Kilkenny boss Lyng hands Mackessy competitive debut  

Fionán Mackessy, then of Kerry, during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Preliminary Quarter-Final match between Kerry and Wexford. Pic: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Kilkenny boss Derek Lyng has handed former Kerry hurler Fionán Mackessy a starting berth for the Cats' league opener against Clare on Sunday.

Mackessy has impressed in O'Loughlin Gaels colours since his transfer to the Kilkenny club, having moved to the county for work purposes, and he has been rewarded with a place at wing-back for the clash with the Allianz league and All-Ireland champions in Ennis.

Lyng has named an experienced side, with Mackessy the only league debutant in black and amber.

Meanwhile, Cork manager Pat Ryan has named nine of last year’s All-Ireland SHC final starting team in his side to face Wexford in Saturday’s Division 1A opener (5pm throw-in).

Patrick Collins, Niall O’Leary, Seán O’Donoghue, Tim O’Mahony, new captain Rob Downey, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett and Brian Hayes are included in the side for the trip to Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Shane Kingston, Ger Millerick and Luke Meade, who came off the bench last July, are in the 15 for this weekend. Cormac O’Brien, Brian Roche and Pádraig Power are the other starters.

Cork have named their side to take on Wexford in their opening clash of the 2025 Allianz NHL. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan and Conor Lehane are among the substitutes along with the Cahalane brothers Damien and Conor and St Finbarrs club-mate Ethan Twomey.

Currently missing from last year’s final starting team are Eoin Downey, Mark Coleman, Ciarán Joyce and Alan Connolly. Joyce and Connolly featured for MTU in their Fitzgibbon Cup win over UCD on Thursday evening.

Elsewhere, Galway’s footballers go with eight of their All-Ireland final team from last year for their rematch with Armagh in Saturday’s Division 1 first round clash in Pearse Stadium. The likes of Shane Walsh, Liam Silke and Johnny Heaney have been announced on the bench.

Ronan Maher will lead Tipperary again in 2025 and Jake Morris will once more be his deputy as Liam Cahill has cut his initial panel for the forthcoming Allianz Hurling League to 38.

It is the third year Thurles Sarsfields man Maher will skipper The Premier County having done so previously in 2024 and ’22. Noel McGrath, who was captain in 2023, is part of the set-up along with his brothers Brian and John.

Maher’s Thurles Sarsfields club-mate Conor Stakelum and Holycross-Ballycahill’s Joe Caesar aren’t considered for the competition due to injury although they could be available for the provincial championship beginning in April.

The five players cut from the training squad of 45 are Seán Hayes (Kiladangan), Jack Leamy (Golden-Kilfeacle), Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs), Seán Ryan (Templederry Kenyons) and Stephen Walsh (Moycarkey-Borris).

Tipperary open their Division 1 campaign with a trip to face Galway in Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Finally, Antrim’s Ulster quarter-final against All-Ireland champions Armagh in April will not be played at Corrigan Park. The Belfast venue has been considered too small for the clash and Antrim can nominate a neutral venue with Newry’s Páirc Esler a possibility.

KILKENNY (AHL V CLARE): Aidan Tallis (Lisdowney); Mikey Butler (O'Loughlin Gaels), Huw Lawlor (O'Loughlin Gaels), Shane Murphy (Glenmore); Mikey Carey (Young Irelands), David Blanchfield (Glenmore), Fionan Mackessey (O'Loughlin Gaels); Peter McDonald (Thomastown), Jordan Molloy (O'Loughlin Gaels); Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan), Adrian Mullen (Shamrocks), Paddy Deegan (O'Loughlin Gaels); Billy Drennan (Galmoy), Eoin Cody (Shamrocks), Billy Ryan (Graigue Ballycallan).

Subs: Dean Mason (Shamrocks), Padraic Moylan (Dicksboro), Peter Connellan (Thomastown), Shane Staunton (Clara), Zach Bay Hammond (Thomastown), Killian Doyle (Emeralds), Luke Hogan (O'Loughlin Gaels), Luke Connellan (Thomastown), Gearoid Dunne (Tullaroan), Cian Kenny (James Stephens), Marty Murphy (Tullogher Rosbercon).

CORK (AHL v Wexford): P. Collins (Ballinhassig); N. O’Leary (Castlelyons), G. Millerick (Fr O’Neills), S. O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); T. O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), R. Downey (c, Glen Rovers); C. O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); L. Meade (Newcestown), D. Fitzgibbon (Charleville); D. Dalton (Fr O’Neills), S. Barrett (Blarney); B. Roche (Bride Rovers); B. Hayes (St Finbarrs), P. Power (Blarney), S. Kingston (Douglas). 

Subs: B. Saunderson (Midleton), E. Roche (Bride Rovers), D. Cahalane (St Finbarrs), C. Cahalane (St Finbarrs), E. Carey (Kilworth), E. Twomey (St Finbarrs), D. Flynn (Ballygiblin), C. Lehane (Midleton), S. Harnedy (St Ita’s), R. Cotter (Blackrock), P. Horgan (Glen Rovers).

GALWAY (AFL V ARMAGH): C. Gleeson; J. McGrath, S. Fitzgerald, D. O’Flaherty; D. McHugh, J. Daly, S. Kelly (c); P. Conroy, C. McDaid; C. Sweeney, F. Ó Laoí, C. Darcy; C. Ó Curraoin, M. Tierney, S. O’Neill. 

Subs: C. Flaherty, J. Glynn, K. Molloy, S. Ó Maolchiaráin, L. Silke, J. Maher, J. McLoughlin, L. Ó Conghaile, C. Costello, S. Walsh, J. Heaney.

TIPPERARY (AHL v GALWAY): R Shelly; M Corcoran, E Connolly, B O'Mara; S O'Farrell, R Maher, C Morgan; M Breen, W Connors; A Tynan, J Morris, G O'Connor; A Ormond, D McCarthy, D Walsh 

Subs: B Hogan, C Bowe, R Doyle, J Forde, S Kennedy, Conor Martin, B McGrath, J McGrath, G O'Halloran, J Ryan, D Stakelum

MAYO (AFL V DUBLIN): C Reape; S Callinan, R Brickenden, E Hession; S Coen, D McBrien, D McHugh ; D O’Connor, M Ruane; C Reid, B Tuohy, D Neary; F Boland, F Irwin; R O’Donoghue

TIPPERARY (AHL panel): W. Connors, B. Hogan, B. Seymour (all Kiladangan); J. Keller, J. Morris (v-c), S. O’Farrell (all Nenagh Éire Óg); J. Fogarty, S. Kenneally (both Moneygall); M. Corcoran, J. Forde (both Silvermines); A. Tynan (Roscrea); C. Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs); D. McCarthy (Toomevara); R. McCormack (Borris-Ileigh); M. Breen (Ballina); B. McGrath, J. McGrath, N. McGrath (all Loughmore-Castleiney); R. Maher (c), D. Stakelum (both Thurles Sarsfields); K. Cummins, R. Shelly (both Moycarkey-Borris); B. O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill); C. Bowe, G. O’Connor (both Moyne-Templetuohy); D. Nolan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole); A. Ormond (JK Brackens); E. Connolly, O. O’Donoghue (both Cashel King Cormacs); R. Doyle, D. Slattery (Clonoulty-Rossmore); J. Ryan (Arravale Rovers); C. Martin (Cappawhite); A. O’Halloran, G. O’Halloran (both Carrick Swans); S. Kennedy, P. McGarry (St Mary’s, Clonmel); D. Walsh (Ballingarry).