Cork minor hurling: Two changes for Kilkenny clash
Cork captain Eoin Considine, who scored one of the goals in last Saturday's Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC preliminary quarter-final win over Wexford at FBD Semple Stadium. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
There are two changes to the Cork minor team for Saturday’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC quarter-final against Kilkenny in Thurles (3pm).
The Rebels came from five points down with 11 minutes left to see off Wexford in last week’s preliminary quarter-final. A goal and two points from sub Sam McCarthy – son of Timmy – were key in the turnaround and he is rewarded with a start along with Seán Riordan as Tadhg McCarthy and the injured Sam Ring miss out.
Cork manager Donal Mulcahy feels that the manner of the win has helped to give the team momentum.
“We trained in MTU on Tuesday and there was a serious buzz there,” he said.
“The players were mad to get back into it and they're really looking forward to Saturday now.
“It's always easier when you do win. I suppose the fact that it's a knockout now, that only ramps it up a little bit and this is where lads want to be.”
Of course, where they don’t want to be is in a position where another comeback is required.
“You never intend to be in that position," said Mulcahy.
“Looking back on the game in general, we certainly didn't perform in the third quarter. We probably pressed up more in the last 12 or 13 minutes and we got quite a lot of joy from the press.
“In the first half, it was 0-10 to 0-8 and we got more shots off than Wexford. The metrics were decent but I suppose that third quarter caught us out.”
This is Kilkenny’s first game since losing the Leinster final to Galway. Mulcahy expects them to be strong but feels that the teams are likely to be well-matched.
“Their record in Leinster was two wins and two losses before the Leinster final,” he said, “so they’re quite similar to ourselves.
“They were up 12 points in the Leinster final against a really good Galway side – Galway and Tipperary would be deemed the two teams out in front, the favourites for the title.
“They put up a serious battle and they'd be very disappointed to lose that lead but at the end of the day, genuinely, there's very little between the teams.
“We've been beating this drum all year and there's very little between the teams on a given day.
“These guys are only 16 or 17 and a goal here and there can certainly change the course of the game but it's 50-50, really, and you’ve Clare and Limerick in the other one and that’s a 50-50 game, too.”
Marley Walsh (Youghal); Jack Batterberry (Castletownroche), Finn Cahill (Midleton), Nathan Coffey (Na Piarsaigh); Eoin Considine (Sarsfields, captain), Dave Nolan (Erin’s Own), Ger Kingston (Mallow); Alfie Hennessy (Midleton), Stephen McHugh (Newtownshandrum); Cormac Murphy (Ballinora), Seán Riordan (Kilworth), Ryan Cagney (Mallow); Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), Bobby Power (Ballincollig), Sam McCarthy (Castlelyons).
Will Stokes (Midleton), Cathal Barry (Bride Rovers), Liam O’Regan (St Finbarr’s), Tadhg Murphy (Cloughduv), Dan Collins (Newtownshandrum), Tadhg McCarthy (Watergrasshill), Tom Huggins (Sarsfields), Conor Ronayne (Dungourney), Darragh Barry (Douglas).
Ciarán Kelly (Midleton), Cillian Honohan (Donoughmore), CJ Barrett (St Finbarr’s), Conor Stack (Blackrock), Cuan McMahon (Sarsfields), Howard O’Donovan (Kilbree), Hugo Raftery (Liscarroll-Churchtown Gaels), James O’Sullivan (Inniscarra), John O’Sullivan (Midleton), Philip Heavey (Passage), Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill).
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