All-Ireland minor semi-final: Cork Ring the change

Munster final goalscoring hero Sam Ring is one of two changes to the Cork team for Sunday’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC semi-final against Clare at FBD Semple Stadium (1pm).

The Carrigtwohill man came on as a sub for the injured Callum Coffey in the provincial decider against Waterford, also at Thurles, four weeks ago. After Waterford had reduced an eight-point lead down to just one in injury time, Ring scored a wonderful individual goal and then, after another Waterford green flag, he was fouled for a free that Craig O’Sullivan sent over to confirm the victory.

Coffey – who scored three goals when Cork beat Clare in a Munster round-robin game in Tulla in April – had been rated as touch-and-go by Cork manager Fergal McCormack earlier in the week and, while he is still short of full fitness, he has been able to be named on the bench.

Ring takes the number 15 jersey, joining Seán Coughlan and Eoghan O’Shea in the full-forward line, while the half-forward line of Ruairc Donovan, Cormac Deane and Craig O’Sullivan has accounted for 2-70 between them across Cork’s five victories to date.

The other alteration is in midfield, where Tom A Walsh – Ring’s first cousin – is now partnered by Ryan Dineen and the half-back line of Michael T Brosnan, captain Bobby Carroll and Colm Garde has provided a solid foundation for the young Rebels.

Goalkeeper Tom C Walsh has only conceded an average of just one goal per game in open play since the victory over Clare in the Munster championship, when the Banner grabbed three. He is helped by a solid full-back line comprising Darragh Heavin, Denis Fitzgerald ans Cian Lawton.

While delighted with Cork’s progress to date, manager McCormack knows that his team will face a tough test against opponents that have seen off Dublin and Galway in recent weeks in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final and quarter-final respectively.

“After winning five games out of five, it's brilliant,” he says, “that will certainly help your confidence.

“But, in saying all that, it can also bring a small bit of complacency and I think it's important that we hammer home how and why we win matches.

“Our application, our attitude has been top, top class, so we'll be hammering that again and if we hit those kind of points, it should be a good game.

“We're up against a serious side, who have had two games in Thurles over the last number of weeks and it’s going to a very, very difficult one.”

Cork are aiming to make the final for the first time since 2021, when they beat Galway to bridge a gap dating back to 2001. In between, the county reached just two finals, losing to Tipperary in 2007 and Galway in 2017, the last year before eligibility changed from U18 to U17.

Leinster champions Kilkenny take on Waterford in the other semi-final on Saturday evening, with Chadwicks Wexford Park the venue for a 7.35pm throw-in.

CORK (All-Ireland MHC semi-final v Clare): 

Tom C Walsh (Aghada); 

Darragh Heavin (Russell Rovers), Denis Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), Cian Lawton (Midleton); 

Michael T Brosnan (Glen Rovers), Bobby Carroll (Dromina), Colm Garde (Lisgoold); 

Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), Ryan Dineen (Erin’s Own); 

Ruairc Donovan (Fermoy), Cormac Deane (Killeagh), Craig O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh); 

Seán Coughlan (Passage), Eoghan O’Shea (Ballinhassig), Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill).

Subs: Cathal Galvin (Sarsfields), Jack Counihan (Watergrasshill), Eoghan Hogan (Éire Óg), Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), Michael Quill (Blackrock), Charlie Hanratty (Carrigaline), Tom O’Flynn (Sarsfields), Evan Connolly (Dungourney), Adam Dunlea (Sarsfields).