Cork go with tried and trusted for McGrath Cup clash as experimentation hindered

Cork face Tipperary in the McGrath Cup at 7pm in Cappawhite on Tuesday evening

Steven Sherlock has been named on the bench for Cork's McGrath Cup clash with Tipperary. He could make his first inter-county since 2024. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

With the option of experimenting significantly hindered by both Cork colleges being in Sigerson Cup action on Wednesday, the Cork team to face Tipperary in Tuesday’s McGrath Cup (Cappawhite, 7pm) contains 10 players who featured in last summer's All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final exit.

Among those is Conor Cahalane who will make his first start for the Cork footballers after his debut 2025 campaign saw him used exclusively off the bench.

Corner-back Kevin O’Donovan, meanwhile, is making his first appearance in red since coming on as a late substitute in the 2024 Munster semi-final defeat to Kerry.

The starting team includes seven players - Maurice Shanley, Brian O’Driscoll, Colm O’Callaghan, Seán Walsh, Seán McDonnell, Mark Cronin, and Chris Óg Jones - who began the aforementioned All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final defeat to Dublin.

The Cork bench is similarly stacked, containing as it does first-team regulars Daniel O’Mahony, Matty Taylor, and Brian Hurley.

Also listed among the subs is Steven Sherlock, and was the returning Barrs forward to be sprung at Cappawhite, it would mark his first piece of game-time for Cork since the 2024 All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final defeat to Louth.

CORK (McGrath Cup v Tipperary): P Doyle (Knocknagree); M Shanley (Clonakilty), S Meehan (Kiskeam), K O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers); B O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), R Maguire (Castlehaven), L Fahy (Ballincollig); C O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), S Walsh (Mitchelstown); R Deane (Bantry), S McDonnell (Mallow), C Cahalane (Castlehaven); M Cronin (Nemo Rangers), C Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), C O’Mahony (Mitchelstown).

Subs: D Newman (St Finbarr’s), D O’Mahony (Knocknagree), C O’Shea (Kilshannig), M Taylor (Mallow), D Cashman (Millstreet), S Sherlock (St Finbarr’s), L Murphy (Cullen), B Hurley (Castlehaven), D O’Connor (Knocknagree).