Munster MHC: Eoin Considine and Callum Coffey back for Cork minors

Cork will have captain Eoin Considine and Callum Coffey back for Friday’s important Electric Ireland Munster MHC clash with Clare at Páirc Uí Rinn (7pm).

Having been without the pair in their opening two matches against Waterford and Tipperary – both away from home – Cork manager Donal Mulcahy welcomes the return of the skipper as well as one of just two survivors from last year’s Munster championship-winning side. 

“They’re named to start, which is a good boost,” he said.

“It's a good boost to have two boys back, it does give you some more confidence. We beat Waterford in tough conditions and Tipp was a good test, but you’ve two lads back now who would be leaders on the team.

“That’s a big thing for young fellas as well.”

Bobby Power also comes into a rejigged side, with Howard O'Donovan and Tadhg Murphy missing out through injury, while Alfie Hennessy, who started the opening win over the Déise, remains absent.

Cork’s opener saw them win a 0-12 to 0-9 battle against Waterford in treacherous conditions at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field before then going down by seven to a Tipperary team that landed five late points to give the final scoreline a more unbalanced look than the hour of hurling suggested.

With a fortnight of a break since then, Mulcahy feels that the team will be ready to improve as they look to return to winning ways.

“To be honest, an important thing within the camp is that nobody gets up nor down,” he said.

“After the Waterford game, we weren’t too high and after the Tipp game we weren’t too low and I think the lads are mature that way.

“Looking back at the Tipp game, maybe our execution under pressure could have been a bit better, handling, a small bit of decision-making.

“Those small moments, they do count, and they cost us at certain times but the effort and tension were there. We just need to be more consistent on the ball and the lads understand that and we’ve been working on that now for the last two weeks.

“We believe we're in a good place.”

That can be taken literally, as the place is the home soil of the Boreenmanna Road venue.

“After being away for the first two matches, it’s great for our lads to be back in Páirc Uí Rinn,” Mulcahy said.

“When you’ve been on the road twice, it’s something to look forward to and you’d hope that it would bring a crowd. With the seniors and U20s going well, that brings an energy, which I think is very important.”

Tipperary, who play Limerick on Saturday, have four points from their two items while the other four counties are on two each, with Cork and Limerick having played twice while Clare and Waterford have each had three outings.

It means that progression to the All-Ireland series – third and fourth go to the preliminary quarter-finals while the top two contest the Munster final – is not assured for anyone yet and Clare, who play their last match, will be keen to sign off with a chance of advancing.

Mulcahy knows that there will be little to separate the sides.

“If you look at it,” he says, “Waterford beat Limerick, Limerick beat Clare and Clare beat Waterford.

“That shows you how close things are between all of the team. Maybe Tipp are slightly out in front but there’s nothing between the rest.

“We saw Clare last Friday night, they’re coached by Ger O’Connell and they got to the All-Ireland final last year.

“There’s lots of quality – they have Colm Daly, James O’Donnell, Ben Talty, who would be three stand-out players in any minor team.

“We know that they’re going to be a challenge but we’re playing them at home and we’d like to back ourselves as well.”

CORK (Munster MHC v Clare): 

Marley Walsh (Youghal); 

Jack Batterbury (Castletownroche), Finn Cahill (Midleton), Nathan Coffey (Na Piarsaigh); 

Eoin Considine (Sarsfields, captain), Dave Nolan (Erin’s Own), Cathal Barry (Bride Rovers); 

Seán Riordan (Kilworth), Stephen McHugh (Newtownstandrum);

Tadhg McCarthy (Watergrasshill), Bobby Power (Ballincollig), Liam O’Regan (St Finbarr’s); 

Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), Cormac Murphy (Ballinora), Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill).

Subs: Will Stokes (Midleton), Ger Kingston (Mallow), Conor Stack (Blackrock), Tom Huggins (Sarsfields), Hugo Raftery (Liscarroll-Churchtown Gaels), Sam McCarthy (Castlelyons), Conor Ronayne (Dungourney), Ryan Cagney (Mallow), Darragh Barry (Douglas).

Extra panel members: Alfie Hennessey (Midleton), Ciarán Kelly (Midleton), Cillian Honahan (Donoughmore), CJ Barrett (St Finbarr's), Cuan McMahon (Sarsfields), Dan Collins (Newtownshandrum), Howard O'Donovan (Kilmeen-Kilbrin), Hugo Raftery (Liscarroll-Churchtown Gaels), James O'Sullivan (Inniscarra), John O'Sullivan (Midleton), Tadhg Murphy (Cloughduv).