A former Cork All-Ireland-winning hurling captain has called on two of the main protagonists in the ongoing strife in Cork GAA to walk away from their current positions. Mark Landers, who captained the 1999 Cork team, believes the interests of Cork hurling would be best served if goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack retired and long-serving County Board secretary Frank Murphy stepped down from his position. Speaking on Newstalk's Off the Ball programme, Landers said he felt it was the only way to solve the impasse that has followed the re-appointment of hurling manager Gerald McCarthy. "I think for Cork hurling that those two people in particular need to be taken apart and step aside from the responsibilities that they've been given for the last number of years for the betterment of Cork hurling," said Landers.

Newly re-appointed Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy has rubbished claims that his former backroom team advised him not to let his name go forward for a second term at the Rebel County. Reports in the media have shown that the Cork players have strongly opposed McCarthy’s re-appointment, however he insists that he is determined to see out his latest two-year term. "I am the Cork manager and I am determined to carry out that duty to the best of my ability next season and hopefully beyond," said McCarthy. "My task at the moment is to construct a selection committee for the new season."

Cork’s Tony Healy recorded the biggest victory of his handball career when he defeated Seattle’s Sean Lenning in the US Open of Handball final at Fountain Valley, California yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. The Ballydesmond ace has played second fiddle to world number one, Paul Brady for a number of years but yesterday the 30 year old was firmly in the limelight as he collected his prize-winning cheque of $25,000.Healy was forced to pull out a top class performance to overcome to American pro, who suffered a similarar tiebreaker fate at the hands of Brady in last year’s final. Healy took the first game, but was under severe pressure in the second as Lenning threw caution to the wind and went for every ace. After a hard fought second game, the American hit a cracking killshot at 20-16 to force a decider. Healy stormed into a lead, but Lenning fought back as the crowded gallery looked on. Irish eyes were all smiling when the gentleman of the game hit home to an 11-6 win to take the biggest cash prize of his career, and the US Open of Handball title.

His transitory and often nervous period for county managers continued last night starting in Cork, where the county board met to ratify the reappointment of Gerald McCarthy as senior hurling manager and Conor Counihan as senior football manager. There had been some doubt about McCarthy's intentions for the season ahead after his two-year term to date had failed to produce silverware, but in the end he agreed to let his name go forward for a further two years, although there will be some changes to the backroom team. One of McCarthy's selectors, Martin Bowen, has left the set-up to take charge of Erin's Own, the club side he led to the Cork hurling title two years ago. Long-serving team trainer Jerry Wallis, who was involved under Donal O'Grady and John Allen, has also announced his intention to step down.

“Will he stay or Will he go” is the question on the lips of Cork Hurling Supporters since the Rebels defeat to Kilkenny, which marked the end of his two year term in charge of the Cork Senior Hurling Team. The local media and gossips would lead you to believe that the County Board are anxious for him to remain on, but with no comment coming from either side on the rumours what are we to believe? If there is to be a change, who are the Candidates to the take on the role of Bainisteoir to the Cork Senior Team?

Cork players Donal Og Cusack and John Gardiner are included on the seven-man sub-committee charged with finding the county’s next hurling manager. Hurling and football panel members were given unprecedented power regarding managerial appointments as part of the settlement package that ended their strike earlier this year. The duo are joined on the committee by county chairman Mick Dolan, secretary Frank Murphy, PRO Bob Ryan and club delegates Denis Harrington and Dan Warren.

Munster Hurling Championship Quarter-final Cork v Tipperary Semi-finals Waterford v Limerick Clare v Cork / Tipperary Leinster Hurling Championship Quarter-finals Laois v Galway Offaly v Wexford Dublin v Antrim Kilkenny straight into open semi-final draw Connacht Football Championship Quarter-finals New York v Mayo London v Galway Roscommon v Leitrim Semi-finals London / Galway v Sligo New York / Mayo v Roscommon / Leitrim Leinster Football Championship First round Kildare v Offaly Carlow v Louth Longford v Wicklow Quarter-finals Kildare / Offaly v Wexford Carlow / Louth v Laois Longford / Wicklow v Westmeath Meath v Dublin Munster Football Championship Quarter-finals Tipperary v Limerick Waterford v Cork Semi-finals Tipperary / Limerick v Clare Waterford / Cork v Kerry