Cork reveal team to face Clare: Hurlers opt for mix of youth and experience

CORK have handed Kilworth's Eoin Carey his first league start for Sunday's trip to Ennis, while also giving U20 All-Ireland winners Eoin Roche and Cormac O'Brien a chance to impress against Clare.

Pat Ryan's side face the Banner in Cusack Park at 1.45pm in a game that is live on TG4 having had a reduced preseason after the Munster Senior Hurling League was eventually called off due to bad weather.

That means Cork's last game outside of challenge matches was a win over Clare in Páirc Uí Rinn but there is a more experienced 15 available here. Patrick Horgan leads the line at full-forward in what is his 17th league campaign since making his debut against Dublin in 2008, with Shane Kingston, Conor Lehane and Robbie O'Flynn also featuring.

A host of bigger names aren't available though, including Damien Cahalane, Tim O'Mahony, Seamus Harnedy, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Mark Coleman. U20 graduate Ben Cunningham was ruled out after picking up an injury for UCC in the Fitzgibbon Cup on Thursday night, while Deccie Dalton, Alan Connolly and Pádraig Power are medium-term casualties.

Carey, so impressive last season on club duty for Kilworth and with Avondhu, starts alongside Brian Roche at centre-field, whose brother Eoin is wearing the number three geansaí. Newtown's Cormac O'Brien is selected at left wing-back, but the rest of the defence featured throughout last year's championship.

Micheál Mullins, last season's U20 captain, is on the bench, along with Brion Saunderson, Eoin Downey, Conor O'Callaghan, Robbie Cotter and Daire O'Leary, who has endured a torrid time with injuries.

The more experienced Luke Meade, Ger Millerick, Shane Barrett and Conor Cahalane.

Cork are back in action the following Saturday at home to Kilkenny in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Cork haven't won the league since 1998, when the current manager was involved as a player, but did reach the final only two years ago where they were beaten by Waterford. Last year they made the semi-final where they went down to the Cats at Nowlan Park.

CORK (Hurling v Clare):

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig);

Niall O'Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Sean O'Donoghue (Inniscarra, c);

Tommy O'Connell (Midleton), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Cormac O'Brien (Newtownshandrum);

Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Eoin Carey (Kilworth);

Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Shane Kingston (Douglas);

Robbie O'Flynn (Erin's Own), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr's).

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Ger Mellerick (Fr O'Neills), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Daire O'Leary (Watergrasshill), Conor O'Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), Micheál Mullins (Whitechurch), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Jack O'Connor (Sarsfields), Robbie Cotter (Blackrock), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr's).

The Clare side to face Cork in Round One of the @AllianzIreland Hurling League in Ennis on Sunday .

Throw in at Cusack Park is at 1:45 pm and your match tickets are available at https://t.co/txnMghz2Bw

The very best of luck lads 💪🟡🔵🟡 pic.twitter.com/0RaxQTYh39

— Clare Gaa (@GaaClare) February 2, 2024