Wexford v Cork: Rebels name team with Darragh Fitzgibbon set to make first start of season

Darragh Fitzgibbon will make his first start of the year for Cork in Saturday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A clash with Wexford at Chadwicks Wexford Park (3pm).

Having been sidelined with a shoulder issue, the Charleville man came off the bench in the second half of last Sunday’s 27-point win over Offaly in Tullamore.

Selected at midfield alongside Tommy O’Connell as Brian Roche and Luke Meade drop to the bench, Fitzgibbon will become Cork’s 32nd different starter across the five games in the round-robin section of the league.

The pair are among a total of six changes from the game at Glenisk O’Connor Park.

In the full-back line, captain Seán O’Donoghue, forced off against Waterford with a mild hamstring problem and an unused sub against Offaly, comes in. He takes the place of Niall O’Leary to partner Eoin Downey and Damien Cahalane in front of goalkeeper Patrick Collins.

Ciarán Joyce had been nominated as captain last week in the absence of O’Donoghue but a minor finger injury led to him sitting out the game with Tim O’Mahony slotting in – Ger Millerick stood in as skipper instead. That Joyce/O’Mahony switch is reversed this weekend with Ger Millerick and Robert Downey remaining on the wings.

Conor Lehane had been the only ever-present starter across the four games up to now, selected at centre-forward for all of them, but he is a substitute. Séamus Harnedy moves from number 12 to 11 with Brian Hayes – who, like Fitzgibbon, scored 1-1 as a sub last week, coming into the team at left half-forward while Declan Dalton remains in situ on the right wing.

Patrick Horgan had started the three games before last week and was rested but he is back in the starting team for Sunday, named at right corner-forward. Alan Connolly, who scored 3-1 last week in his first start in more than 20 months, and Shane Barrett retain the other two spots in the full-forward line.

While Mark Coleman (jaw), Robbie O’Flynn, Ethan Twomey and Seán Twomey (all hamstrings) are still short of full fitness, there is a strong look to the squad as competition for places ramps for the Munster SHC opener away to Waterford in five weeks’ time.

Clare secured top spot in Group A as they beat Kilkenny last week but Cork could still qualify for the last four if they were to win on Saturday and Kilkenny lost to Waterford.

Equally, Wexford could still progress with a win if the Cats drop points in Walsh Park and the fact that there is something riding on the game should bring a welcome level of intensity as the championship comes nearer into view.

“If you watched the game at the weekend between Waterford and Wexford, I thought it was a very high standard,” says Cork manager Pat Ryan.

“Especially the first 54, 55 minutes – Wexford had scored 2-20 at that stage, and I thought Waterford were excellent in the first half, they scored 16, 17 points.

“I thought both teams played very good hurling in that period of time. In fairness to Wexford, themselves, Clare and Limerick are the only three unbeaten teams across Division 1 so they’re probably delighted with the way their league has gone for them.

It’s a chance for fellas to put their best foot forward really and take the shackles off. 

"Unfortunately, it looks like the weather won’t be good but it’s a great game for us going down to Wexford and I assume there’ll be a big crowd there as well.”

CORK (Hurling League v Wexford):

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); 

Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra, c); 

Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers); 

Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville); 

Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s); 

Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Shane Barrett (Blarney). 

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields).