Kerry chase four-in-a-row Munster U20 titles but maturing Cork minors will have a say
Kerry have named eight of the team which lost last year's All-Ireland U20 final in their side to face Tipperary on Tuesday evening at New Inn. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Phase 2 of the Munster U20 football championship throws in this Tuesday evening. Enter Cork and Kerry.
The bus housing Tomás Ó Sé’s youngsters is pointed for New Inn. Waiting for them is Tipperary. The Cork bus is on the road to Quilty. Hosting them is Clare. Both games have a 7pm start.
Where Cork and Kerry are opening their respective accounts this evening, Clare and Tipperary are stepping inside the whitewash for the fourth occasion. The latter pair enjoying home advantage on top of that is all part of trying to deliver a more balanced provincial championship and to give a leg up to those attempting to bridge the gap to Munster’s standard-bearers.
2025 is the second year of the current Munster U20 format. Clare and Tipperary were also the two counties to come through Phase 1 during the debut season of the current structure.
The gap was significantly pronounced in Clare’s case, less so for Tipperary. The Banner lost their Phase 2 round-robin fixtures to Cork and Kerry by 20 and 11 points respectively. Tipp’s margin of defeats were seven and five points respectively. Margins to keep an eye on Tuesday evening and in the weeks ahead to see how the chasing pack are faring in their ongoing game of catch-up.
As for Cork, Kerry, and their internal battles, Tomás Ó Sé is chasing a third consecutive Munster U20 crown as manager. The Kingdom on the whole are chasing a four-in-a-row of Munster crowns, a feat the county last managed in the late 90s.
The named Kerry U20 team includes eight of the starting 15 that lost the 2024 All-Ireland final to Tyrone - goalkeeper and captain Michael Tansley, Maidhcí Lynch, Gearóid Evans, Darragh O’Connor, Eddie Healy, Daniel Kirby, Odhran Ferris and Tomás Kennedy.
Sharpshooter Cormac Dillon is not included in the squad as he remains sidelined due to injury.
Meanwhile, the one indicator pointing to a Cork reversal of that green and gold dominance is the county’s 2022 Munster minor final thumping of the neighbours. The Cork U20 team named for the Clare game contains five players - Gearóid Daly, Colin Molloy, Colm Gillespie, Edward Myers, and Bryan Hayes - that began that 11-point provincial minor decider win, and one more, Aaron O’Sullivan, that came off the bench.
“Three years ago, this Cork team cleaned the floor with the minor team in the equivalent year. So, again, I wouldn't look beyond [Munster],” Ó Sé said at a recent media briefing.
“We won't be talking about finals or winning cups or anything of the sort. We try to get whatever performance we can out of them, we try to do a level of work that they have an understanding of what we want to go about, and then hopefully get the performance on the day out of them.”
Returning to the Cork U20 team for the trip to West Clare, the selection contains four players that started last year's Munster U20 final defeat to Kerry. Two of those, Colin Molloy and Gearóid Daly, form the spine of the defence. The remaining pair, Dara Sheedy and Edward Myers, comprise the spine of the attack, commanding as they do the No.11 and No.14 shirts respectively.
Ray O’Mahony’s selection is also home to three graduates from last year’s minor team. They are corner-back Niall O’Shea, half-forward Danny Miskella, and corner-forward Dylan O’Neill.
B Curtin (Valley Rovers); N O’Shea (Urhan), C Molloy (Nemo Rangers, Capt), F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa); C Clifford (Éire Óg), G Daly (Mallow), S O’Leary (Kilmurry); M Woods (Valley Rovers), C Gillespie (Aghabullogue); D Miskella (Ballincollig), D Sheedy (Bantry Blues), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue); B Hayes (Nemo Rangers), E Myers (Naomh Abán), D O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).
J Woods (Valley Rovers), N O’Shea (Nemo Rangers), K McCarthy (Carrigaline), T Kiely (Mallow), D Harrington (Clonakilty), D Clifford (Éire Óg), A O’Connell (Kilshannig), D Gough (Clonakilty), T O’Keeffe (St Finbarr’s).
E Byrne (St. Breckans); C Hill (Lissycasey), D Hill (Lissycasey), M Kelly (Lissycasey); E Wragg (Lissycasey), C O’Donovan (Corofin), L Pyne (Éire Óg Inis); E Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), S McAllister (Clondegad); O O’Connell (St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), S Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks), D Killeen (Lissycasey); D Culligan (Lissycasey), C Riordan (Wolfe Tones, Shannon), S McMahon (Banner, Capt).
C Howard (Éire Óg Inis), R Fitzpatrick (St Breckans), S Conneally (Ennistymon), D Keane (Lissycasey). C Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks), D Townsend (Cooraclare), D McMahon (Lissycasey), C Breen (Corofin), C Hannon (St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield).
M Tansley (Austin Stacks, Capt); M Lynch (Dr. Crokes), D Stack (Kilcummin), G Evans (Keel); B Murphy (Austin Stacks), D O’Connor (Kenmare Shamrocks), E Healy (Listowel Emmets); E Boyle (Ballyduff), A Kennelly (Listowel Emmets); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), D O’Sullivan (Piarsaigh na Dromoda), C Collins (Rathmore); O Ferris (Ardfert), T Kennedy (Kerins O’ Rahillys, P Lane (Austin Stacks).
J Hoare (Dingle), L Evans (Keel), A Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), R Carroll (Austin Stacks), J Tagney (Kenmare Shamrocks), J Murphy (Austin Stacks), Gary Riordan (Ardfert), J O’Sullivan (Brosna), E Daly (Valentia Young Islanders).
R McGrath (Galtee Rovers); E Bonner (Galtee Rovers), E O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney), B Tierney (Clonmel Commercials); K Butler (Moyle Rovers), C King (Ballina, Capt), J O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); J Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), D O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials); T Charles (Clonmel Commercials), B Carey (Ballylooby Castlegrace), D Cotter (Thurles Gaels); D Hogan (St Patricks), P O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers), T O’Connor (Kilsheelan Kilcash).
P Boland (Moyle Rovers), L Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash), S Hall (Golden Kilfeacle), D Hogan (JK Brackens), D Landers (Clonmel Commercials), JP Mbokha Tansia (Ballina), C Neville (Fethard), C Ryan (Ballina), S Ryan (Ardfinnan).
