FRESH SHOOTS MIX IT UP WITH EVERGREENS

CORK is a city at fever pitch as they gear up for a first All-Ireland hurling final appearance in 20 years.

- By Michael Gannon

The All-Scotland kings, meanwhile, were happy to quietly step up their preparations for the defence of their crown.

The Rebel County will head to legendary GAA ground Croke Park in a fortnight to take on Tipperary.

But Celts still have a long way to go before they are going to be fully up and running.

There are a good few signings still to be made as well.

With Dermot Desmond in town, Brendan Rodgers might have been tempted to give the Parkhead powerbroker a slight nudge with the clock ticking towards the big kickoff - and the crucial Champions League qualifier.

Rodgers won't roll out his big international stars for another week or so, but he could still field two different sides in each half of their victory over Cork City - and it meant no hometown bow for Adam Idah.

Luke McCowan's belter after a slick move involving evergreen James Forrest and Arne Engels got the Hoops ahead in front of 30,000 punters at the impressive Pairc Ui Chaoihm that usually hosts the GAA sides.