Munster U20 football: Cork make three changes for final against Kerry
Rickey Barrett in action for Cork against Waterford. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Cork manager Ray Keane has made three changes to the starting 15 that hammered Waterford last week for tomorrow evening’s Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship final against Kerry at Austin Stack Park in Tralee (7pm).
There is one alteration in the full-back line, with Harry Wixted coming in for Matthew Ahern at corner-back.
Seán O’Leary — who has been hugely influential for the Rebels this season and kicked the leveller against Clare on the opening evening — misses out completely. The Kilmurry man picked up an injury in the win over Waterford, with Aaron Keane replacing him at wing-back.
Up front, there is a boost with Ben O’Connell starting for the first time in this year’s championship at wing-forward. The younger brother of AFL star Liam O’Connell had been struggling with injury, but the Ballincollig forward has made it back in time for this Munster final.
Luke Shorten is the unlucky player to drop to the bench, but Cork’s strength in depth could prove crucial in Tralee.
The lengthy injury list that hampered the Rebels for much of the year is beginning to clear. Gearóid Daly and Timmy Cullinane both make the bench for the battle with the Kingdom.
Cork come into this one buoyed by how their graph has been trending in the right direction. They were impressive and efficient when defeating Waterford by 21 points at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Wednesday in Phase 2 Round 3 — effectively a semi-final.
That followed the 0-10 to 0-9 win over Kerry, and now the old rivals meet again with silverware on the line.
The continued absence of senior star Dara Sheedy due to injury is a blow, but Cork have coped admirably since he left the pitch after 21 minutes in the victory over Kerry a fortnight ago at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cork are aiming to win the provincial title at this grade for the first time since 2021 and in doing so prevent Kerry from completing five crowns on the trot.
Billy Curtin (Valley Rovers);
Frank Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa), Peter Rose (Ballincollig), Harry Wixted (Bishopstown);
Aaron Keane (Kinsale), Cathal McCarthy (St Colum’s), Odhran Foley (Bishopstown);
Darragh Clifford (Éire Óg, capt), Mark O’Brien (Ballinora);
Ben O’Connell (Ballincollig), Danny Miskella (Ballincollig), Gary Holland (Bishopstown);
Seán Coakley (Douglas), Rickey Barrett (St Finbarr’s), Dylan O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).
James O’Flaherty (Douglas), Matthew Ahern (St Finbarr’s), Adam Dineen (Cill na Martra), Denis O’Mullane (Kilmurry), Luke Shorten (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), Luke Murphy (Barryroe), Seán Connolly (Ilen Rovers), Gearóid Daly (Mallow), Timmy Cullinane (Carbery Rangers).
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