Cork football manager Conor Counihan has made ten changes to his team for Sunday’s national football league opener against Meath. The Rebels won the McGrath Cup with a handy win over UL last weekend, but Counihan has retained just five of the players on duty that day - full back Noel O’Donovan from Bishopstown, midfielder Alan O’Connor, and the entire half forward line of Conor McCarthy, Fintan Goold and Ballincollig’s Paddy Kelly. Captain Graham Canty comes into the team at centre back, while other big names making a return include Alan Quirke, Anthony Lynch, Noel O’Leary, John Miskella, Donnacha O’Connor and Michael Cussen. The Nemo Rangers contingent are excused as they recover from their club exertions.

We have decided to call this press conference to try and make our position clear for people, given that we have now been left behind by the Cork Senior Hurling management with the full backing of the Executive of the Cork County GAA Board. The last time such a conference was held was in 2002 and then it involved only seven of the representatives of the 2002 panel. You can see before you this evening the entire Cork Senior Hurling panel from 2008, who will be available for questions after this statement, which I am reading on behalf of us all. That we feel it necessary to be here and to attend in such numbers, is a reflection of how things have gone since that first press conference over six years ago. The truth is that in the eyes of some, we committed an unforgivable act of treason at that time, and they have taken every opportunity since then to undermine us, divide us and deride us. The fact that not all of those involved in 2002 were on the panel in 2008 has not made any difference. For those of us who have been hurling for Cork for a long time, it is a sad and bad time. For those who have just started out it is doubly so.

Cork claimed their third McGrath Cup title in four years with what turned out to be a relatively easy win over UL at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night. Conor Counihan’s Munster champions never trailed in the game and roared into a four-point lead withinin the first 11 minutes, with captain Conor McCarthy, who finished with five, on target twice. However, having had to wait until the 17th minute to open their account, UL were level by the 24th, Mayo's Enda Varley with three. A competitive game looked to be in prospect by that stage, but points from Conor McManus and two from Kevin O’Sullivan gave Cork a 0-7 to 0-4 half-time lead. In the second half there was only one team in it as Cork dominated in midfield and were moving the ball far better, eventually running out winners with a 10-point margin, sub Seamus Hayes adding a goal for Cork with three minutes left.

Cork's third string lost their opening competitive game of the season, when Waterford IT proved too good in the Waterford Crystal Cup at a sparsely-attended Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday. Only some 300 spectators braved driving wind and rain to watch Gerald McCarthy's development team go through their paces against opponents who were dominant in all areas. Indeed, but for some brilliant goalkeeping by Alan Kennedy and impressive corner-back play by fellow Sarsfields man Conor O'Sullivan, the students' margin of victory would have been even greater. The new-look Cork team could only muster three scorers in the hour and all bar three of their nine points came from the impressive free-taking of Barry Johnson, who opened the scoring to give Cork the lead. While Cork's attack struggled there were no such problems for the visitors, especially Richard McCarthy and Timmy Hammersley in the full-forward line, with full back Conor Cooney and centre back Stephen Lillis also impressing.

McGrath cup holders Clare lost out by a point to Cork at Cooraclare yesterday. The home side that played better overall but the concession of two soft first-half goals told in the end. Cork led by 2-2 to 0-4 at the break but had to rely on a Fintan Gould 45, late in the game, to secure victory. With the sides level at 0-2 after 19 minutes, Clare's Frank O'Dea was penalised for handling the ball on the ground in front of his goal. Cork's Kevin O'Sullivan goaled from the penalty spot, giving the visitors a lead that they never relinquished. Clare's Michael O'Shea replied with two pointed frees, before Cork landed their second goal through Conor McManus just before the break. Scores from Stephen Monaghan, Keith Whelan, Gary Brennan and Peter O'Dwyer had Clare level by the 47th minute but Cork forced a 45 and Gould landed the point to take the honours.

What a year its been in the fortunes of Cork GAA!! It is ending the same way it ended in 2007, in stalemate. 2009 will also start like 2008, with this time calls on the Hurling Manager to step aside. In recent days I have heard tales emerge that something is going to happen in January that will see an end game in this standoff but I remain unconvinced . The fifth selector has yet to be confirmed by Gerald McCarthy. Could this be this be a bargaining chip by the Manager in allowing the Players to nominate this fifth selector. A possibility for this position could be someone like Mark Landers, Brian Corcoran or Alan Browne, people who would have the total trust of the players .

Dripsey were crowned Munster Junior Hurling champions yesterday after they easily accounted for Kilgarvan in a one-sided final in Mallow. The victory brought the curtain down on a fairytale season for the Cork champions, just four years after the club was established. The foundations for this victory were laid early in the first-half, with Dripsey wing-forward Mark O'Sullivan crashing home two goals in the first quarter. His first strike arrived within 40 seconds and his second came in the 14th minute. That left Dripsey ahead by 2-3 to 0-2, Kilgarvan's scores coming via two frees from Mickie Foley. Dripsey continued to create plenty of chances, but their shooting let them down as they racked up 13 wides in the opening half. However, they still led by 2-6 to 0-2 at the interval.