Club hurling talking points and Player of the Week picks on The Echo Sport Podcast

Cork club hurling was back in style this weekend with champions Sars showing they remain the team to beat at Premier Senior, Glen Rovers adjusting to life in Senior A comfortably, even without the injured Patrick Horgan, and Dungourney pulling off an opening round upset over Ballinhassig, with Cork U20 Jack Leahy lashing over 0-15. 

Watergrasshill pulled off the result of the Bank Holiday Holiday weekend though when they roared back from 10 points down against Division 2 league champions and fancied for the PIHC title, Carrigaline. Adam Murphy landed 0-11, 0-6 from play, with Brendan Lehane and Sean Desmond, blasting in goals to stun Eddie Murphy's side. 

That was undoubtedly the result of the opening round, and after some cracking games in the football championships, the hurling action didn't disappoint. 

On The Echo Sport Podcast this week, Denis Hurley and Barry O'Mahony join Éamonn Murphy to review the five hurling grades. 

They pick their Team of the Week and Hurler of the Week, and in the latter category, there was no shortage of options. 

Of the Cork contingent still licking their wounds after the All-Ireland final defeat, Alan Connolly was a standout for leading the line superbly in Blackrock's narrow win over St Finbarr's. While he only had 1-1 from play, the goal was typically clinical, the sliotar struck low but driven high into the roof of the net, and his work-rate and energy set the tone.  

Midleton had three Cork panellists to the fore against Charleville, Brion Saunderson banging over 0-3, including a point from play, from goal, with Tommy O'Connell utterly dominant at number six, and Conor Lehane sublime, sniping 1-4 from play. Cork fans are still wondering what might have been had he been introduced against Clare.

Sars' Jack O'Connor got the nod ahead of him at Croke Park and while that day didn't go his way, he clipped 0-7. Douglas, however, look in big trouble and need a major turnaround to save their season.

Bishopstown are still expected to be relegated from Premier Senior and were trimmed by Newtownshandrum. Everyone thought that last season too though, and the Glen paid the price. 

Patrick Horgan and Seán O'Donoghue were marked absent through injuries picked up in the All-Ireland final but their clubs still got the results they needed, Inniscarra's victory over Ballyhea a huge boost for the Muskerry club who were in the Senior A relegation final last year.

The Glen are expected to bounce back to Premier Senior but Blarney, last year's runners-up, blitzed a Carrigtwohill side that survived in Division 1 of the league. Mark Coleman, Padraig Power and Shane Barrett were all class, but another Barrett, Cian, buried 2-4.

On this week's podcast, we also preview the All-Ireland camogie final where Cork chase a senior and intermediate double.

You can find us every week on Echoline.ie/podcast and all the major podcast platforms.