John Horgan on the Cork hurlers that Ben O'Connor will turn to for 2026

The 2026 inter-county hurling season might still be a few months away but one can be absolutely certain that preparations by the management teams across the country are well underway.

The status quo has prevailed in nearly all of the leading contenders for honours, here in Munster, Cork being the exception with Ben O'Connor taking the reins from Pat Ryan.

The business end of the domestic campaigns have now been reached in most counties. Things have already been finalised in Waterford and Clare, Ballygunner continuing to rule the roost in Waterford, winning the title down there for the 12th season in a row, a staggering achievement by any standards.

The last time that they lost a championship encounter in the county was back in June 2015, 3,729 days to be exact.

Up in the Banner, Éire Óg came in from the cold to claim their first title in 35 years and barring a draw next Sunday, there will be new champions crowned here on Leeside.

Limerick and Tipperary are very close to concluding their domestic season as well before all the winners embark on the Munster club championship trail.

For quite a number of players that are still involved and that are hoping to make an impression in front of their inter-county managers, the time has now arrived, An impressive performance in the county final might well catapult them into being considered for duty with their county team.

IMPORTANT

The expected return of the pre-season Munster League will be another important port of call for managers to have a look at players in an inter-county environment.

And no matter how successful a county might have been the previous season, there will always be the need to further deepen the squad and with the two most successful counties over the past 20 years, Kilkenny and Limerick it was that squad depth that made that crucial bit of difference.

New Cork boss, Ben O'Connor and his chosen selectors will have been out and about over the past few weeks having a good, hard look at some of the players that they believe might have something to offer the red jersey going forward.

With Patrick Horgan having called time on his glittering career, there will be a void in the Cork attack that will be very difficult to fill.

It would be a similar story in any county when a player of his calibre departs.

O'Connor has the advantage and experience of managing Cork to win an All-Ireland U20 title in recent times and the players that he might be considering for senior duty are now a few years older and wiser.

And it was interesting to read the thoughts of former Cork great and All-Ireland winning boss, Jimmy Barry-Murphy on the graduation process from U20 to senior.

He said that finding new players to supplement the squad will be one of the crucial asks of the new Cork supremo.

“Every manager that comes in has his own ideas on players, we'll just have to wait and see when the championship is over what stamp Ben will put on it.

“It will be interesting to see can they make the step up to senior inter-county hurling because that's always the crucial thing for any manager, to identify the players who can make the step up."

Despite the events of last July and the crushing disappointment of the final loss to Tipperary, O'Connor is taking over a squad that remains strong but the need to embellish it in all areas will be very important.

IMPRESSIVE

Over the past number of weeks, some of the best club performers have been those in the autumn of their careers. Horgan starred for the Glen before their elimination, the now-injured Conor Lehane has been outstanding for Midleton in their run to the county final while Damien Cahalane had good days for the Barrs before their exit.

Aside from them, the established Mark Coleman, Niall O'Leary and Alan Connolly were very impressive in their semi-final assignments.

Jack O'Connor hasn't nailed down a permanent spot with Cork but he has produced some terrific displays for Sars and last Sunday week against the Barrs his quartet of points were all huge scores.

Another Sars player that has been catching the eye is defender Bryan Murphy, Cian Darcy too while Midleton's Eoin Moloney has impressed too. Unfortunately, he's out injured and is going to miss the final.

It had been well flagged in recent weeks that Newmarket player, Hugh O'Connor was going to be part of the hurling squad and one is led to believe that he is a player that Ben O'Connor thinks can be an asset.

Having been in a position to view all of Bride Rovers' games in their run to the Senior A final, the return from Brian Roche in attack has been a major contributory factor in their progress, something that Castlelyons will be well aware of going into this weekend's final.

His brother Eoin has been very solid too at the back and the Cork management will have taken note while another Rovers player, Cillian Tobin has exhibited his potential too.

Could we see Daire O'Leary from Watergrasshill come back into the equation, once he's fit, clubmate Adam Walsh and Dungourney's Jack Leahy featuring in the Munster League and Carrigtwohill's Sean Walsh getting a similar opportunity.

There are five Cork county finals over the coming days and any final provides players with a big opportunity to be able to stand up and be counted.

It's the biggest stage on the domestic front and a standout player in a game of such magnitude can provide plenty of food for thought.

The players who featured in the All-Ireland U20 win of 2023 are now at the right stage in their hurling careers to take the much bigger step into senior level.

That's a big ask and it was Ben O'Connor who stated that only a minority can make the transition. And, of course, he's right.

The extra two years that the players have had since that All-Ireland win over Offaly will have been physically beneficial and the former Cork great will have a fair idea of those he believes can graduate to the level that's required when you face the Limericks and Tipperarys of this world.

The expectation is that not too many of the established players will feature in the pre-season competition and the emphasis will be more on a development squad.

Diarmuid Healy took the opportunity presented to him last season and others, among them Willie Buckley, will come into the reckoning now as will Ben Cunningham.

Three Cork clubs will be going forward into the provincial club championship and that will be another testing ground for players with higher ambitions.

In fact, the Winter months in all counties can be vitally important, the conclusion of the various county championship and the returning pre-season competitions can provide plenty of answers for the inter-county manager.

Nearly six months will have passed since the 2025 inter-county season closed down, therefore expect a big appetite for its return in January, maybe more so here on Leeside with a new management.