Pat Ryan names first Cork team of the new campaign

Debuts for three newcomers while UCC feature a host of starlets looking to make their mark on the Cork boss.

Fri, 29 Dec, 2023 - 10:07

Tony Leen

There's enough intrigue and curiosity about the Cork team and the stacked UCC selection it will face to bring out GAA followers for the last clashes of 2023 in Saturday’s Canon O’Brien Cup game at the Mardyke (2pm).

Pat Ryan's first selection of the new campaign sees a first start for Sarsfields' Cathal McCarthy, Fr O'Neills' Daniel Harrington, Kilworth midfielder Eoin Carey and Ballygiblin's Darragh Flynn in attack.

Several members of the UCC selection will be looking to stake their own claim to a red jersey in 2024, with five of the selected team having already played senior championship for the county - Barrs duo Ethan Twomey and Brian Hayes, joined by Ger Millerick, Rob Downey and Shane Barrett.

Four of Cork's All-Ireland winning U20 side from 2023 will also feature for UCC, including St Finbarr's wing forward Ben Cunningham.

Some proceeds from the clash will go to the Dylan Quirke Foundation.

Ryan's outfit will follow up the Mardyke encounter with a Munster Hurling League fixture against Limerick at Mallow on Sunday, January 7th.

John Cleary's Cork footballers will open their McGrath Cup campaign against Clare on January 3rd.

CORK (v UCC): G Collins (Ballinhassig); C McCarthy (Sarsfields), D O’Leary (Watergrasshill), S O'Donoghue (Inniscarra); C O'Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), T O'Connell (Midleton), D Harrington (Fr O'Neills); S Quirke (Midleton), E Carey (Kilworth); S Kingston (Douglas), C Lehane (Midleton), D Flynn (Ballygiblin); J O'Connor (Sarsfields), S Twomey (Courcey Rovers), C Beausang (Midleton).

Subs: P Collins (Ballinhassig), D Fitzgibbon (Charleville), D Dalton (Fr O'Neills), D O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig), T O'Connell (Ballincollig), S Walsh (Carrigtwohill), S Desmond (Watergrasshill), E Roche (Bride Rovers), B Roche (Bride Rovers).

UCC (v Cork): B Saunderson (Midleton); G Mellerick (Fr O'Neills), S Kingston (Ballinora), S Daly (Randal Óg); J Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny), R Downey (Glen Rovers), L Elliott (Sarsfields); E Twomey (St Finbarr's), C O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); B Hayes (St Finbarr's), P McGarry (St Mary's Clonmel), B Cunningham (St Finbarr's); R Cotter (Blackrock), S Barrett (Blarney), D Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields).

Subs: J McCarthy (St Finbarr's), C McCarthy (Sarsfields), E Stokes (Doon, Limerick), R McEvoy (Lisdowney, Kilkenny), E O’Leary (Glen Rovers), W Buckley (St Finbarr's), F Coleman (Blackrock), D Hogan (Sarsfields), S. Cunningham (St Finbarr's), R Fox (Ahane), S Moore (Carrickshock, Kilkenny), M Carey (Nenagh Éire Óg), C McGoldrick (Éire Óg), C Doolan (St Finbarr's), M Brady (Éire Óg).

Munster GAA pre-season hurling and football fixtures

Tuesday January 2nd

Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League

Kerry v Waterford

Venue: Austin Stack Park Tralee at 7:30pm

Referee: Shane Scanlon (Cork)

Wednesday January 3rd

McGrath Cup Football

Clare v Cork

Venue: Cooraclare at 7pm

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)

McGrath Cup Football