CORK HAVE CUT five players from their 2016 hurling championship squad and added several youngsters as they get set to commence their pre-season preparations for 2017.
It’s been reported by the Evening Echo newspaper today that manager Kieran Kingston has omitted William Egan, William Leahy, Michael Russell, Niall Cashman and John Cronin from his initial squad.
In addition Sarsfields player Daniel Kearney is currently taking some time out to rehab from an injury but is expected back for next spring’s league campaign.
Egan and Cronin started at midfield and centre half-forward respectively in the championship exit at the hands of Wexford last July, while Russell was on the bench for that game.
In addition from the team that played in that match, it has already been confirmed that Aidan Walsh will focus on football next year.
As expected Kingston is to focus on youth in his plans for next year. Defender Mark Coleman (Blarney) and attacker Shane Kingston (Douglas) – son of the manager – both came on as substitutes in the Wexford tie, while Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville) was on the bench.
That trio linked up with the senior squad in the wake of the Cork U21′s losing out to Limerick in late June in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 quarter-final.
They had previously been part of a development squad and will now get a chance to impress as they join the squad early in the campaign.
Others set to be called up from last year’s Cork U21 team are David Griffin (Carrigaline), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Michael O’Halloran (Blackrock) and Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers).
Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own) and Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neill’s) from the 2015 Cork minor side also join the training squad along with Jack Sheehan, who featured for Erins Own in the recent Cork senior hurling final, and Blackrock player Shane O’Keeffe.
Michael Cahalane will also be involved when Bandon, who play in the Munster Club IHC next Sunday, conclude their campaign.
Cork’s panel is set to be open-ended with the squad able to collectively commence training on 1 December.
Next year’s Cork will operate in Division 1A of the Allianz hurling league before facing Tipperary in the Munster quarter-final.
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Hard to be much worse than last season, but it there merit on focusing entirely on youth when U21′s and minors have been so poor in recent years.
This years minor team lost by 5 points to all Ireland champions Tipperary. This was closer than any team got to tipp this year and Cork were 6 points up at one stage of the 2nd half.
Closer than the Waterford team that beat Tipp?
@Stephen Casey: that was u21
Both Sean.
http://munster.gaa.ie/fixtures/minor/
The Waterford team that were beaten by cork in the 1st round
Yes they were. Cork had a good minor team this year. But to say they came closer to Tipp than a team that beat Tipp is incorrect.
Surely brosnan and moylan will be involved when there involvement with the glen is finished
Not arguing that there aren’t some talented young hurlers in Cork, things can’t be that bad, but given the lack of success at underage for an extended period it seems unlikely there are bunch coming through to revive the senior team. Just seems like some managers do out of desperation and an easy answer, just bringing some young lads onto a sinking ship won’t do them any good.
So, basically he’s getting his young lad on the team!
His young lad who’s widely considered one of the best young hurlers in Cork….
His young lad I have seen since u 14. A very good talent
His young lad is a serious talent.
Pa Callaghan is the fella he should be after…
Ye a very good player and putting him senior can bring him on more look forward to seeing him in the league
@John S: @John S Truth the last thing we need now is nepotism further hurting our chances of becoming a side that can even be competitive with the likes of the top tier teams such as Wexford and Clare.
From what I seen of him last year I taught Cronin was a good player
@ John S. – to be fair to him, shane Kingston is a handy enough hurler; he hasn’t come out of nowhere & is there on merit. Plenty of younger players from the Dev squad – time will tell
Pa O’Callaghan should be in there…refusing the invite again, what his beef i wonder?
Pa callaghan is a good prospect
Pa callaghan much better