Rugby commitments rules Ben O'Connor out of Cork's U20 championship opener

The talented young St Finbarr’s clubman is currently in Marcoussis, France with the Irish U18 rugby schools squad.

Cork’s Ben O’Connor will be available for Cork’s second and final Munster U20 championship group game at home to Limerick on Wednesday week.

Ciarán Joyce’s involvement with the Cork senior hurlers and Ben O'Connor's international rugby commitments means the pair will not feature in the county's Munster U20 hurling championship opener on Wednesday.

Cork begin their quest for a three-in-a-row of Munster and All-Ireland U20 titles away to Clare on Wednesday (Sixmilebridge, 7pm), but will do so without last year’s All-Ireland winning full-back and centre-back, Dáire O’Leary and Ciarán Joyce, as well as last season’s All-Ireland minor winning centre-back Ben O’Connor.