Cork Club Hurling Team of the Week: Ethan Twomey and Micheál Mullins shine

The finals are set after another brilliant weekend of hurling action, so here’s your Echo Sport Cork hurling championships Team of the Week, with the best performers from the top four grades, with IAHC included here.

Goalkeeper: Shane Hurley (St Finbarr’s) 

Crucial saves early in the first half when Kanturk were in the ascendancy. He kept the St Finbarr’s deficit from growing too large. Then, close to the finish, he popped up with his third and most crucial to deny Alan Walsh.

Corner-back: Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk) 

Another exceptional display from Lorcán in this year’s championship. The former Cork senior has been outstanding all year, and brought the same against the Barrs in the sweeper role as he lorded the defence.

Full-back: Robert Downey (Glen Rovers) 

Did a superb job on Conor Lehane to nullify Midleton’s attacking threat, especially early on. It allowed Glen Rovers to establish control and they weren’t going to be caught from there.

Corner-back: Dylan Healy (Dungourney) 1-0 

The last-gasp hero for Dungourney, popping up with the late goal to send them through to the Premier Intermediate final. Healy makes it back-to-back appearances now too, having secured a place in the last round.

Half-back: Cian Dunphy (Erin’s Own) 0-2 

Excellent at wing-back, linking well with Peter O’Shea when he occupied a spot in the half-forward line. Dunphy finished with 0-2 for Erin’s Own, who now have Carrigtwohill standing in their way.

Centre-back: Peter O’Shea (Erin’s Own) 0-1 

A solid showing in the half-forward line but it was upon being called back to take the centre-back role in which he starred. Used the ball brilliantly and his positioning was top-class against Watergrasshill.

Half-back: David O’Leary (Ballincollig) 

Superb in defence once more, O’Leary’s had a great campaign for Ballincollig and was in top form against Carrigaline at wing-back. The young defender has been so crucial to this run, as they gear up for another Premier Intermediate decider.

Midfielder: Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s) 1-3 

Twomey’s best showing of the championship so far, as he ended the game with an impressive 1-3 and 0-3 worth of assists for the Barrs after a huge second-half display. He was the catalyst in turning this one around, and took his goal superbly.

Midfielder: Rhys Dunne (Glen Rovers) 

Solid midfield shift from Dunne again. He’s been so reliable for Glen Rovers since coming in as a starter in the 2024 season. Work rate was excellent against Midleton, as he was so crucial in getting the northsiders back into the county final.

Half-forward: Ben Cunningham (St Finbarr’s) 0-11 (0-5 f) 

Another healthy scoring return for Cunningham brought his total in 12 games for the Barrs this year to 3-103 across league and championship. This was another impressive return from play too, bringing his total there to 2-12 in this year’s championship.

Centre-forward: Micheál Mullins (Glen Rovers) 2-0 

A player who, like Brian O’Sullivan, has given Ben O’Connor some food for thought ahead of next year’s inter-county season. Mullins has been so impactful for the Glen over the past few months, and brought his best yet with the two goals against Midleton. Won two converted second-half frees and forced Midleton into overcarrying for another free which Patrick Horgan scored.

Half-forward: Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own) 0-4 

A lively presence all evening for Erin’s Own and a constant threat to their opponents, he would eventually finish with four and assisted Shane Irwin for the goal that put this one to bed against the Hill.

Corner-forward: Jack Cullinane (Bandon) 1-5 

An incredible scoring return for Bandon and a brilliant performance, Cullinane’s 1-5 against Midleton helped fire them back to another county final with a chance to right the wrongs of 2025.

Full-forward: Alan Walsh (Kanturk) 1-2 

Lethal up front for Kanturk and would have had far more than 1-2 had Hurley not made some exceptional saves.

Walsh was a constant thorn for the Barrs, and was fouled for four of the six first-half frees which Brian O’Sullivan converted. Superb.

Corner-forward: Patrick Walsh (Carrigtwohill) 0-6 

A serious shooting return again from Walsh. That’s 0-20 now, all from play, in the five games in this year’s SAHC. It’s been a real team effort to fill the Seán Walsh-shaped hole in Carrig’s starting team, but his younger brother has made a great contribution to it.

Substitutes:

Darren Browne (Kanturk) 0-1 

Tommy Walsh (Kanturk) 

Niall Motherway (Dungourney) 

Cormac Walsh (Midleton) 0-3 

Éanna Desmond (Carrigaline) 0-3 

Brian Keating (Ballincollig) 1-2 

Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s) 0-5 

John Looney (Aghada) 1-2 

Cillian O’Callaghan (Dungourney) 1-2