Stakes high as Cork colleges clash in Fitzgibbon Cup opener

Alan Walsh is set to make himself the answer to a trivia question when MTU Cork make the short journey to the Mardyke tonight to face UCC.

The Cork derby, which has a throw-in time of 7.30pm, opens Group B of the TUS Fitzgibbon and Walsh, if chosen, will be playing his second away match at the Dyke in 12 days – for two different times.

The Kanturk man is currently part of Ben O’Connor’s extended Cork panel and started in the full-forward line for the Canon O’Brien Cup on December 28, with UCC winning by a point on that occasion.

Aside from Walsh, MTU’s hopes will be powered by the likes of fellow senior panellists Diarmuid Healy and Darragh O’Sullivan, while David O’Leary and Johnny Murphy were on the U20 panel last year. Midleton’s Mikey Finn and Seán Walsh from Waterford are also likely to be key.

For the home side, who also won the Higher Education League, St Finbarr’s duo Ben Cunningham and William Buckley are likely to lead the way in attack with Eoin Downey key in defence. They will hope to have Tipperary pair Darragh Stakelum and Peter McGarry available while Brian Keating and Timmy Wilk should be back from the injuries that have kept them out of action of late.

Garda College make the trip to Bishopstown to face MTU next Thursday night before hosting UCC in Templemore a week later – there is a Cork presence in their side too in the form of Watergrasshill’s Dáire O’Leary, who is also on the Cork squad at the moment.

Holders University of Limerick have four Cork natives – Jack Leahy of Dungourney, Midleton’s Ciarmhac Smyth, last year’s county U20 goalkeeper Daniel O’Connell (Dromina) and Oisín Fitzgerald from St Catherine’s.

Other Cork players involved are SETU Waterford pair Daire Daly (Bishopstown) and Luke Carey (Kilworth), Denis Cashman of Bride Rovers with TUS Midwest and Ben Nyhan of Clyda Rovers and UCC.

UCC Fitzgibbon Cup panel (Cork clubs unless stated): Paudie O'Sullivan (Fr O'Neill's), Seán Daly (Randal Óg), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Timmy Kelly (Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny), James Dwyer (Ballincollig), Shane Kingston (Ballinora), Seán Moore (Carrickshock, Kilkenny), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary), Brian Keating (Ballincollig), Ben Cunningham (St Finbarr's), Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin), Peter McGarry (St Mary's, Tipperary), William Buckley (St Finbarr's), Colin Walsh (Kanturk), Ed McDermott (James Stephens, Kilkenny), Fionn O'Brien (Bruree, Limerick), Brendan Lehane (Watergrasshill), Daniel Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick), Dara Ferlane (Monaleen), David Cremin (Midleton), Eoin Guinane (Valley Rovers), Finn O'Brien (Erin's Own), Hugh O'Connor (Newmarket), Joseph Enright (Inniscarra), Kevin Lyons (Ballygarvan), Marc Mahony (Old Parish, Waterford), Mark O'Dwyer (Russell Rovers), Michael Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford), Oran O'Regan (Erin's Own), Peter O'Shea (Erin's Own), Richard McEvoy (Lisdowney, Limerick), Robert Troy (Newtownshandrum), Ross O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), Tadhg O'Connell (Ballincollig), Timmy Wilk (Cobh).

MTU Cork Fitzgibbon Cup panel (Cork clubs unless stated): Alan Walsh (Kanturk), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Darragh O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig), Mikey Finn (Midleton), Ruairí O’Connor (Feenagh-Kilmeedy, Limerick), Cillian Lordan (Ballymartle), Johnny Murphy (Dromina), Ben Heffernan (Glen Rovers), Mark Tobin (Mallow), Eoghan Varian (Glen Rovers), Fionn O’Connell (St Catherine’s), Michael Morrissey (Fourmilewater, Waterford), Ryan Deasy (Ballymartle), Ronan Walsh (Kilmoyley, Kerry), Pádraig Dorney (Ballymartle), Seán Walsh (Fourmilewater, Waterford), Daniel Murnane (Carrigtwohill), Grantis Bucinskas (Kanturk), David Buckley (Killeagh), Paul O’Flynn (Dungourney), James O’Brien (Fermoy), David O’Leary (Ballincollig), Scott Fleming (Ballygunner, Waterford), Séan Healy (Blackrock), Fionn O’Connor (Kilbrin), David Keane (Inniscarra), Cillian Ryan (Brickey Rangers, Waterford), Tadhg O’Leary Hayes (Midleton), Rory Troy (Newtownshandrum), Joe Egan (Moycarkey-Borris, Tipperary), Darragh Walsh (Abbeyside, Waterford), Aaron McEvoy (Graigue-Ballyvallan, Kilkenny), Conleith Ryan (Bride Rovers), Eoin O’Donovan (Belgooly), Johnny Galvin (Éire Óg).