Cork hurling: Three things we need to see from Pat Ryan's side in the league

SOME FRESH FACES:

In the modern age, with such an emphasis on conditioning, it's extremely rare to see young hurlers parachuted straight into the Cork team at 19 or 20 like Darragh Fitzgibbon, Mark Coleman, Shane Kingston and co were in 2017. However there are exceptions, ala Ciarán Joyce and Eoin Downey.

None of the current U20 squad will feature in the league, though Timmy Wilk's physicality and composure make him one to watch. There are a host of U20 graduates looking to get an opportunity of course. William Buckley, Diarmuid Healy, Darragh O'Sullivan, Jack Leahy and more ticked every box as underage standouts but the panel is extremely competitive and already loaded with rising stars.

Ben Cunningham, who turns 22 this year, will be very eager to push on after injuries hindered his spring progress last year. Mícheál Mullins likewise. Pádraig Power was marked absent during the 2024 league but got championship game time. 

All three have the talent to make them candidates for the starting 15 come April.

Kanturk's Alan Walsh, Jack Cahalane, after switching from hurling, and Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin) have also been in training with Cork lately. Pat Ryan and his selectors are certainly not short on new options though many are currently tied up with UCC and MTU Cork in the Fitzgibbon Cup.

A MEAN EDGE IN DEFENCE:

Even if Patrick Collins had to pull off a couple of super saves, the Rebel rearguard was outstanding in the All-Ireland semi-final upset over Limerick. Unfortunately two weeks later against Clare, conceding three goals was fatal to their prospects of lifting Liam MacCarthy.

What galled supporters was that two of the three green flags came after runs from deep when Mark Rodgers and Tony Kelly should have been cut down. The black card-penalty rule has impacted defenders' mindsets. And Cork had put an emphasis on discipline in the build-up, given they landed 10 frees to Clare's three. Yet the fact remains Cork were too open.

Rob and Eoin Downey ended the season as All-Stars but Cork need to be that bit tighter at the back in 2025. 

They could do with cover for the corner-back berths as well, with Ger Mellerick the only real challenger to Niall O'Leary and Seán O'Donoghue's places last summer.

CONSISTENT PERFORMANCES:

Cork last won the hurling league in 1998, their 14th title. Since then they've been beaten in five finals: 2002, 2010, '12, '15 and 2022. In each of those finals, they suffered demoralising losses while hurling extremely poorly.

Cork's attitude to the secondary competition has been as inconsistent as their results. Sometimes, there's a focus on results but often the league is treated as an inconvenience.

Kilkenny regularly balanced league and championship success and Limerick (twice), Galway and Clare have recorded doubles in the last decade.

Cork have a huge panel and will naturally tinker with line-ups but a league title would be a boost.