Youngsters to get opportunity as Cork name squad for remainder of league
Darragh O'Sullivan, pictured during last month's challenge match against Waterford, is among the new additions to the squad. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
All-Ireland U20 winners Darragh O’Sullivan, Micheál Mullins, Diarmuid Healy, Darragh Flynn and Daniel Hogan are set to be given the chance to shine for Cork in the remainder of the Allianz HL campaign, following the finalisation of a 37-player squad by manager Pat Ryan and his selectors.
While all five, along with Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), had been part of the extended panel since Cork returned to training before Christmas but the reduction in numbers gives a clearer picture as to what the Rebels will be working with.
O’Sullivan of Ballinhassig, Mullins – currently Whitechurch but having requested a transfer to Glen Rovers – and Lisgoold’s Healy all won All-Ireland U20 medals with Cork in 2023. Ballygiblin's Flynn was was part of the squads that Ryan led to glory in 2020 and 2021, with Hogan part of the latter - he is rewarded for a series of strong displays for his club as they reached the All-Ireland final. His colleague Cathal McCarthy is also included – while he was on the panel in 2024, a shoulder injury denied him the opportunity to make any impact with Cork but he impressed for Sars on his return to action in the autumn.
In total, there are six changes from the panel published at the end of January last year, which featured Mullins, though he was injured for much of the league campaign. Alan Connolly was not on the 2024 list as he worked back from injury, featuring in the last two league matches.
Ben Cunningham of St Finbarr’s is unlucky not to be involved as a bad hamstring injury while playing for UCC against MTU Cork in the Fitzgibbon Cup last week limited his opportunity to make an impact, while his St Finbarr’s clubmate Conor Cahalane also misses out.
Pat Ryan had flagged the fact that Dáire O’Leary – so impressive in helping Watergrasshill and Imokilly to silverware but now a garda stationed in Kildare – was not part of the panel in the early part of the year and he, along with Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtariffe), Eoin Carey (Kilworth) and Seán Twomey (Courcey Rovers) are the others from 2024 not to be involved this time. Of those, Twomey was the only player to start a championship match last year, selected for the opening Munster SHC game against Waterford.
Shane Barrett (Blarney, vice-captain), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig), Mark Coleman (Blarney), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Robbie Cotter (Blackrock), Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers, captain), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Daniel Hogan (Sarsfields), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Micheál Mullins (Whitechurch), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Darragh O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig), Pádraig Power (Blarney), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s).
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