Cork hurlers expected to get off to a winning start against a weakened Wexford side

The Cork senior hurlers begin their 2025 campaign away to Wexford in Division 1A of the Allianz National Hurling League at Chadwicks Wexford Park tomorrow evening.

189 days after the final whistle shrilled in Croke Park to herald Clare as All-Ireland champions, Pat Ryan and the Cork hurlers begin another season in search of National League, provincial and All-Ireland glory.

The early signs look promising in as much as can be garnered from pre-season challenge matches. 

More than anything, recent victories over Waterford and UCC have highlighted the additional options at Ryan’s disposal for the coming year. 

Along with All-Ireland senior club runners-up Sarsfield’s contingent, the likes of Jack Cahalane, William Buckley, Alan Walsh and William Buckley are welcome additions.

Getting off to a positive start and laying the groundwork for reaching the National League’s knockout stages is important especially as Cork lost to both Clare and Kilkenny in their first two outings last year.

First up are Wexford who are coming off a positive 2024 and who finished fourth in Division 1A of the National League, a point behind Cork. That league campaign included draws with Kilkenny, Offaly and Clare plus a solitary victory over Waterford.

The Leinster side’s only league defeat came at the hands of Cork. 

The latter travelled to Wexford on March 16th still in with a chance of reaching the National League semi-finals. 

Alan Connolly’s personal haul of 3-2 helped secure a 3-21 to 1-15 Rebels win. Yet, Kilkenny’s victory at Waterford on the same afternoon saw the Cats cement second place and a league semi-final berth at the expense of Cork.

Wexford built on their encouraging National League effort to finish third in the Leinster SHC round-robin section, beating Carlow and Galway along the way. 

That outcome cemented an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Laois where Wexford amassed 32 points and sailed into the last eight. Eventual All-Ireland champions Clare ended Wexford’s year in a 2-28 to 1-19 All-Ireland quarter-final triumph at Croke Park.

Liam Rossiter is back for second year in charge of the Slaneysiders. 

The Wexford senior manager’s preparations have been hampered with numerous senior players either unavailable or injured ahead of their National League opener.

Rossiter knew he would be without retirees Diarmuid O’Keefe and Matthew O’Hanlon before a sliotar was pucked. 

A recent injury crisis means the Leinster county will also be without first choice full-forward Conor McDonald, Damien Reck, Jack O’Connor and Liam Ryan. Star player Lee Chin is still in Australia and looks set to miss much of the upcoming National League campaign.

By his own admission, Rossiter will be forced to field an experimental line-up against Cork and during the early rounds of the National League. 

So, Pat Ryan and his management team will line out against an unfamiliar Wexford starting fifteen on Saturday.

Rossiter ran the rule over 46 players in Wexford’s training panel during the winter months. 

Expect some of last year’s U20 panellists to feature this weekend as Wexford looks the future in the absence of so many first team regulars.

Against that backdrop, and considering how well Cork has been going in pre-season, the Rebels should have too much firepower for a new look opponent.

There are sterner tests to come but getting their National League Division 1A programme off to a winning start is all Pat Ryan, his backroom team and players want from their trip to Wexford on Saturday evening.