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Pat Ryan: Cork boss calls on seven of the starting team which lost to Clare in the 2024 All-Ireland final. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Cork rising stars given chance to impress in hurlers' first outing of 2025

Pat Ryan’s side open their season with a charity match against Waterford on Saturday.

THREE OF CORK’S recent U20 stars have been given a chance to impress when the Rebels get their 2025 campaign underway this weekend.

Pat Ryan’s side line out for their season’s opener in a charity match against Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Saturday (5pm).

Darragh O’Sullivan, Michael Mullins and Ben Cunningham — U20 All-Ireland winners in 2023 — are all named to start.

Ballinhassig’s O’Sullivan, the U20 captain last season, is named to start at corner-back while Whitechurch’s Mullins, who captained the team to the 2023 All-Ireland, gets the nod at wing-back.

St Finbarr’s Cunningham lines out at wing-forward, while Blackrock’s Robbie Cotter — an U20 All-Ireland winner himself in 2021 — will start at corner-forward.

No fewer than seven of the side which started last summer’s senior All-Ireland final defeat to Clare return, while Jack Cahalane is named among the substitutes following his decision to step away from the Cork senior football panel for 2025.

Saturday’s challenge is in aid of the Friends of Brian Greene Fundraiser in conjunction with Waterford Hospice.

Cork SH (v Waterford)

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Niall O’ Leary (Castlelyons)
3. Ger Millerick (Fr. O’Neills)
4. Darragh O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig)

5. Micheal Mullins (Whitechurch)
6. Robert Downey (capt, Glen Rovers)
7. Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr)

8. Ethan Twomey (St. Finbarr’s)
9. Luke Meade (Newcestown)

10. Ben Cunningham (St. Finbarr’s)
11. Declan Dalton (Fr. O’Neills)
12. Brian Hayes (St. Finbarr’s)

13. Robbie Cotter (Blackrock)
14. Padraig Power (Blarney)
15. Alan Connolly (Blackrock)

Substitutes:

16. Brion Saunderson (Midleton)
17. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)
18. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
19. Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum)
20. Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
21. Tim O Mahony (Newtownshandrum)
22. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville)
23. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
24. Alan Walsh (Kanturk)
25. Jack Cahalane (St. Finbarr’s)
26. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
27. William Buckley (St Finbarr’s)
28. Shane Barrett (Blarney)

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7 Comments
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    Mute Aidan Farrell
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    Jan 1st 2025, 2:07 PM

    20 years since Cork won a senior hurling All-Ireland. Pretty mental considering the population and pick they have. They really need to win it this year and I think they will.

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    Mute Alan Moloney
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    Jan 1st 2025, 2:53 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: but day won’t

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    Mute Cormac McCarthy
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    Jan 1st 2025, 3:42 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: 87 years since Dublin won a senior hurling all Ireland. Pretty mental really when you consider the size, pick and money that has been pumped into the GAA in Dublin. Maybe this year they can deliver. An appearance in the All Ireland club final is a good portend.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Jan 1st 2025, 5:10 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: Cork or Limerick followed by Clare and Killkenny. The rest have an awful lot of work to do.

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    Mute Aidan Farrell
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    Jan 1st 2025, 5:23 PM

    @Ray Ridge: can’t see Clare putting back to back together. Kilkenny don’t look up to much either but they are still Kilkenny.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Jan 1st 2025, 5:33 PM

    @Aidan Farrell: Agree. It will be very difficult for Clare to do back to back. Killkenny are not the force they were but even so they are still hard to beat.

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    Mute Joe O'Regan
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    Jan 1st 2025, 7:50 PM

    It definitely looks like a fight between limerick and cork for the all Ireland.

    I think the losses last year will help bring a bit of hunger back to limerick. Assuming whoever is in goals for Quaid is competent I think they will do it.

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