Cork minors go with unchanged side for All-Ireland semi-final

The Cork minor hurling management have kept faith with the same starting 15 for Saturday’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC quarter-final against Tipperary at TUS Gaelic Grounds (2pm).

Having impressed in a 12-point quarter-final win over Kilkenny at FBD Semple Stadium a fortnight ago, Donal Mulcahy and his selectors have gone with the same team, though there are two changes to the substitutes as Midleton’s John O’Sullivan and Inniscarra’s James O’Sullivan are included.

Back in April, Cork competed well against Tipperary in the sides’ Munster MHC round-robin game in Thurles before the home side scored the game’s last five points to win by seven. Indicative of the dynamic nature of the U17 grade is the fact that the starting side that night shows six changes compared with Saturday’s side, while goalkeeper Marley Walsh and corner-backs Jack Batterberry and Nathan Coffey are the only players selected in the same position as on that evening.

The game will be Cork’s seventh in total, with three All-Ireland knockout ties having followed the four as they finished third in the Munster league table.

For Mulcahy, the benefits in terms of the players’ development have been huge.

“Absolutely, that's one of the most pleasing aspects of our group is that, look, they've continued to learn and improve,” he said.

“To me, that's what the minor grade is about – players make mistakes, they learn from them, they get better.

“We've seen that progression through the season and the experience gained from seven championship matches has been invaluable.

“So, that's kind of where we are at the moment. We have some injury challenges – ufortunately, CJ Barrett remains unavailable due to a long-term injury and this game is coming a little too soon for Howard O'Donovan and Sam Ring, but other than that, we have a clean bill of health and the rest of the squad is available for selection.” 

Having had to dig deep to conjure a late comeback to overcome Wexford in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final, Cork led throughout against Kilkenny, with goals from Seán Riordan and Callum Coffey in a 2-25 to 1-16 triumph.

“We kind of got ahead and we stayed ahead,” Mulcahy said.

“We had a little bit of a wobble maybe before half-time, but the lads regrouped and kicked on in the second half.

“That has certainly given confidence to the squad and they shown great character, resilience and composure in both the games as well.” Cork are aiming to reach the All-Ireland final for the first time since 2021, when Noel Furlong’s team featuring current seniors William Buckley, Diarmuid Healy, Paudie O’Sullivan and Darragh O’Sullivan as well as Munster rugby player Ben O’Connor won all five games by double digits.

A year ago, Cork won Munster but lost to Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final; this time, they will hope that the back-door run can give them momentum against a Tipp side that looked strong as they claimed provincial glory, beating Limerick by eight points on May 15.

Mulcahy feels there are lessons to take from the earlier game against Tipp but, equally, Cork have developed since then.

“We've evolved over the last couple of months, because games give you that,” he said.

“Tipp have had five games and if you look at their team, there's some fantastic players throughout.

“They've got Conor Collins, the captain, at corner-back, and centre-back James Finn is extremely strong.

“You've got the two Dunnes, Chris and CJ, and probably the outstanding player of the championship so far is Conor Morrison.

“Tipp have been very, very consistent and they're deservedly regarded as favourites, but there's been a great buzz the last two weeks and lads have been bouncing into training. If we give a good account of ourselves and put in a good performance, we'll see where that takes us on Saturday."

In the other semi-final, Leinster champions Galway face Limerick, who overcame Clare in a quarter-final, at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis, throw-in 5pm.

CORK (All-Ireland MHC v Tipperary): 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).

Subs: Will Stokes (Midleton), Cathal Barry (Bride Rovers), Liam O’Regan (St Finbarr’s), Tadhg Murphy (Cloughduv), Tadhg McCarthy (Watergrasshill), Tom Huggins (Sarsfields), Conor Ronayne (Dungourney), John O’Sullivan (Midleton), James O’Sullivan (Inniscarra).