Ben O'Connor clarifies Barry Walsh decision as U20 campaign kicks off

Walsh played the opening 35 minutes in the annihilation of Offaly at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night, and was whipped off at half-time in cognisance of Wednesday’s U20 round-robin opener away to All-Ireland champions Tipperary.

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026 - 06:47

Eoghan Cormican

Ben O’Connor has explained the rationale around his inclusion of Barry Walsh in the starting Cork team for last Saturday’s League game against Offaly, four days out from the youngster lining out for the Cork U20s in their Munster opener.

Speaking on the Irish Examiner hurling podcast on Monday, Mark Landers, a Killeagh clubmate of Walsh, expressed bewilderment at why the half-forward was put out for the opening 35 minutes against Offaly.

Former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy, also on the Examiner hurling podcast, said he found the decision to play Walsh “very strange”.

At Cork’s League final media briefing on Monday, senior manager Ben O’Connor was asked by the Irish Examiner if a conversation had taken place with regard to resting Barry Walsh last Saturday, such was the proximity to the U20 game in Thurles.

“No, no, Barry is going well at training. Barry is a young fella that wants to play in every game, so we just looked at it… the U20s played last Wednesday night [a challenge game], so he didn't play with them, he played with us, so he was going to play a game last week anyways,” said Ben.

“We said if he was going to play a game, he was going to get a half an hour with us. We'd agreed with the U20 lads that we'd give him a half an hour, and it was beneficial to him, as well. But again, that is youth for you. If you had three games this week, Barry would want to play the three games.

“Now, going forward, he has the game Wednesday night, the following Wednesday, and the League final the Sunday after that, so we just have to manage that and see how he gets on in the other two games before that.

“But no, there was no question at all. He is confident at the moment, he is playing well. You couldn't deny him another night out in a League match.”

Of the three Tipperary U20s who have seen League gametime in recent weeks, Cathal O’Reilly and Stefan Tobin did not feature against Kilkenny on Saturday. Oisín O’Donoghue, a member of the senior dressing-room since last year, played the full game.

Walsh, off the back of a series of impressive displays for the Cork seniors, including a goal on his debut start against Kilkenny, taking Kyle Hayes for two points at the Gaelic Grounds, and another green flag against Offaly, will lead the Cork attack at Thurles (throw-in 7pm).

He is one of six survivors from the team that fell narrowly to Clare in last season’s Munster U20 semi-final. The other five are corner-back David O’Leary, centre-back John Murphy, midfielder Ben Walsh, centre-forward Barry O’Flynn, and corner-forward Finn O’Brien.

The aforementioned O’Donoghue and O’Reilly, along with Adam Ryan and David Costigan, are the four Tipp survivors from last year’s All-Ireland U20 final winning line-up.

CORK (Munster U20 v Tipperary): Ó Walsh (Youghal); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), D O’Leary (Ballincollig); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), J Murphy (Mallow), M Barrett (Carrigtwohill); Ben Walsh (Killeagh), J O’Brien (Douglas); Barry Walsh (Killeagh), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), J Murphy (Dromina); F O’Brien (Erin’s Own), Z Biggane (Charleville), C Noonan (Kanturk).

SUBS: T Walsh (Aghada), R O’Riordan (Blackrock), C Garde (Lisgoold), J Galvin (Éire Óg), J Casey (Youghal), J O’Brien (Cloyne), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), C Deane (Killeagh), D Wall (Glen Rovers).

TIPPERARY (Munster U20 v Cork): P McCormack (Moneygall); C O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill), E Morris (Holycross Ballycahill), S Ryan (Killenaule); D Ryan (Arravale Rovers), S Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), A Ryan (Arravale Rovers); T Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), S Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs); E Murray (Thurles Sarsfields), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), D Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); J Ormond (JK Brackens), S Tobin (Carrick Swans), C Fitzpatrick (Drom Inch).

CLARE (Munster U20 v Waterford): M Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); E Gunning (Broadford), R Loftus (Éire Óg), J Casey (Kilmaley); J Moylan (Cratloe), J Cullinan (Ruan), M O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); D Costelloe (Ballyea), D Moroney (Éire Óg, Ennis); R Kilroy (Banner), M Collins (Clonlara), H Doherty (Clarecastle); M Cleary (Éire Óg, Ennis), S Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus), F Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona).

WATERFORD (Munster U20 v Clare): J Comerford (Ballygunner); D Keane (De La Salle), C Lynch (Geraldines), T Ahern (Ballyduff Upper); B Penkert (Mount Sion), J McDonnell (Tallow), C O’Sullivan (Ballygunner); H Quann (Lismore), P Spelman (Fourmilewater); S Power (De La Salle), P Walsh (Fourmilewater), M Hartley (Ballygunner); G O’Shea (St Molleran’s), S Mackey (Fenor), D Comerford (St Molleran’s).