Barry Walsh to miss Cork U20 clash with Waterford

Cork will be without Barry Walsh for Wednesday’s Fulfil Munster U20HC clash with Waterford at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field (7.35pm).

The decision, made by the county senior hurling management, would indicate that the Killeagh starlet is all but certain to make his championship debut in next Sunday’s clash with Tipperary in Thurles.

Walsh would be eligible to play in both games – up to 2023, the rule was that an U20 could only play in one senior or U20 game across a seven-day period but a motion brought by Cork to Congress saw that changed to a 60-hour window. However, U20 manager Noel Furlong has been left disappointed after being told that he must plan without Walsh.

The attacker has been instrumental for the Cork U20s in their two provincial games to date, scoring 14 points in the two-point defeat to Tipperary in the opening round and then 2-9 as Limerick were beaten.

Otherwise, Cork have a full panel in terms of injuries and Mallow’s John Murphy, sent off against Tipp, is available again, though Furlong knows that Walsh will be a loss.

“We have a clean bill of health, injury-wise,” he said, “so there’s huge credit must go to the medical staff and the S&C team.

“John Murphy is back from suspension too, but Barry Walsh is not available to us. That’s a decision that’s after being made by the Cork senior hurling management.

“Obviously, our whole group is very disappointed with that and we wouldn’t agree with the decision either but 100 percent of our focus is now on the game and getting a performance below in Waterford.”

Waterford have lost both of their games, to Clare and Tipperary, by just a point and so a win is essential to their hopes of finishing in the top three and reaching the semi-final. Cork’s last round-robin game is at home to Clare on April 29.