Cork minor hurling management reveal the team to face Clare in Munster opener

Midleton CBS' Alex Quirke is challenged by An Gaelcoláiste Mhuire An Mhainistir Thuaidh's Cian Connery. Quirke is the Cork minor vice-captain this season. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
B Saunderson (Midleton); S Kingston (Ballinora), C Smyth (Midleton), K Lyon (Ballygarvan); E Downey (Glen Rovers, c), B O’Connor (St Finbarr's), M Mullins (Whitechurch); B Keating (Ballincollig), J Dwyer (Ballincollig); A Quirke (Midleton), C Walsh (Kanturk), T O’Connell (Ballincollig); B Cunningham (St Finbarr's), M Howell (Douglas), E O’Leary (Glen Rovers).
E O’Neill (Blarney), B Nodwell (Sarsfields), D Burke (Douglas), D O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig), D Healy (Lisgoold), J Leahy (Kiltha Óg), S O’Riordan (Youghal), T Walsh (Kanturk), W Buckley (St Finbarr's).
Here are five hurlers to watch, via streaming on the Munster Council website, this weekend.
BEN CUNNINGHAM (St Finbarr's): Ultra-consistent from frees and play as the Barrs landed their first minor county in 23 years, the half-forward is a superb striker off both sides and also a serious athlete. The son of Cork senior selector Ger, Cunningham managed a staggering 0-7 from play in the decider against Sars last month, to go with five frees.

Watch out too for his club-mates William Buckley and Ben O'Connor, both U16.
Younger brother of former Cork minor Sam, Alex is a dynamic midfielder, full of energy but also composed in possession. Hurled with Midleton CBS in the Harty Cup at wing-back and Rebel vice-captain this Saturday.
Another Magpie Brion Saunderson is in between the posts, having started at number one as well in 2019.
EOIN DOWNEY (Glen Rovers): Like his sibling Robert, Eoin is a towering presence in the rearguard with plenty of hurling to go with it. Played corner-back in the Harty final earlier this year for Christians.

Eoin O'Leary, still U16, is another quality Glen young gun in the squad.
COLIN WALSH (Kanturk): Duhallow continues to produce a supply of hurlers for Cork, with Dromtarriffe's Conor O'Callaghan the U20 captain this season. Colin Walsh is a tall and strong inside forward, with an eye for goals. He spearheaded Kanturk's drive to the Premier 2 minor final, where they lost to a Donal Óg Cusack-coached St Colman's.

Kanturk native, Tommy Walsh, the younger brother of Aidan, will feature too, in the backs.
SHANE KINGSTON (Ballinora): A minor last year and a fine footballer to boot, Ballinora's Shane Kingston was involved as well in 2019. There's a strong underage in the Mid Cork club and his progress reflects that.

A terrific athlete, his tenacity in defence helped CBC to last season's Harty Cup decider.
The 30-player panel is below, with the 15 starters and nine subs to be revealed at 12pm on Friday.
Adam Walsh | Bride Rovers |
Alex Quirke | Midleton (v-c) |
Ben Cunningham | St Finbarr's |
Ben Nodwell | Sarsfields |
Ben O’Connor | St Finbarr's |
Brian Keating | Ballincollig |
Brion Saunderson | Midleton |
Ciarmhac Smyth | Midleton |
Colin Walsh | Kanturk |
Culann Geary | Youghal |
Daire Burke | Douglas |
Darragh O’Sullivan | Ballinhassig |
David Joseph | Carrigtwohill |
David O’Sullivan | Ballincollig |
Diarmuid Healy | Lisgoold |
Eoin Downey | Glen Rovers (c) |
Eoin O’Leary | Glen Rovers |
Eoin O’Neill | Blarney |
Izaak Walsh | Lisgoold |
Jack Leahy | Kiltha Óg |
James Dwyer | Ballincollig |
Kevin Lyons | Ballygarvan |
Mark Howell | Douglas |
Micheál Mullins | Whitechurch |
Sean Killeen | Granard Gaels |
Sean O’Riordan | Youghal |
Shane Kingston | Ballinora |
Tadhg O’Connell | Ballincollig |
Tommy Walsh | Kanturk |
William Buckley | St Finbarr's |