Focus and scrutiny on Cork ahead of latest U20 clash with rivals Kerry

KEANE TO BEAT KERRY: Ray Keane on the sideline during the Munster U20 Football match between Cork and Clare. Pic: Eamon Ward

In Cork-Kerry clashes at underage, be it minor, U20, or post-primary, the focus in more recent years and again this week, whether right or wrong, fair or unfair, has been on the red corner. It is they who are the more heavily scrutinised.

The focus and scrutiny is, of course, a direct product of a Cork-Kerry underage rivalry that has ceased to be a rivalry. The red corner lags way behind the green and gold.

This evening’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh meeting is at the U20 age-grade. Kerry have won the last six such meetings. It’s 2021 since this fixture last finished in favour of the team wearing red.

Before last week’s opening-round trip to Quilty, new Cork U20 boss Ray Keane told this newspaper that he was in no way concerned about the standard of underage football in Cork.

Fast forward to the closing lines of the game in West Clare and the visitors had to scramble for all their worth to find an equaliser and come away with a share of the spoils.

The result does not stand in isolation. Cork’s last four championship outings at U20 level - the aforementioned 2026 opener and the three closing games of 2025 - show a draw with Clare, a draw with Tipperary, and two defeats to Kerry.

The two defeats to Kerry added up to 18 points. In both of the draws at home to Tipp and away to Clare, it was Cork who came from behind to ensure stalemate.

As was asked at the end of last year’s campaign, are Cork now operating at a level closer to the Clare and Tipps than they are the green and gold? That question will have further light shed on it at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7pm) Wednesday evening.

The Kerry team includes senior panellist Tomás Kennedy, 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 23-point thumping of Waterford as he was part of the senior side’s pre-championship training camp in Portugal. He’s been selected at full-forward for the spin to Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Killian Dennehy, who was absent at Lemybrien 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.

On the Cork side, there are two changes from the side that drew with Clare. 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.

In the other Phase 2, Round 2 fixture, Clare welcome Waterford to Quilty (7pm). A home victory there, coupled with a continuation of Kerry’s dominance over Cork, means Cork would need to overcome the Déise in the last round and require a favour elsewhere to reach the Munster final.

Cork (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 (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’Rahillys), 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).