Senior stars backbone young Rebels for Waterford clash

Cork’s side for tonight’s Munster U21HC semi-final against Waterford in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm) will feature five players who have played in this year’s provincial senior championship while none of the Déise side saw action.

Captain Shane Kingston, Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O’Mahony, and Robbie O’Flynn all had senior game-time but, while Peter Hogan, Darragh Lyons and the now-injured Conor Prunty were on Derek McGrath’s Waterford panel, none played.

However, Cork coach Denis Ring feels that, while his team are strong favourites, that precise fact could help the visitors in that they will have had more time to work together and gel as a team.