Cork name team for Munster league opener - absence of college players gives chances

The Cork management have further spread the net for Wednesday’s Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League opener away to Limerick.

The team for the clash at TUS Gaelic Grounds (7.35pm, live on TG4) features ten of those who began the one-point defeat to UCC in the Canon O’Brien Cup on December 28.

However, there are new rules in place this year regarding the interaction of third-level and pre-season competitions – players on the 35-man lists submitted by college sides in December are precluded from lining out for their counties in midweek games or in the 48-hour period after playing in the Fitzgibbon, Sigerson, Ryan or Trench Cups.

With UCC and MTU Cork in action in the Fitzgibbon at the Mardyke tomorrow night, Ben O’Connor and his management were unable to consider a number of members of their extended panel, as well as the likes of Jack Leahy, who is involved with holders UL.

Tom Hanley, who had been named on the team for the Mardyke clash but had to cry off injured, is selected at number 5 while Ger Millerick is picked at corner-back and Robbie O’Flynn in attack.

There are two other newcomers - James Kearney, who impressed in Castlelyons’ run to the Co-op SuperStores SAHC final last year, is picked at midfield while Colin O’Brien of Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels is picked wing-forward.

Last year’s U20 goalkeeper Daniel O’Connell is on the six-man substitutes’ bench, which also features Matthew Barrett of Carrigtwohill, Youghal’s Jayden Casey and Ronan Dooley (Douglas).

It’s somewhat fitting that Cork’s first game in the competition should be against Limerick – in 2024, three attempts to play the fixture were unsuccessful and the competition had to be abandoned.

Limerick played Clare in the opening fixture of the three-team group on Saturday, losing by two points. If Cork were to win, then Monday’s clash with Clare in Mallow would effectively act as a semi-final.

CORK (Munster HL v Limerick): Brion Saunderson (Midleton); Ciarán Doolan (St Finbarr’s), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s); Tom Hanley (Ballyhea), Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s), Cillian Tobin (Bride Rovers); Cian Darcy (Sarsfields), James Kearney (Castlelyons); Colin O’Brien (Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels), Colm McCarthy (Sarsfields), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields); Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Seán Desmond (Watergrasshill), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own).

Subs: Daniel O’Connell (Dromina), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Brian O’Sullivan (Kanturk), Matthew Barrett (Carrigtwohill), Jayden Casey (Youghal), Ronan Dooley (Douglas).