Cork name panel for U20 hurling championship

There are eight survivors from last year’s Munster final in the Cork U20 hurling panel for the coming campaign, which begins this week.

Noel Furlong’s side’s opening oneills.com Munster U20HC clash is against Clare in Sixmilebridge at 7pm.

Captain Denis Cashman from Bride Rovers, Killeagh cousins Barry and Ben Walsh and Cobh’s Timmy Wilk all started the controversial provincial final defeat to Tipperary last May, while Fermoy’s James O’Brien, Ross O’Sullivan of Na Piarsaigh, Barry O’Flynn (Sarsfields) and Ballinhassig’s Adam O’Sullivan all came off the bench in that match.

A further four players – Daniel O’Connell (Dromina), David O’Leary (Ballincollig), Daniel Murnane (Carrigtwohill), Peter O’Shea (Erin’s Own), Johnny Galvin (Éire Óg) – were part of Ben O’Connor’s panel last year.

In addition, two members of last year’s minor squad – Mallow’s John Murphy and Douglas’s Mark O’Brien – are also included.

After the trip to Clare, Cork host Tipperary next week, on Wednesday, April 2, before a three-week gap until the game away to Limerick on April 23. The last round-robin match is a week later, at home to Waterford.

The side finishing top after the league section will progress directly to the Munster final on May 14, while second hosts third in the semi-final on May 7.

Carrigtwohill native Furlong is joined by coach Dónal Óg Cusack (Cloyne) and selectors Seán Guiheen (Na Piarsaigh), Tadhg Óg Murphy (Sarsfields) and Vincent Hurley (Courcey Rovers).

Cork U20 hurling panel: Matthew Barrett (Carrigtwohill), Zach Biggane (Charleville), Denis Cashman (Bride Rovers), Bill Collins (Newtownshandrum), Carthaigh Cronin (Midleton), Ryan Deasy (Ballymartle), Cian Dunphy (Erin’s Own), Oisín Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s), Johnny Galvin (Éire Óg), Eoin Guinane (Valley Rovers), Dylan McCarthy (Killeagh), Daniel Murnane (Carrigtwohill), John Murphy (Mallow), Johnny Murphy (Dromina), James O’Brien (Cloyne), James O’Brien (Fermoy), Mark O’Brien (Douglas), Cillian O’Callaghan (Dungourney), Daniel O’Connell (Dromina), Barry O’Flynn (Sarsfields), David O’Leary (Ballincollig), Seán O’Neill (Ballincollig), Peter O’Shea (Erin’s Own), Adam O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig), Ross O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), Barry Walsh (Killeagh), Ben Walsh (Killeagh), Oisín Walsh (Youghal), John Wigginton Barrett (St Finbarr’s), Timmy Wilk (Cobh).