Cork U20s make two changes for visit of Kerry, Tomás Kennedy starts for Kingdom

There are two changes from the side that drew with Clare last week while Kennedy will make his first start at this age-grade in 2026.

Cork's Danny Miskella celebrates his goal during the Munster U20 Football match between Cork and Clare at Quilty. Picture: Eamon Ward

There are two changes to the Cork U20 football team for Thursday's Munster Phase 2, Round 2 game at home to Kerry (Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm).

From the side that drew with Clare last week, Harry Wixted comes in at corner-back for Matthew Ahern.

At midfield, Trevor Kiely replaces Seán Connolly. Kiely, who came off the bench in Quilty, was part of last year's U20 team.

The draw against Clare means that if Cork do not succeed in ending the county's six-game losing streak against the Kingdom at U20 level, then they will need to overcome Waterford and rely on a favour elsewhere in the Clare-Kerry fixture to reach the Munster final.

Meanwhile Kerry senior panelist Tomás Kennedy has been named in the Kerry U20 team, what will be his first start at this age-grade in 2026.

Kennedy, who made his senior championship debut last summer, started two of Kerry's round-robin games in Division 1 of this year’s league, coming off the bench in another three, including the final defeat to Donegal.

The Kerins O’Rahillys talent missed Kerry’s opening round U20 win over Waterford as he was part of the senior side’s pre-championship training camp in Portugal. He has been selected at full-forward for the trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Killian Dennehy, who was absent at Lemybrien last week because of an illness, having initially been picked at midfield, is again named to start, this time in the half-forward line.

The incoming pair replace Mark O'Carroll and Máirtín McKivergan.

CORK (Munster U20 v Kerry): B Curtin (Valley Rovers); F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa), P Rose (Ballincollig), H Wixted (Bishopstown); S O’Leary (Kilmurry), C McCarthy (St Colum’s), O Foley (Bishopstown); D Clifford (Éire Óg), T Kiely (Mallow); 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), M Ahern (St Finbarr's), D O'Neill (Carbery Rangers), D O'Mullane (Kilmurry), A Keane (Kinsale), L Shorten (Tadhg MacCartaigh), L Murphy (Barryroe), B Corkery Delaney (Carrigaline), S Connolly (Ilen Rovers).

Kerry (Munster U20 v Cork): K Robak (Dr Crokes); M Lynch (Milltown/Castlemaine), G Evans (Keel), D Mulvihill (Tarbert); S Ó Cúinn (An Ghaeltacht), A Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), P Walsh (Listowel Emmets); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), E Boyle (Ballyduff); J O’Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks), R Carroll (Austin Stacks), K Dennehy (Cordal); G White (John Mitchels), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahilly’s), P Lane (Austin Stacks).

Subs: B Fitzsimons (Kenmare Shamrocks), D Stack (Kilcummin), M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes), M McKivergan (Ballymacelligott), R Sheridan (Duagh), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), E O’Flaherty (Ardfert), J Joy (Ballymacelligott), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), I Brosnan (Castleisland Desmonds).