Ben O'Connor opts for a new look as he names the first team of his Cork reign 

With little familiarity to be found up or down the lineup, O'Connor is handing out opportunities aplenty for Sunday's Canon O’Brien Cup meeting with UCC in the Mardyke

READY TO ROLL: Cork manager Ben O'Connor will begin his tenure with the Canon O’Brien Cup. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

The earliest glimpse of the next era of Cork hurling has been revealed as the first team of Ben O'Connor's tenure was unveiled on Saturday evening with a seriously new look to it.

After taking up the reins from Pat Ryan on a three-year term in September, O'Connor will prowl a sideline for the first time on Sunday lunchtime as his team faces UCC in the Canon O’Brien Cup in the Mardyke (12pm). 

With little familiarity to be found up or down the lineup, O'Connor looks to be handing out opportunities aplenty. 

Midleton's Bríon Saunderson is named to start in goal and, notably, is the only member of the starting 15 who was a part of the Rebels squad for last July's All-Ireland SHC final defeat to Tipperary.

Meanwhile Michéal Mullins of Glen Rovers is given a berth in midfield alongside Brian O'Sullivan of Kanturk. Jack O'Connor is part of an all-Sarsfields half-forward line with fresh faces Cian Darcy and Colm McCarthy alongside him while the full-forward line is refreshed too with Seán Desmond of Watergrasshill named at full forward. 

O'Connor's new era hasn't been without an early bump with the departure of high-profile coaching addition Niall O'Halloran in early December, just two months after being brought on board as senior coach. 

In an interview with The Echo last Saturday, O'Connor denied there had been a falling out with O'Halloran, insisting "it just didn’t work out. Two different ways of operating". The straight-talking Newtownshandrum man said: 'There were no issues between us but it was [a case of] what was the point prolonging it when it wasn’t going to work long-term?"

CORK (vs UCC, Canon O'Brien Cup): Bríon Saunderson (Midleton); Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Ciaran Doolan (St Finbarr's), Darragh O'Sullivan (Ballinhassig); Tom Hanley (Ballyhea), Cillian Tobin (Bride Rovers), Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr's); Michéal Mullins (Glen Rovers), Brian O'Sullivan, (Kanturk); Cian Darcy (Sarsfields), Colm McCarthy (Sarsfields), Jack O'Connor (Sarsfields); Alan Walsh (Kanturk), Seán Desmond (Watergrasshill), Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr's) 

SUBS: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig), Cormac O'Brien (Newtownshandrum), Seán O Donoghue (Inniscarra), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Ger Millerick (Fr O'Neill's), Daire O'Leary (Watergrasshill), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Robbie O'Flynn (Erin's Own), Declan Dalton (Fr O'Neill's).

UCC panel for Fitzgibbon Cup (Cork clubs unless stated): Paudie O'Sullivan (Fr O'Neill's), Seán Daly (Randal Óg), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Timmy Kelly (Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny), James Dwyer (Ballincollig), Shane Kingston (Ballinora), Seán Moore (Carrickshock, Kilkenny), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary), Brian Keating (Ballincollig), Ben Cunningham (St Finbarr's), Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin), Peter McGarry (St Mary's, Tipperary), William Buckley (St Finbarr's), Colin Walsh (Kanturk), Ed McDermott (James Stephens, Kilkenny), Fionn O'Brien (Bruree, Limerick), Brendan Lehane (Watergrasshill), Daniel Scully (Dromin-Athlacca, Limerick), Dara Ferlane (Monaleen), David Cremin (Midleton), Eoin Guinane (Valley Rovers), Finn O'Brien (Erin's Own), Hugh O'Connor (Newmarket), Joseph Enright (Inniscarra), Kevin Lyons (Ballygarvan), Marc Mahony (Old Parish, Waterford), Mark O'Dwyer (Russell Rovers), Michael Mullaney (Stradbally, Waterford), Oran O'Regan (Erin's Own), Peter O'Shea (Erin's Own), Richard McEvoy (Lisdowney, Limerick), Robert Troy (Newtownshandrum), Ross O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), Tadhg O'Connell (Ballincollig), Timmy Wilk (Cobh).