Clare-Cork meeting moved to Clarecastle as teams named

Cillian Bonnar, son of former Tipperary hurling manager Colm, has been selected for Waterford, meanwhile.

Cork manager John Cleary after the Teddy McCarthy Football Tribute Game between Cork and Meath at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last month. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

The Cork footballers' opening game of the 2024 season has been moved onto the astroturf pitch at Clarecastle because of an unplayable field at Cooraclare.

The Cork-Clare McGrath Cup Group B fixture had originally been fixed for West Clare on Wednesday evening, but an unplayable pitch in Cooraclare has seen the game switched to the newly opened astro turf facility at Clarecastle (7pm throw-in).

Tomorrow's McGrath Cup opener represents a first outing for new Clare boss Mark Fitzgerald. His startling line-up contains debutants Gavin Murray and Diarmiud O’Donnell, and features six of the Clare team that beat Cork in last year’s Munster SFC quarter-final.

Elsewhere, Cillian Bonnar, son of former Tipperary hurling manager and two-time All-Ireland winner Colm, has been selected at corner-forward on the Waterford team for the county’s Munster Senior Hurling League opener against Kerry later today, Tuesday. Bonnar hurls with Dunhill at club level.

CLARE: S Ryan; M Doherty, C Rouine, R Lanigan; M Garry, A Sweeney, G Murray; D Walsh, B McNamara; C Downes, E McMahon, D Coughlan; S Griffin, A Griffin, D O'Donnell.

CORK: P Doyle; K Flahive, M Shanley, M Taylor; D Cashman, T Clancy, B O'Driscoll; C O'Callaghan, P Walsh; E McSweeney, F Herlihy, J O'Rourke; D Buckley, C Corbett, B Murphy.

WATERFORD (Munster SHL v Kerry): S O’Brien; W Hassey, M Fitzgerald, B Looby; C O’Neill, K Bennett, J Fagan; T Barron, S Fitzgerald; J Prendergast, P Curran, P Fitzgerald; S Callaghan, S Walsh, C Bonnar.