evening the host team put in a sterling performance in scoring 104 points to defeat Waterpark College and CBS Tramore.

DESPITE the inclement weather, a huge crowd turned out for day one of the Ballabuidhe Racing festival yesterday.

If Cork complete the fabled three-in-a-row on Sunday, they will have achieved it with only 17 starters this season. But, as Diarmuid O’Flynn discovered, when you have exceptional players, they can take you a long way.

New Athlone Town boss Michael O'Connor has wasted little time in moulding his team for the upcoming 2006 league campaign.

Athlone Town have manager Stephen Kelly has secured the signature of experienced goalkeeper Danny O'Leary for next season.

AFTER a week of speculation, Cork hurling fans glimpsed Setanta Ó hAilpín hurling again yesterday.

Bohemians have signed goalkeeper Tadhg Murphy from Kilkenny City.

Dundalk 2 Kildare County1

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC look set to add to their growing reputation when they face first division side Kildare County in the quarter-final of the FAI Carlsberg Cup at Richmond Park tonight (7.45 ko).

UGANDA international player Charles Mbabzi Livingstone who has been leading goalscorer with St Patrick's Athletic, will miss the club's upcoming matches because of another death in his family, the third within 18 months.

KILDARE COUNTY will run special bus services to Belfield tonight for spectators wanting to see their historic first match in the FAI Carlsberg Cup against UCD (7.45pm).

THREE disallowed goals for Kildare County and several other missed chances for both sides made for an entertaining game at Station Road even if the final result remained scoreless.