Cork U20 Hurling: Walsh & O’Flynn Lead Attack Against Tipperary

Cork U20 Hurling Team Gears Up for Munster Opener Against Tipperary

Cork’s U20 hurling team, bolstered by the inclusion of senior star Barry Walsh, is set to face All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the opening round of the Munster U20 Hurling Championship on Wednesday evening at Semple Stadium (7pm).¹

Walsh Leads the Attack

Barry Walsh, a recent addition to the Cork senior hurling panel, will spearhead the Cork attack alongside Barry O’Flynn, the 2025 Cork SHC winner with Sarsfields.¹ Walsh has made a significant impact in his early appearances with the senior team, scoring goals against Kilkenny and Offaly, and demonstrating a strong performance against Limerick.¹² He has scored 2-2 in three starts as Cork reached the Allianz HL final.²

Experienced Core Returns for Cork

Walsh and O’Flynn are among six players returning from the Cork U20 starting team that narrowly lost to Clare in last year’s Munster semi-final.¹ The other returning players are David O’Leary, John Murphy, Ben Walsh, and Finn O’Brien.¹

Tipperary Boasts All-Ireland Champions

Tipperary will field a team including four starters from their 2025 All-Ireland U20 winning side: Cathal O’Reilly, Adam Ryan, Oisín O’Donoghue, and David Costigan.¹ Cormac Fitzpatrick and Jamie Ormond were introduced as substitutes during the 2025 final victory, while Stefan Tobin made his Tipp senior debut against Galway in January, scoring 0-4 from play against Waterford.¹ Seven starters from the 2024 All-Ireland minor final winning line-up are also included in the Tipperary team.¹

Team Lineups

Cork

CORK (Munster U20 v Tipperary): Ó Walsh (Youghal); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), D O’Leary (Ballincollig); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), J Murphy (Mallow), M Barrett (Carrigtwohill); Ben Walsh (Killeagh), J O’Brien (Douglas); Barry Walsh (Killeagh), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), J Murphy (Dromina); F O’Brien (Erin’s Own), Z Biggane (Charleville), C Noonan (Kanturk).¹²

SUBS: T Walsh (Aghada), R O’Riordan (Blackrock), C Garde (Lisgoold), J Galvin (Éire Óg), J Casey (Youghal), J O’Brien (Cloyne), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), C Deane (Killeagh), D Wall (Glen Rovers).¹

Tipperary

TIPPERARY (Munster U20 v Cork): P McCormack (Moneygall); C O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill), E Morris (Holycross Ballycahill), S Ryan (Killenaule); D Ryan (Arravale Rovers), S Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), A Ryan (Arravale Rovers); T Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), S Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs); E Murray (Thurles Sarsfields), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), D Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); J Ormond (JK Brackens), S Tobin (Carrick Swans), C Fitzpatrick (Drom Inch).¹

SUBS: D Hayes (Toomevara), J Donelan Houlihan (Nenagh Éire Óg), E Doughan (Moneygall), J Hackett (Toomevara), S Hall (Golden Kilfeacle), J Hayes (Moycarkey Borris), D O’Hora (Cappawhite), C White (Boherlahan Dualla), P Ryan (Borris-Ileigh).¹

Other Munster U20HC Round 1 Match

Waterford will travel to Sixmilebridge to face Clare, with seven starters from Waterford’s 2023 All-Ireland minor winning side included in their lineup.¹ Clare also features seven players who started in their 2023 All-Ireland minor final triumph.¹ Both Munster U20 Round 1 games throw in at 7pm.