Cork U20 hurlers name team to take on Tipperary in Munster championship

Barry Walsh’s 12th white flag earned Noel Furlong’s side a valuable point away from home.

They are beginning their campaign with two competitive openers, Furlong says.

“We're coming away from Clare, All-Ireland champions at minor within the last two or three years and in the last three Munster finals and then next thing we’ve Tipperary who are two out of the last three minor All-Ireland-winning teams, three Harty Cup-winning teams, All-Star players everywhere, five seniors.

“Again, we're going to be massive underdogs, we're going to be massively up against it, but all we can control is, you know, that our lads go out and represent that jersey with pride and give it everything they have.

“We were able to come away from Sixmilebridge saying we definitely did that.” 

Brendan Cummins’ Tipperary are sure to be hurting following their two-point defeat to Limerick in FBD Semple Stadium.

Management has made four changes to their starting 15 for their trip to Leeside with Jim Ryan and Cathal O’Reilly coming into the backline. Joe Egan takes his place at midfield while David Costigan is picked at wing-forward - Egan is the only one of the four that saw game time against Limerick.

Senan Butler and Paddy Phelan are named on the bench while Jack O’Callaghan and Jack Quinlan are not on the match-day programme.

Tipperary senior star Darragh McCarthy was the standout player against the Shannonsiders.

There are no seniors on the Cork panel.

“There are pros and cons,” says Furlong.

“Obviously, if you have players involved with the senior squad, that's your job. In the U20, you want to train to develop players for the senior squad.

“You saw Tipperary, they had the Thurles CBS lads, and obviously guys involved with the seniors – did that disrupt their preparations?

“Who knows, we don't know, but in our camp all we know is that our lads are together, they're training consistently, they're giving it everything for us.

“I think they showed that against Clare, so we'll just control whatever we can.” It will be a first outing for Ken McGrath’s Waterford who welcome Clare to the Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field (7pm) where Fred Hegarty is available for the Banner County after he won his appeal for a red card against Cork.

Terence Fahy has made one enforced change to his line-out with James Organ replacing the injured Diarmuid Stritch.

CORK (v TIPPERARY): D O’Connell (Dromina); D Cashman (Bride Rovers, Capt), J O’Brien (Fermoy), T Wilk (Cobh); Ben Walsh (Killeagh), C O’Callaghan (Dungourney), D Murnane (Carrigtwohill); E Guinane (Valley Rovers), R Deasy (Ballymartle); J Murphy (Mallow), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), J Murphy (Dromina); J Wigginton Barrett (St Finbarr’s), Barry Walsh (Killeagh), M O’Brien Douglas.

Subs: Ó Walsh (Youghal), C Cronin (Midleton), D O’Leary (Ballincollig), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own), S O’Neill (Ballincollig), Z Biggane (Charleville), Ó Fitzgerald (St. Catherine’s), R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), D McCarthy (Killeagh).

TIPPERARY: E Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); C O'Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill), A O'Halloran (Carrick Swan), P O'Dwyer (Killenaule); A Ryan (Arravale Rovers), J Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), S O'Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg, Capt); J Egan (Moycarkey Borris), A Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); C English (Fr. Sheehys), C Martin (Cappawhite), D Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); D McCarthy (Toomevara), O O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), P McCormack (Borris-Ileigh).

Subs: D English (Fr. Sheehys), S Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash), E Morris (Holycross Ballycahill), J Ormond (JK Brackens), C O'Donnell (Ballylooby Castlegrace), P Phelan (Upperchurch Drombane), D Ryan (Arravale Rovers), R Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), S Tobin (Carrick Swan).

WATERFORD (v CLARE): A Reade (Ballyduff Lower); D Lalor (De La Salle), F Cooney (Ballygunner), C Keane (De La Salle); J McDonnell (Tallow), A O’Neill (Ballygunner), C Ryan (Brickey Rangers); E Spelman (Fourmilewater), S Mackey (Fenor); C Deevy (Brickey Rangers), J Twomey (De La Salle), G Power (Clonea), M Morrissey (Fourmilewater), M Hartley (Ballygunner), B O’Sullivan (Lismore).

Subs: C Barrett (Roanmore), J O’Keeffe (Lismore), C O’Sullivan (Ballygunner), S Fleming (Ballygunner), B Drohan (St. Mollerans), P Cummins (Brickey Rangers), B Callaghan (Abbeyside Ballinacourty), C Tobin (Ballygunner), P Walsh (Fourmilewater).

CLARE: M Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); E Gunning (Broadford), F Treacy (Éire Óg), J Cahill (Clooney-Quin, Capt); J Casey (Kilmaley), J Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), E McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); J Moylan (Cratloe), M O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); R Kilroy (Banner), J O’Neill (Clooney-Quin), M Collins (Clonlara); S Boyce (O’Callaghan’s Mills), J Organ (Corofin), F Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona).

Subs: F Morgan (Clarecastle), T Lohan (Cratloe), L Crotty (Scariff), R Loftus (Éire Óg), D Fox (Clooney-Quin), P Ó Sé (Ruan), D Costelloe (Ballyea), F Ó Braoin (Sixmilebridge), F Lyons (Ruan).