The Southern Star Sport Podcast

ON THIS week’s podcast, we look back on Cork’s All-Ireland SFC exit at the hands of Mayo in last Saturday’s quarter-final in Croke Park.Star Sport columnist John Hayes reflects on what was a disappointing day for John Cleary’s side after a largely positive season leading up to the game.Discussed is Cork’s wides, a missed opportunity and what they need to do next year.Also on the show, we look ahead to the Cork minors’ All-Ireland final against Tyrone this Sunday (2pm) in Newbridge.There is a lot of West Cork representation on the team and Keith Ricken’s side have won every game up to now.They will hope to finish off their season and the Cork inter-county football campaign on a high.The hurlers are in All-Ireland SHC semi-final action against Galway this Saturday (3.30pm) in Croke Park while the camogie team are into the semi-finals after defeating Waterford.We welcomed RunSkibb’s Jonathan Davis into Star HQ this week too to tell us all about the event and how people can sign up.Learn more here: https://runskibb.itsyourrace.com/register/ All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ie Subscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week’s podcast, we welcomed Cork GAA Secretary and CEO Kevin O’Donovan into our office in Skibbereen for a chat.Cork GAA is on a high right now with the hurlers into an All-Ireland semi-final, the footballers in a quarter-final and the minor footballers into the All-Ireland final so this was a good time for Star Sport Editor Kieran McCarthy to catch up with the Kilmeen/Kilbree man.O’Donovan also talks about the financial success of recent concerts in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.Also on the show, we pay tribute to Phil Healy’s retirement from athletics and reflect on her fantastic career. John Cleary’s Cork footballers will face Mayo on Saturday in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals, a game that presents a huge opportunity of a first semi-final since 2012.The Cork minors secured an All-Ireland final by beating Derry and Keith Ricken’s team face Tyrone in the decider.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ie Subscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week’s podcast, we chat to Cork senior hurler Darragh Fitzgibbon as he is set to return to action after he had appendicitis.Eir Ambassador Fitzgibbon is encouraging GAA clubs nationwide to enter the eir Poc Tapa Challenge, where the fastest team wins €5,000 for their club and the chance to play in Croke Park on semi‑final day. To enter, check out eir Ireland on socials.As Cork take on Offaly in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final this Sunday (3.30pm) in Semple Stadium, Thurles, we chat to Fitzgibbon about his recovery, the strength of the Cork panel and the mood following their Munster final defeat to Limerick.Also in the show, we look back at wins for the Cork LGFA and camogie teams after they saw off Waterford and Tipperary respectively.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ie https://accesscu.ie/ Eir Ambassador Darragh Fitzgibbon is marking eir’s continued support of the All‑Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the fourth year of the Poc Tapa Challenge, a competition open to every GAA club in the country, where the fastest team wins €5,000 for their club and the chance to play in Croke Park on semi‑final day. To enter, visit @eir.Ireland on Instagram. Eir is recognised by Opensignal as having Ireland’s No.1 5G network coverage.Subscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS bonus podcast, we reflect on Cork’s memorable win over Donegal to progress to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.The Rebels produced an incredible 0-17 to 1-13 in Ballybofey to see off the league champions and, according to some, the All-Ireland favourites.John Cleary’s team were 1-7 to 0-5 down at half time but produced a battling second half display with some great two-point shooting.It means the Rebels have a weekend off before they prepare for their quarter-final in Croke Park on the weekend of June 27-28.On this special podcast, Kieran McCarthy and Matthew Hurley break down the significance of this victory and we have interviews with John Cleary, Ruairí Deane, Patrick Doyle and Conor Corbett.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ieSubscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS bonus podcast episode, we chat to West Cork’s most famous soccer player Conor Hourihane after a season as head coach of Barnsley.The former Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland player was back home in Bandon this week so it was a great time for Kieran McCarthy to catch up.He has played in all of the top four English leagues, was West Cork’s first ever Premier League goalscorer, captained Barnsley to gain promotion to the Championship and helped Villa return to the Premier League.Hourihane also played 36 times for his country, the only West Cork man ever to play senior with the national team.After departing Barnsley at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, we catch up with the Bandon man to see what he is up to now, his start to life in the dugout and his thoughts on the FIFA World Cup that kicks-off this week.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ieSubscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week’s podcast, we are joined by Cill na Martra boxer Christina Desmond after a great start to life as a professional boxer.Friend of the show, Desmond took her record to 5-0 after an impressive second-round stoppage win in her latest bout.Up against English fighter Sherie Barnes in a welterweight contest scheduled for eight rounds in Alicante, Desmond showed her class with an early finish, ending the fight with some quality combinations. Fresh off her fifth straight win, she chats to Kieran McCarthy about her pro journey, the challenges, the enjoyment, and whether the Katie Taylor undercard on September 5th is a possibility.Also on the show, we delve into some GAA action as the Cork hurlers lost to Limerick (2-17 to 1-21) in the Munster SHC final.The result means the Rebels have to go through the All-Ireland quarter-final route and host Matthew Hurley was made to fulfil a forfeit for this week’s podcast.The Cork footballers are in action this weekend as they face Donegal in Ballybofey and we chat about the game not being shown on GAA+ nor RTÉ.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ie Subscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week’s podcast, we have Munster SHC final fever in Star HQ as Cork and Limerick clash in the provincial decider on Sunday (2pm) in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.We are joined by three-time Munster champion Lorcán McLoughlin, who played in Cork’s last home Munster final in 2014 which was a win over Limerick.McLaughlin chats about the buzz around Munster final day, Ben O’Connor, Cork’s winning form and the rivalry brewing between the two counties. We are also joined in studio by Southern Star Digital Manager Tony O’Shaughnessy. A proud Limerick man who is as excited about the big game as much as the Star Sport department.You can find Tony on Instagram, @tony_southern_star. All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ie Subscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week’s podcast, we chat to Carbery U15 hurling manager Joe O’Donnell as the team are having a good start to their Rebel Óg Premier 1 Hurling League season.After beating established hurling clubs Blackrock (5-14 to 4-11) and Glen Rovers (5-23 to 5-17), the West Cork division are going very well in their opening season.They face Midleton in Newcestown this Thursday (8pm) as they hope to continue their impressive start.With games against Douglas and Duhallow to follow too, there is a lot of excitement around the squad. O’Donnell, a Limerick man who moved down to Bantry in the late 90s is trying to change the standards of West Cork hurling and is doing tremendous work with his adopted club Bantry Blues too.He also talks about the Cork and Limerick hurling rivalry as the two sides look in pole position to contest the All-Ireland SHC.Ben O’Connor’s Cork hurlers face the Treaty in the Munster final after seeing off Clare 1-30 to 1-14, completing their fourth win in succession in the provincial round robin.We discuss the footballers’ fantastic victory over Meath (0-30 to 1-24). John Cleary’s men progress to Round 2A of the All-Ireland SFC and are one game away from a quarter-final in Croke Park.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ieSubscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans

ON THIS week’s podcast, we catch up with Amy McCarthy after Cork’s All-Ireland U23 camogie triumph over Kilkenny, 2-23 to 1-5.A dominant display by the Rebels whose squad included McCarthy, Niamh Kennedy (both Clonakilty), Millie Condon (Ballinascarthy), Meabh O’Brien (Enniskeane) and Catherine and Mary Murphy (Kinsale).This is McCarthy’s second All-Ireland title of 2026 too after her Ashbourne Cup win with University College Cork over University of Limerick.It has been a successful season trophy-wise for McCarthy, and she is hoping for more glory with Clonakilty later this year.Also on the show, we reflect on a fantastic night for Cork football as the minors saw off Kerry 1-13 to 0-14 after extra time on Monday night.We have interviews with Cork boss Keith Ricken and coach Maurice Moore after a memorable win.At senior level, the Cork footballers and hurlers have crunch upcoming championship ties against Meath and Clare respectively.All this and more on this week's Star Sport Podcast. Watch above. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, by using the player below or by searching 'Southern Star Sport Podcast' wherever you get yours.Follow our hosts on X: @matt_hurley01 and @KieranMcC_SSProduced by Matthew Hurley***The Star Sport Podcast is brought to you in association with Access Credit Union.Access Credit Union - Where your bank really does matter. Choose Credit Union, Choose Local, Choose Community. For more visit www.accesscu.ie Subscribe to The Southern Star's digital edition for less than €2 per week via https://subscribe.southernstar.ie/plans