Broadcaster Marty Whelan was carried shoulder high off the Parnell Park pitch after his Maryland team recorded an emphatic victory over Gerald Kean’s Mayfield in the final of RTE’s ’Celebrity Banisteoir’ on Friday night. Whelan, who only took charge of Maryland after their original manager Mary O’Rourke opted out, steered the Westmeath club to a 2-9 to 1-4 win over their much-fancied Cork opponents. The victory netted EUR10,000 for the tiny midlands club which is based in the parish of Drumraney near Athlone. "This is going to change the club forever. This has put them on the map," said an overjoyed Whelan, whose Westmeath connections are through his mother, who hails from Kilbeggan. His opposite number and ’solicitor to the stars’ Gerald Kean, who had spent an estimated EUR40,000 on designer suits and five-star hotel accommodation for his players, as well as organising team talks from Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and Newcastle and Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, was gracious in defeat.

Kerry ended Cork’s reign as ESB Munster minor football champions in a thrilling semi-final at Pairc Ui Rinn on Wednesday night. Inspired by the two Barry Johns, Walsh and Keane, who kicked 0-9 between them, the Kingdom reversed last year’s final result to set up a meeting with Tipperary in the decider and assure their place in the All-Ireland series. John Kennedy’s side were far more economical with some of Cork’s shooting being appalling. In one three-minute period during the second half, they kicked five wides in-a-row and when they had Kerry on the ropes in the closing stages they couldn’t deliver the knock-out blow. All of Kerry’s points came from play and after falling behind to a Paul Honohan point after just 20 seconds, they hit back with four unanswered points in the next five minutes to take control. Cork recovered to the tie up the scoring on 0-4 apiece after 17 minutes and they regained the lead three minutes later from a Cian Fleming free.

Dual players Aidan Walsh and Paul Honohan have been drafted into the Cork team for Wednesday night’s Munster minor football semi-final against Kerry at Pairc Ui Rinn. Walsh and Honohan replace Daniel Twomey and Peter Wiley in the only changes from the team that defeated Tipperary in the first round. Positional changes see Brian Kelleher move from midfield to right half forward, with Mark Collins switching from left half forward to partner Aidan Walsh at midfield. Brendan Horgan takes over Collins’ role with Honohan in at full forward in place of Horgan.

Cork’s young guns gave manager Gerald McCarthy a welcome selection headache when they shone in Sunday night’s senior hurling challenge win over Waterford at the new Mallow Sports Complex. Waterford were also in experimental mode, but not to the same extent as the hosts who had no more than six regulars on show. Newcomers like Jack Herlihy, Tomas Murray, Kevin Canty and Fintan O’Leary were very impressive for the Rebels, with the latter two scoring their goals in a four-minute spell midway through the second half. Waterford were leading by five points when Canty grabbed Cork’s first goal after goalkeeper Martin Coleman had seen his penalty saved. O’Leary’s second goal four minutes later was a blow from which Waterford - without injured stars Eoin Murphy, Dan Shanahan and Eoin Kelly - never recovered.

Anthony Lynch and Nicholas Murphy have emerged as injury doubts for Cork’s Munster football championship opener against Tipperary or Limerick next month. The vastly experienced duo picked up injuries in the second half of the Rebels’ 1-9 to 0-11 victory over Laois in a weekend challenge at Crettyard. Regarding midfielder Murphy’s injury, Cork manager Conor Counihan said: "I would be hopeful enough that it is only a bit of bruising".

Cork’s little All Ireland, the Cork County Senior Hurling Championship has got underway for 2008. Who are the contenders for Cork’s biggest prize in club hurling? Erins Own are chasing an another County to make it three in a row and with their side being relatively young and devoid of a major distraction of gaelic football should go very close to retaining their crown. Newtownshandrum who were very disappointing in losing last years final are fancied by many to redeem themselves in 2008. However with the latter stages of the competition now almost being exclusively played when Cork have exited the Championship, what condition will Ben and Jerry O Connor be in by then, remember both were limited by injury in last years final against Erins Own. Many people feel that maybe Cloyne’s chance of a County may have slipped by but with Paudie O’Sullivan back from injury and Donal O’Grady also being involved at some level they could have one final kick in them, they face Glen Rovers in the first round and that could be the game of the round.

A strong second half performance paved the way for a comfortable Cork victory over Limerick in this ESB Munster MHC qualifier at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Wednesday night. Beaten by Clare in the first round proper, the Rebels got their campaign back on track with this win which earns them a semi-final meeting with Waterford next month. However, it was only after the change of ends that they put their opponents away. Limerick began brightly with three points from Kevin Downes giving them an early advantage. Graham Mulcahy extended their lead to five points with a cracking goal, but Cork were back on level terms by the end of the first quarter, thanks largely to the impressive form of Simon O’Brien at full forward. Cork’s Ciaran Sheehan then had a penalty saved and Limerick went on to lead by 1-9 to 0-10 at the interval.