Banner day beckons

Cork v Clare

WHILE last year’s Cork All-IrelandUnder 17 panel had a number of key players around whom a supporting cast performed brilliantly, this year’s crop is deemed to be more balanced, with a greater spread of players around the same level.

Cormac O’Brien of Newtownshandrum and Blarney player Shane Barrett are survivors from last year while Glen Rovers’ Luke Horgan and Daniel Hogan (Sarsfields) are Under 16 this year but have established themselves as important members of John Considine’s panel.

Considine, an All-Ireland winner with Cork in 1990 and the manager of the last Cork team to win the minor All-Ireland back in 2001, is joined by selectors Donal Burke (Midleton), Seán Crowley (Killeagh), Donal Collins (Blackrock) and Niall O’Halloran (Ballinhassig).

Kevin Moynihan of Na Piarsaigh, Ballinascarthy’s Pádraic Cullinane and Christian Mulcahy (Midleton) are among those likely to star for Cork, who will be keen to get off the mark with a win as their second game is, like the seniors, a trip to Semple Stadium in Thurles.

Obviously, given that it’s a new grade and the first game, there isn’t a huge amount to go on in terms of analysing Clare. Scariff Community College won the Munster and All-Ireland Under 18½ CHC this year and they provide key players like Mark Rodgers, who will be a handful in the full-forward line, Fionn Slattery and Jack Minogue.

Captain of the Seán Doyle-managed team is Darragh Healy in the half-back line, son of former Clare player Pat, while the battle for goalkeeper between Killian O’Brien and Shane White has been hotly contested.

Tony Butler is an accomplished rugby player while Shane Meehan has already impressed this year for Clare’s minor footballers.