Hello punters!
Now that the holiday season is over, and the dust, or even the snow, has settled, the racing world will immediately turn towards the upcoming Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, in March. These two great occasions are generally regarded as being the absolute meccas of the national hunt racing season, featuring the Grand National and Topham Trophies at Aintree.

For the first time in two years Cork senior hurlers will begin the new season on a level playing field as their main opponents and on Sunday UCC will provide the opposition in the Waterford Crystal Cup in Páirc Ui Rínn at 2 pm, weather permitting. It will also mark Kieran 'Fraggy' Murphy's first outing as captain following his appointment by Denis Walsh last week, taking over the role from John Gardiner.

It certainly has been a baptism of fire for new UCC Demons coach Luke D'Alessio. The American took a massive leap of faith when leaving his life in Maryland to begin a tenure as the coach of a semi-professional Irish basketball team, albeit the best team in the land. But he was no stranger to big upheavals; D'Alessio was actually born in Italy but was soon on the move across the Atlantic to New Jersey where he developed his love of basketball.

Unfortunate for Neptune that their fine unbeaten run came to an end just a week before their all important National Cup semi-final against UCC Demons this Sunday. Neptune lost their winning streak against Southern Conference leaders UL Eagles on a scoreline of 91-88 last Sunday in Limerick, but rather then being a disappointing defeat it may well serve as perfect preparation for the NEH Neptune team before the weekend.

Not even a dose of the swine flu can prevent Neptune coach Pat Price from directing his charges against former side UCC Demons in Sunday's National Cup semi-final. He has been laid low with the virus for the past few weeks but such is his commitment he made it to Neptune's away loss to UL Eagles last weekend despite being unable to train the team all week.

Ever think your prediction talents are lost? Ever rue the fact you never backed your fancy for relegation from the Premiership or your tip for The US Masters? This may soon change as two Cork GAA stars have come up with a novel and fun way for social clubs to fundraise.

Cork lies in third place in race five of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. After three days of racing, the Cork crew are only five nautical miles behind race leader Cape Breton Island as the crews head for Keppel Bay in Singapore. Hull & Humber and Cork, who collided at the start of Race Four are looking to claw some time back on the race leaders after their collision at the beginning of Race Four.

Eoin Cadogan may be set to defy all considered advice by declaring for both the Cork footballers and hurlers for the coming season. The Douglas man is planning to approach Conor Counihan and Denis Walsh in the hope that he can be facilitated to play both codes. Having been one of Cork's shining lights in their poor hurling Championship campaign he was parachuted onto the Cork Senior Football panel once the hurlers were knocked out.

Saturday 9 January kick-off 2.30pm
AIB All-Ireland League
Division 1A
Dolphin v Clontarf- Musgrave Park
UL Bohemians v Cork Con – Thomond Park

The recent bad weather has caused some disruption to many clubs, who were forced to cancel their festive Long Puck competitions over the holiday period, while the plans of the Munster Council were also hit. It was intended to play three games in the McGrath Cup last Sunday but these were postponed and will now go ahead this weekend, as a result CIT and UCC will have to wait another week to begin their campaigns.