Cork GAA: Senior sides rang changes for new club championship
The return of Billy Hennessy is a big boost to St Finbarr's in both codes. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Winners never stand still. When Armagh returned for the first game of their Sam Maguire defence in April, Kieran McGeeney picked just four of his All-Ireland-winning team from the previous July.
Playing numbers mean that most club teams can’t aspire to such levels of competition for places. But it’s interesting to observe where clubs are in their development by looking at their player turnover from last year.
Cork’s 12 Premier Senior Football clubs averaged 4.5 changes to their starting team in their first-round games this year.
Most flocked around that number. Three teams made three changes, another three chose four, another three settled on five, and two swapped six players. One outlier went Armagh-style for wholesale changes, making 10.
That is very much the case in Douglas, who retained just five of their starting team that saw out their 2024 group-stage campaign with victory over Mallow.
Of that selection, the goalkeeper, half-back line, and one midfielder remain in place, while everything around them has changed. New manager Paudie Kissane had to juggle between piecing together a new-look full-back line and reconstituting the entire attack.
Cork defender Kevin Flahive headed Down Under, while there were injuries to the likes of Niall Hartnett and Eoghan Nash. Cork hurler Shane Kingston kicked five points in that Mallow game last year, while Brian Hartnett and Colm Joyce added 0-3 each. None featured against St Michael’s in their opener.
The return of 2023 county minor Seán Coakley, who spent a year out injured, was a boost, while Niall Lynch, James Burke, Jack Cunningham, and Brendan Powter have stepped up from their Seandún Junior A winning team.
“All our injuries are long-term, but all clubs are in the same boat, so it’s a case of getting on with it,” selector Conor Buckley told The Echo after beating Michael’s.
At the other end of the scale, those teams that contested for major honours have naturally opted for evolution rather than revolution.
County champions Castlehaven made four changes from their Munster defeat to Dr Crokes. Some of them were enforced, with Cork captain Brian Hurley carrying over a suspension from that provincial exit. Jamie O’Driscoll, Tomás O’Mahony, and Jack O’Neill were the others not to start.
On the other hand, they had Rory Maguire and Damien Cahalane back fit and firing since that fixture, while Cork U20 Micheál Maguire got a chance to impress in Hurley’s absence, as did Seán Walsh.
Nemo Rangers made three changes to the team that finished runners-up to the Haven in last year’s county final.
With 10-time county champion Paul Kerrigan carrying an injury, Robbie O’Dwyer rejigged the defence to include Kieran Histon, Mark Hill and Ciarán McCartan.
They faced a Ballincollig side that also made three changes from their 2024 exit. With Seán Dore away, they fielded Donnacha Desmond, who featured for UCC last season, Cork U20 footballer Ben O’Connell and U20 hurler David O’Leary.
St Finbarr’s were delighted to welcome Billy Hennessy and Sam Ryan back into their full-back line among three changes for their championship opener. Conor Dennehy took his opportunity with a smart goal in the one-point win over Clonakilty.
Of those in the shake-up for county honours last season, Mallow made a half-dozen changes from their semi-final defeat to 2025 first-round loss. Eoghan Barry, Peader Hennessy, Sam Copps, Stephen O’Callaghan, Ryan Harkin, and Mark Kelleher didn’t start this term. Into their places came Cork U20s Gearóid Daly and Trevor Kiely, Jimmy Glynn, Aiden Bolster, Michael O’Rourke, and Eoin Kelleher.
Last year’s Senior A champions are the other team to feature six changes. With the likes of David Griffin and Kevin O’Reilly away, although the latter has since returned, Kevin Kavanagh and Eoghan Landers are among those to reestablish starting spots.
Carbery Rangers, St Michael’s, and Newcestown are the three teams to make five changes each. Timmy Cullinane comes in for Carbery, Eoin Hickey for St Michael’s, and Paul Kelly, Gearóid O’Donovan, Eoghan Collins, and goal-scorer Séamus O’Sullivan for Newcestown.
Valley Rovers have a change of keeper with another up-and-coming prospect, Billy Curtin, between the sticks. Cork U20 hurler Eoin Guinane joins Curtin in the starting team, while Jacob O’Driscoll regains his place at centre-back.
Further changes may be on the way this weekend, heading into do-or-die territory for some clubs. But, for most, the most dramatic overhaul will have occurred in the off-season.
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