Cork hurling panel named for Allianz League as Jack O’Connor misses out
Cork manager, Ben O'Connor. Pic: INPHO/Natasha Barton
Cork hurling boss Ben O'Connor has named his 36-man panel for the Allianz Hurling League, with Jack O'Connor absent, as expected.
There is no representative from O'Connor's Sarsfields club, the county champions on Leeside.
Kanturk's Brian O'Sullivan and Alan Walsh have earned their place in the squad.
27-year-old O’Connor played all of Cork’s Munster SHL opener away to Limerick, and also started their second pre-season outing against Clare.
On the run in to Sars’ second county success in three years, he struck five from play in the quarter-final, four in the semi-final, and five again on the final afternoon.
The Rebels start their league title defence with the visit of Waterford to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
Ben O’Connor, speaking on Monday night, insisted that the door is not closed to any player who did not make the 36-man league panel.
“From day one, any fella that was asked in at the start, and we started with 47 and have it cut now, it's an open policy,” said the Cork hurling manager.
“If a fella picks up an injury in three weeks' time and he is injured for six weeks, well there is a good chance he is not around for championship, so what is the point of having a fella inside."
Ben Cunningham, whose progress was hampered last term with injury, is amongst five St Finbarr's players on the panel; the most of any club.
The Cork senior hurling panel for the 2026 Allianz Hurling League is announced pic.twitter.com/4ya7XbFJiX
— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) January 20, 2026
Pádraig Power, who has been on the injury list for close to a year, is due back in Cork training this week, while the likes of the now-retired Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane, Luke Meade, and Jack Cahalane are amongst those on the panel last year who are now no longer part of the set-up.
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