Seven All-Ireland starters in Cork side for Waterford clash

The Cork team for Saturday evening’s fundraising challenge match against Waterford features seven of the players who started July’s All-Ireland SHC final defeat to Clare.

The Rebels’ first outing of the year is a trip to Fraher Field in Dungarvan to take on the Déise in a game that will benefit Waterford Hospice and The Friends of Brian Greene and manager Pat Ryan and his selectors have gone with a largely experienced side. Goalkeeper Patrick Collins, new captain Robert Downey, Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Declan Dalton, Brian Hayes and Alan Connolly are all named to start, having been in the 15 for the All-Ireland final, while Ger Millerick, Ethan Twomey and Luke Meade all saw game-time in Croke Park on July 21.

In terms of newcomers, last year’s U20 captain Darragh O’Sullivan of Ballinhassig – an All-Ireland winner at that grade in 2023 and at minor level in 2021 – is named at corner-back alongside O’Leary and Millerick. O’Sullivan’s predecessor as U20 skipper, Micheál Mullins – who lifted the cup in 2023 – is in the half-back line with Downey and Joyce. The Whitechurch man did briefly feature at the beginning of last year’s Allianz Hurling League campaign but was affected by injuries thereafter.

Twomey and Meade – two of five midfield partners that Darragh Fitzgibbon had in last year’s championship – join up in the centre. Dalton and Hayes have St Finbarr’s attacker Ben Cunningham – a two-time U20 medallist, in 2021 and 2023 – for company in the half-back line, while Robbie Cotter is in the full-forward line with his Blackrock clubmate Alan Connolly and Blarney’s Pádraig Power.

The 13-man substitutes’ roster features some of the players that have been drafted into the panel.

Alan Walsh, who scored 5-10 in four premier senior championship games for Kanturk in 2024, could feature, as could St Finbarr’s attacker William Buckley, another with minor and U20 honours to his name. His Barrs colleague Jack Cahalane, who had been part of the county senior football panel, is also on the bench.

Four All-Ireland starters – outgoing captain Seán O’Donoghue, Tim O’Mahony, Fitzgibbon and new vice-captain Shane Barrett – are also kept in reserve.

Though the Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League does not take place this year after the GAA opted to dispense with organised pre-season competitions, the hurlers will still have a busy opening month to the year.

After Saturday, Cork will face UCC in the annual Canon O’Brien Cup game at the Mardyke next Thursday night, while there are likely to be other behind-closed-doors challenge games scheduled before the Allianz league opener away to Wexford on Saturday, January 25.

CORK (SH Challenge v Waterford): Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Ger Millerick (Fr O'Neills), Darragh O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig); Micheál Mullins (Whitechurch), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers, captain), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr); Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s), Luke Meade (Newcestown); Ben Cunningham (St Finbarr’s), Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s); Robbie Cotter (Blackrock), Pádraig Power (Blarney), Alan Connolly (Blackrock).

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Alan Walsh (Kanturk), Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Shane Kingston (Douglas), William Buckley (St Finbarr’s), Shane Barrett (Blarney).

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