O'Brien replaces suspended Murphy as Cork U20s look to get back on track

Barry Walsh of Cork. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

James O’Brien coming in for the suspended John Murphy is the sole change to the Cork U20 hurling team for Wednesday’s round-robin game at home to Limerick (Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm).

Murphy received a straight red card for an off-the-ball challenge during first-half injury-time against Tipperary last week. 

The visitors to Thurles led by the minimum when reduced to 14, a numerical disadvantage that eventually caught up with them as Tipp’s final quarter push delivered a two-point victory.

Murphy started at midfield in Cork’s Munster U20 opener, whereas James O’Brien is named at corner-forward. Douglas’ Jack O’Brien moving from the half-forward line out to midfield is one of a number of positional switches among the front eight.

A second defeat would leave the young Rebels with a sizeable job to finish in the top three.

“We’re leaving here knowing we’ve a right team,” said manager Noel Furlong following last week’s near miss. 

“You are playing the All-Ireland champions in their backyard, favourites for the All-Ireland, and you’re up here and you’re with them until the last second, against a strong wind in the second-half, down to 14 men, and you’re saying we’d every chance to win that game, which will give us massive encouragement knowing we can compete with any team in this competition.

“This is a league based format, so it is important we dust ourselves down, take the learnings from it, and move on because we are out in seven days’ time against Limerick.” 

The half-forward line of opponents Limerick, who had a bye on the opening night of action, contains two players who saw plenty of game-time for John Kiely’s senior side in recent weeks.

Centre-forward Matthew Fitzgerald started Limerick’s first three games of the League in defence. Fellow half-forward Hugh Flanagan made four appearances for the seniors, three of them off the bench.

The Tipp team travelling to Dungarvan shows two changes from last week. Jake Donelan Houlihan and Eoghan Doughan are promoted off the bench at the expense of Shane Ryan and Adam Ryan. Waterford are unchanged from the narrow defeat to Clare. 

The Déise are 14 games winless at this grade.

CORK (Munster U20 v Limerick): Ó Walsh (Youghal); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), D O’Leary (Ballincollig); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), Ben Walsh (Killeagh), M Barrett (Carrigtwohill); C Noonan (Kanturk), J O’Brien (Douglas); Barry Walsh (Killeagh), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), J Murphy (Dromina); F O’Brien (Erin’s Own), Z Biggane (Charleville), J O’Brien (Cloyne).

SUBS: T Walsh (Aghada), R O’Riordan (Blackrock), C Garde (Lisgoold), J Galvin (Éire Óg), J Casey (Youghal), M O’Brien (Douglas), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), C Deane (Killeagh), D Wall (Glen Rovers).

LIMERICK (Munster U20 v Cork): A Kearns (Na Piarsaigh); J Murray (Patrickswell), J Dwane (Kilmallock), S Duff (Mungret St Paul’s); J Cosgrave (Ahane), E Richardson (Doon), J Coughlan (Ballybrown); C Ryan (Ahane), A O’Connell (Doon); J O’Connor (Ahane), M Fitzgerald (Monaleen), H Flanagan (Garryspillane); R O’Farrell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), D Ferland (Monaleen), E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh).

SUBS: M Murphy (Na Piarsaigh), T Boddy (Dromin/Athlacca), C Dennehy (Glenroe), D Gleeson (Adare), M Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore), R Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore), O Holmes (Murroe/Boher), M Leo (Knockainey), S Morrissey (Dromin Athlacca).

TIPPERARY (Munster U20 v Waterford): P McCormack (Moneygall); C O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill), E Morris (Holycross Ballycahill), D Ryan (Arravale Rovers); J Donelan Houlihan (Nenagh Éire Óg), S Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), E Murray (Thurles Sarsfields); T Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), S Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs); E Doughan (Moneygall), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), D Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); J Ormond (JK Brackens), S Tobin (Carrick Swans), C Fitzpatrick (Drom Inch).

SUBS: D Hayes (Toomevara), A Duff (Toomevara), J Hackett (Toomevara), P Hackett (Toomevara), S Hall (Golden Kilfeacle), J Hayes (Moycarkey Borris), C White (Boherlahan Dualla), P Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), S Ryan (Killenaule).

WATERFORD (Munster U20 v Tipperary): J Comerford (Ballygunner); F Cooney (Ballygunner), C Lynch (Geraldines), T Ahern (Ballyduff Upper); B Penkert (Mount Sion), J McDonnell (Tallow), C O’Sullivan (Ballygunner); H Quann (Lismore), P Spelman (Fourmilewater); S Power (De La Salle), P Walsh (Fourmilewater), M Hartley (Ballygunner); G O’Shea (St Molleran’s), S Mackey (Fenor), D Comerford (St Molleran’s).

SUBS: B Murphy (Tallow), P Quann (Dungarvan), O Fives (Ballygunner), C Reville (Roanmore), T Kennedy (Mount Sion), J Shanahan (Erin’s Own), T Carey (Passage), C Shankey (Portlaw), E Burke (Dungarvan).