Although the league final win wasn't of much use to Cork, stalwart defender Noel O'Leary maintains the games in qualifying for the decider proved the Rebels' worth. It's hard to imagine but the Cill na Martra man has been on the Cork senior panel for 10 years, Larry Tompkins first called him into the senior set-up after winning an All-Ireland minor title in 2000.

Hello punters!
This Friday and Saturday are totally dominated in the racing world by the Epsom Derby/Oaks classic weekend. These two classic races, the third and fourth of the current season in Britain, are the featured centrepieces of a top-drawer meeting, one of the best in the racing calendar.

As thousands of athletes, runners and part-time joggers ready themselves for all or parts of the marathon next week, participants have been reminded to prepare properly for the race. Even someone participating in a leg of the race needs to prepare to avoid some unwanted discomfort, fatigue or dehydration. Here the Cork Independent gives you the top seven tips for the marathon next Monday, whether you are running a leg or the full thing.

Outside bets
It really is a pity The Republic of Ireland will not be represented next month in South Africa. The excitement and sense of adventure about the competition is really building up now and the level of the two Irish performances against Algeria and Paraguay last week demonstrated that with Giovanni Trapattoni in charge we would have been very difficult to overcome.

Just over a year in the job, Cork hurling manager Denis Walsh is well accustomed to the pressures associated with the post. Having taken over after the highly controversial end to Gerald McCarthy's reign, he inherited a panel of players who had gone on strike for the third time in five years, he also had some players who had ‘broken the picket line' and played for Cork during the strike.

Cork City FORAS Co-op earned a 1-1 draw for the second game in a row after their Munster derby away to Waterford at the RSC. City have emerged undefeated from their matches against the top two in the Airtricity League Division 1. Next up are mid-table Athlone Town at home and they will be hoping to win that fixture.

Club Name: Cork Admirals American Football Club
Activity: American Football and Flag football (Tag American Football)
When we meet: Training every Wednesday at 7:30pm and Sunday 11am from February until August at Kennedy Park, Cork. We have four home game and four away regular season.

Douglas Community School were recently crowned Basketball Ireland First Year A All-Ireland Winners for 2010. The All-Ireland play-offs and finals, which were held in the University of Limerick proved to be a momentous one for the team that had undertaken an ambitious training regime since November including early morning sessions before school.

HELLO PUNTERS
When any mention is made of the Epsom Derby, which this year will be run on Saturday 5 June, a name that crops up on a regular basis is that of the superlative jockey, Lester Piggott. Over the years, he practically made Epsom his own private winning arena, and recorded many exciting wins in all kinds of races over its famed switchback circuit.

The sun is shining as the summer finally arrives and that can only mean one thing the Munster Senior Hurling Championship and what better way to start than Cork and Tipperary in the Park. In the fabled history of the championship Cork have never lost to Tipperary four years-in-a-row and that fate awaits them on Sunday unless there is a major improvement on their league final display.