Cork U20 football team named ahead of championship opener

Ray O’Mahony has announced his first competitive team as Cork U20 football manager as the Rebels get their championship campaign underway on Wednesday evening against Tipperary in Fethard Town Park (7pm). 

Three players that started the Munster final defeat to Kerry last year are set to start in this encounter with Tipp and they are Dan Twomey, captain Hugh O’Connor and Olan Corcoran. 

Niall Kelly and Ross Corkery came on in that 2-12 to 1-6 defeat to the Kingdom at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and both are named on the bench for the clash with the Premier County. 

O'Mahony, who was Cork minor boss last season, has brought up six players from last year's minor team onto the U20 panel with two starting against Tipperary, Gearóid Daly and Dara Sheedy.  

It's now a round-robin format with Kerry and Clare also in this particular phase 2 of the championship as this current Cork group of players look to continue the Rebels decent record at this grade.

Cork have appeared in every provincial final since 2011. In the 13 deciders, the Leesiders have won seven, Kerry on five occasions, and Tipperary just once.

The straight knockout competition has been replaced with a phase 1 and phase 2 round-robin system. Tipperary, Clare, Waterford and Limerick played off against each other in recent weeks, with Tipperary and Clare progressing into phase 2 where they joined Cork and Kerry, with the teams that finish in the top two advancing to the Munster final. 

No matter what happens, the counties will play three round-robin outings before even thinking about success. That will only benefit the players' development in so many ways. 

This new system is a win-win for everyone and should produce interesting matches. Tipperary won’t be any pushovers and will have the advantage of already playing three championship games in phase 1 of the competition. The Premier County were held by Limerick, but edged out Clare by two points and hammered Waterford 5-13 to 0-8, to finish top, with Clare ending up in second.

The Leesiders have won Munster at this particular grade 28 times, just two away from Kerry, with Cork’s last provincial success coming in 2021 when they beat Tipperary in the final. Cork will be taking it game by game, but they would love to stop Kerry from winning three-in-a-row.

CORK (v Tipperary):

Mikey O'Connell (St Michael’s);

Dan Twomey (Ballinascarthy), Shane O’Connell (Kilshannig), Mark Óg O’Sullivan (Bantry Blues);

Colin Molloy (Nemo Rangers), David Buckley (Douglas), Gearóid Daly (Mallow);

Darragh O’Brien (Glanworth), Rory O’Shaughnessy (St Michael’s);

Bryan Hayes (Nemo Rangers), Hugh O’Connor (Newmarket, capt), Jack O’Neill (Castlehaven); 

Olan Corcoran (St Mary’s), Ed Myers (Naomh Abán), Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues).

Subs:

Aaron Mannix (Dohenys), Fionnán Leahy (St Michael’s), Sam Copps (Mallow), Rory Kavanagh (St Michael’s), Niall Kelly (Newcestown), Michael McSweeney (Knocknagree), Luke O’Herlihy (St Michael’s), Aaron O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue), Ross Corkery (Nemo Rangers).