Picking the best Cork hurlers since 1970 who made one championship appearance

1. Martin Coleman (Ballinhassig) — 2008 All-Ireland qualifier v Galway: Coleman had been on the periphery of the team throughout Cork’s glory years where he was an able understudy to Dónal Óg Cusack. Owing to the consistent brilliance of the Cloyne man, chances between the sticks were few and far between. After Cusack was sent off just before half-time in an All-Ireland qualifier against Galway in 2008 however, Coleman was sprung into action, playing his part in a thrilling comeback.

5. Paul Tierney (Blackrock) — 2004 Munster quarter-final v Kerry: Tierney starred at centre-back as Cork reached the All-Ireland minor-final in 2000, before lining out in midfield for Blackrock a year later, as the Rockies won their first county championship in 20 years. Having joined the Cork panel in 2003, he made his only championship appearance as a substitute in a 21-point defeat of Kerry in the opening round of the 2004 Munster Championship. Tierney subsequently gave up hurling to concentrate on ultra-running.

The following year, Lombard featured in the opening round of the Munster Championship for Cork, albeit as a forward, replacing Jonathan O’Callaghan in the comprehensive defeat of Kerry.

9. Dan Murphy (Ballincollig) — 1998 Munster semi-final v Clare: Murphy joined the Cork senior hurling panel in 1997, having won a minor All-Ireland at midfield in ’95 and U21 All-Ireland’s in both ’97 and ’98 from centre-back. He made only one senior championship appearance, however, replacing Fergal Ryan in the first round of the 1998 Munster Championship. Murphy left the Cork panel after 1999.

12. Colm O’Neill (Midleton) — 1985 Munster semi-final v Tipperary: Lining out at centre-forward, O’Neill claimed an historic county title for Midleton in 1983, their first in 67 years. His inter-county dual-career only lasted one season however.

14. John-Paul King (Newtownshandrum) — 2004 All-Ireland semi-final v Wexford: King played at corner-forward throughout Newtown’s glory years at the start of the millennium, winning four county titles, three Munster titles and an All-Ireland during a trophy-laden decade. He joined the Cork senior squad following Newtown’s victorious All-Ireland campaign in ’04 and came on as a late substitute for Joe Deane in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Wexford.

15. Brian O’Keeffe (Blackrock) — 2002 All-Ireland qualifier v Galway: O’Keefe was a prodigious talent at underage, captaining the Cork minor side that won the 1995 All-Ireland. He also won U21 All-Irelands in ’97 and ’98, as well three senior titles with Blackrock. He made his inter-county debut in 2002, coming on to score a point in a nine-point qualifier defeat to Galway.
