After a week's warm weather training in Miami, it's all systems go for the Irish U-17 women's team who compete in their first ever World Cup, beginning next week in Trinidad and Tobago. With four Cork girls in the squad, interest on Leeside will be huge as the 'Girls in Green,' look to build on their second placed finish in the European Championships last June.

GAA supporters from a across Ireland have been asked to vote for the best 15 players at U-21 grade from 2005-2010. To make the choice easier, sponsors Cadbury have listed all of the Cadbury 'Heroes of the Match' from 2005 to 2010 on their dedicated football website www.cadburygaau21.com.

For the third time this season Cork City were defeated 1-0 by Monaghan United and in the process knocked City out of the FAI Cup last Friday. Monaghan United, already in the final of the EA Sports Cup, are now through to the quarter-finals of the Ford FAI Cup after the bare minimum separated the sides again.

Club Name: Riverstown Badminton Club
Activity: Badminton
When we meet: Mondays and Wednesdays from 8pm to 10pm
Established: 1984

Senior Hurling Championship;
Erin's Own v Newtownshandrum Saturday Pairc Ui Chaoimh @ 4pm
A third meeting between these sides and Newtown yet to record a win, that has not happened too often where the reigning champions are concerned.

Hello punters!
The highlight of this weekend's racing, the Betfred Sprint Cup, takes place at Haydock Park on Saturday, when a plethora of the best sprinters around take each other on over the stiff Haydock six furlongs.

Neptune Basketball Club have announced the signing of US power forward Robinson Louisme and former Shamrock Hoops standout Phil Taylor as they prepare for the start of the new SuperLeague season. Louisme is a 6'7 forward from Fort Myers, Florida has signed to replace dominant Neptune big man Juwann James.

The Republic of Ireland's trip to Albania for the opening game of the European Championship Qualifying campaign will be interesting. As with any campaign, a good start is vital and while the later games against Russia and Slovakia will obviously hold the biggest challenges, the simple fact is that three points from this first away game would do everybody's confidence the world of good.

On a weekend that the Cork senior footballers dramatically qualified for the All-Ireland final, spare a thought for the vanquished ladies' teams who both bowed out of the Championship.

Cork City's four game winning streak came to a shuddering halt at Turners Cross last Friday when Waterford United snatched all three points in the Munster Derby. Expectations were high on Leeside going into the game, but with the league's leading marksman Graham Cummins suspended, it was always going to be tough for the Rebel Army.