For the first time in the history of the competition Cork play Monaghan in the Final of the Inter-County Vocationals Football. Both teams have shown varied form coming into the final. Cork had a rather poor outing against Galway in their semi-final winning on a score line of 14 points to 10 after beating Kerry well in the Munster Final. Cork were forced to play a week after retaining the All Ireland Vocations School title for a fourth occasion. Cork had seven dual players on display. Monaghan on the other hand had a great result against the hot favourites Meath in their semi-final winning on a score line 2.6 to 11 points. Monaghan had a very impressive victory in the Ulster Final beating a good Donegal side 9 points to 5. Cork are hoping to create history on Saturday by winning the double for the first time since the competition began in 1961. Cork last won the football in 1996 and will be looking to Cork minor of last year and captain Liam Long of St Brogans for his leadership skills. With a number of current Cork minors David Lee (Coachford), Aidan Walsh (Col Treasa), Peter Daly (St Brogans) Daniel Twomey (St Brogans), Brendan Horgan (St Colmans) and with the current Tipperary minor goalkepper Jack English (St Fanahans,) would feel that they have the talent to pull off the win.

Conor Counihan got his reign as Cork football manager off to a winning start when his charges overcame Wexford in a challenge match in Lemybrien yesterday. With both sides were in somewhat experimental mood, it was Cork who had the better of the opening half exchanges. With the half-back line of Noel O'Leary, Ger Spillane and Anthony Lynch prominent, and with Graham Canty outstanding at full-back, they restricted the Model County to one first half point, a Ciaran Lyng 15th minute effort, while they themselves set about turning their outfield possession into scores. It was evident from the opening exchanges that the Cork attack was somewhat rusty, although a well-taken John Miskella goal midway through the half set them on the way. After what was a low-scoring first half, Cork added points through Donncha O'Connor with two and Kevin O'Sullivan to lead 1-3 to 0-1 at the interval.

All-Ireland club football bluebloods Nemo Rangers will contest yet another All-Ireland SFC club final after beating Ballina Stephenites by 0-14 to 1-4 in a surprisingly one-sided semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis. The Cork and Munster champions weren’t flattered by their double-scores winning margin even though they never scaled any great heights in securing their victory. Top scorer James Masters signalled his intent by firing the ball over the bar after scarcely 30 seconds of play but Ballina Stephenites, against the wind, circled the wagons and after 11 minutes levelled the scoring through Stephen Hughes. Up popped Masters (scorer of seven points in total) though five minutes later to nick his side back in front and another two points, including two from 45s, from the top-scorer had the Connacht champions very much on the back foot.

New Cork football boss Conor Counihan has completed his backroom team with the appointment of his four-man selection panel. Counihan, who took over the Cork reins on Tuesday, has moved swiftly to name Gerard O’Sullivan [Dromtarriffe], Jim Nolan [Castlehaven], Terry O’Neill [Bantry Blues] and Peadar Healy [Naomh Aban] as his selectors for the coming season. O’Sullivan and Nolan will provide continuity was they both served for the last two years, while O’Neill was involved with the county minors season and was a selector under Larry Tompkins. Healy is a newcomer to the inter-county scene having enjoyed a successful spell as manager of west Cork club O’Donovan Rossa

The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee have decided that Cork's footballers and hurlers should forfeit the games they failed to play during the recent players' strike. That means the footballers of Meath and Dublin and the hurlers of Kilkenny and Waterford will pick up two points each. Cork have also been fined €400 per game unfulfilled. The Cats and the Deise were willing to reschedule the Allianz NHL games, but Meath football boss Colm Coyle said his side would not play Cork as the Royals had already made themselves available to play the Rebels on two occasions.

The Cork County Board has named Conor Counihan as the new manager of the county's senior football team. Counihan replaces Teddy Holland who was last night sacked by the county board, following a vote by delegates that brought an end to the players strike. The strike saw inter-county fixtures go unfulfilled due to a strike for the first time in the GAA's history. Former All-Star defender Counihan won back-to-back All-Ireland medals in 1989 and 1990, will name his selectors in the coming days.

Teddy Holland has been sacked as Cork football manager following a meeting of the County Board on Monday night. Holland and his selectors, Diarmuid O’Donovan, Teddy McCarthy, Liam Hodnett and Mick O’Loughlin, had refused to stand down but County Board delegates voted by 89 votes to 18 for his dismissal, to bring to an end a 97-day dispute which resulted in the senior hurling and football squads going on strike. Holland and his selectors reiterated their refusal to step down from their roles prior to Monday night's meeting in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and issued a statement outlining their position through Cork PRO Bob Ryan.