Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy has landed a major coup by appointing former Ireland rugby fitness coach Mike McGurn to his backroom team for the 2009 campaign. McCarthy has assembled a high profile team to help his challenge for honours next year that McGurn and ex-Kerry star Aodhan MacGearailt, as well as fomer Cork minor hurling trainer Martin McSweeney. The appointment of McGurn is seen as a major coup by McCarthy as the Fermanagh native is regarded as one of the best fitness coaches across Europe, hvaing worked with a number of English rugby league sides as well as the Irish rugby union squad.

Cork are to participate in next month’s McGrath Cup, despite suggestions that both they and Kerry would not be taking part. While the Kerry squad will be away on holidays when the Munster pre-season competition gets underway and definitely won’t be taking part, Cork’s participation has been confirmed, though manager Conor Counihan is expected to pick from an inexperienced squad.

Launching the Cork Footballers Race Night at Pairc Uí Chaoimh are Michael Cussen, Donnacha O'Connor, Michael Shields and Captain Graham Canty with Cork fans Stephanie, Gillian and Edelle. The Race Night will take place at 9pm on Friday 5th December at the Evergreen Bar in Turners Cross, with Cork Footballers past and present in attendance.

The public are encouraged to come along and help raise funds for the Cork Senior Footballers and enjoy a great night! There will be a range of spot prizes on offer through the raffle on the night with memorabilia such as, a signed Alan Quirke Cork Goalkeeping Jersey, a Graham Canty Irish Training Jersey, Dinner Vouchers and much more.

Cork hurling boss Gerald McCarthy has announced an inexperienced squad for Sunday’s challenge against a St. Colman’s College selection which will mark the Fermoy nursery’s 150th anniversary. With none of this year’s championship squad making themselves available for selection due to the ongoing dispute over his reappointment, McCarthy has been forced to look elsewhere and has assembled a 31-man panel which features players from 13 different clubs. County champions Sarsfields are well represented, but few, if any, of the those included will be familiar to hurling followers outside Cork.

Cork dominate the 2008 ladies football All-Stars team with seven of their All-Ireland winning side receiving awards. Goalkeeper Elaine Harte, defenders Angela Walsh, Linda Barrett, Briege Corkery and Brid Stack, midfielder Juliet Murphy and attacker Nollaig Cleary were all honoured at Saturday’s gala banquet in Dublin’s CityWest Hotel. Beaten finalists Monaghan received four awards, while Tyrone, Mayo, Tipperary and Down picked up one award each. Edel Hanley was honoured for her contribution to Tipperary’s All-Ireland intermediate success. The All-Stars will once again travel to Dubai to play an exhibition match in January.

A week after winning the Waterford county title for the first time, De La Salle of Waterford are now in line for a shot at the Munster title thanks to a two-point win over Cork champions Sarsfields at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. In a titanic battle, the sides were level on no less than 11 occasions, with two frees in the closing stages from Waterford star Brian Phelan seeing De La Salle over the line. Phelan was a constant force at midfield, ably assisted by Conan Watt, while up front, captain John Mullane chipped in with five points from play. For Sarsfields, Pat Ryan shot six frees, though he was not as accurate as he can be, while Cork footballer Michael Cussen shot four, all from play, with skipper Kieran 'Fraggy' Murphy contributing three from centre-forward. The Waterford side got off to a great start, points from Watt and Mullane giving them a two-point lead inside two minutes, though Sarsfields were soon back on level terms, Kieran Murphy, following a good run after he won a puck-out, and a Ryan free restoring parity.

The 2008 Camogie All-Stars were named on Saturday night with All-Ireland champions Cork gaining seven awards on the night. These being Aoife Murray, Cathriona Foley, Gemma O’Connor, Briege Corkery, Orla Cotter, Síle Burns and Rachel Moloney. The rebelettes swept the board following an impressive campaign that saw them lift the title once again, while Galway, who were defeated in the final received three awards on the night. Cork’s Gemma O’Connor collected her fifth All-Star, which is a first, while Wexford, Tipperary, Antrim and Offaly were also represented on the team.