Cork senior Sheedy starts as Cork U20 side named for Munster opener against Clare

Dara Sheedy of Cork has a shot at goal. Pic: James Lawlor/Inpho

Cork senior footballer Dara Sheedy will lead the line for the Cork U20s in their Munster opener away to Clare (Quilty, 7pm) on Thursday.

The Bantry Blues youngster picked up a knock during Cork’s Division 2 League final defeat to Meath the weekend before last, but has recovered sufficiently to take his place at centre-forward on Ray Keane’s U20 side.

The starting Cork line-up contains five players, including Sheedy, that began last year’s Munster U20 final defeat to Kerry. The remaining quartet are goalkeeper Billy Curtin, midfielder and captain Darragh Clifford, half-back Seán Leary, and inside forward Danny Miskella.

Also named in the inside line, and making his first championship appearance in red since the 2023 All-Ireland minor quarter-final, is Seán Coakley. 

The Douglas talent has been plagued by injuries in recent years. The third member of the Cork full-forward line is Rickey Barrett, who featured heavily in the Barrs’ run to last season’s Munster club final.

Cork (Munster U20 v Clare): B Curtin (Valley Rovers); F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa), P Rose (Ballincollig), M Ahern (St Finbarr’s); S O’Leary (Kilmurry), C McCarthy (St Colum’s), O Foley (Bishopstown); D Clifford (Éire Óg), S Connolly (Ilen Rovers); M O’Brien (Ballinora), D Sheedy (Bantry Blues), G Holland (Bishopstown); S Coakley (Douglas), R Barrett (St Finbarr’s), D Miskella (Ballincollig).

Subs: J O’Flaherty (Douglas), H Wixted (Bishopstown), A Keane (Kinsale), T Kiely (Mallow), L Shorten (Tadhg MacCartaigh), L Murphy (Barryroe), B Corkery Delaney (Carrigaline), J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), M Collins (Barryroe).

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