1. Patrick Collins
Club: Ballinhassig. Age: 27
One of the key reasons Cork are in the final after his unbelievable save from Gillane and the follow-up in the semi-final. He has also been central to Cork’s momentum with the speed of his puckouts, which have been crucial for the team since that night in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
2. Niall O’Leary
Club: Castlelyons. Age: 26
A neat and tidy defender, he has yet to come under any sustained pressure so far this year but unlikely to take up Shane O’Donnell and will be a better fit for David Reidy or Ian Galvin, that quick-stepping type of Clare forward. A thoroughly modern corner back.
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3. Eoin Downey
Club: Glen Rovers. Age: 21
He has been very good since getting the nod and stepping up to fill a problem position for them. He and the brother form a formidable spine. Tall and aggressive and good in the air. Despite inexperience in a vital position, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.
4. Seán O’Donoghue
Club: Inniscarra. Age: 28
Their go-to man marker, he’s likely to be geared for O’Donnell. Very strong and powerful, he soldiered valiantly against Limerick to try and keep tabs on Aaron Gillane, who in that frame of mind is unmarkable. He’ll need to be more disciplined than he was the last day against Clare.
5. Ciarán Joyce
Club: Castlemartyr. Age: 22
Switch with Tim O’Mahony confirmed. He appears to read the game better in front of him from half back and gets a better chance to impose himself on proceedings. Outstanding player and vital for Cork. In the semi-final, when the pressure came on, he kept turning up, reporting for duty.
6. Robert Downey
Club: Glen Rovers. Age: 24
Stepped in at centre back in for the injured Joyce against Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on the night that changed everything for Cork. He kept the position and has done well. Like many team-mates, big, fast, adaptable and a very good hurler. Vigilance needed to track Mark Rodgers.
7. Mark Coleman
Club: Blarney. Age: 26
From his UCC days, I would have expected him by now to be one of the great players but injuries and loss of form undermined his confidence. Only regained his place when Joyce got injured but against Limerick had his best game in a long time. Really good hurler.
8. Tim O’Mahony
Club: Newtownshandrum. Age: 27
From the modern Cork template, he’s very tall and fast with plenty of hurling but a tendency to make questionable shooting decisions. Joyce is a better half back and O’Mahony is not inconvenienced by switching to the middle because like many of these Cork hurlers, he’s played everywhere.
9. Darragh Fitzgibbon
Club: Charleville. Age: 27
None silkier and off his left-hand side, none more dependable for a few points a match. Not always a constant over 70 minutes but a class player in the centre of the field. Many Cork players are big and fast but none faster or better suited to Croke Park.
10. Declan Dalton
Club: Fr O’Neills. Age: 26
His key asset is his ball striking, arrowing it straight from miles away whether off long-range frees or from play. His point after the save from Hegarty in the semi-final probably closed the book on Limerick. Improved mobility enabled him to defuse Kyle Hayes, the game’s top wing back.
11. Shane Barrett
Club: Blarney. Age: 23
A revelation this year from day one, against Waterford. He’s been consistently dangerous every day since even when the team wasn’t thriving, against Clare and Dublin. A little pop pass off the hurley to Harnedy in the first half against Limerick was class. For me, Cork’s Hurler of the Year.
12. Séamus Harnedy
Club: St Ita’s. Age: 34
Having a very good year, taking responsibility and good for a few points every day – especially in Páirc Uí Chaoimh when the show was nearly over. Survived the pressure on Pat Ryan to rejuvenate the team and vindicated his manager’s call. Strong in the air and as productive as ever.
13. Patrick Horgan
Club: Glen Rovers. Age: 36
Outstanding for many seasons. A talisman. The reason many supporters want Cork to win is for Hoggy to get his medal. Not at his best the last day but with reduced pressure to be one-man band, he could prosper, as against Clare and Limerick in Pairc Uí Chaoimh.
14. Alan Connolly
Club: Blackrock. Age: 23
This man is on the verge of stardom for me. He impressed in the Waterford defeat with hardly any ball and then against Tipperary. Dangerous player. Surrounded on the semi-final’s first possession, he bounced off Limerick backs and got his pass away. Strong and direct, he’s a handful.
15. Brian Hayes
Club: St Finbarr’s. Age: 23
Another who’s matured physically and his hurling has improved a lot. Not as quick as Connolly but just as powerful. His (wrongly) disallowed second goal against Limerick was outstanding. When Cork go long, he’s another big man with goal on his mind. Exactly what the supporters are waiting for.
Bench
More pace and scoring forwards to introduce to the match, particularly Robbie O’Flynn despite not looking the player he was last year because of hamstring issues and Shane Kingston, who lit the fuse in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Ethan Twomey can come into the middle. It’s a strong bench.
Backroom team
Pat Ryan (manager), Donal O’Rourke, Brendan Coleman, Fergal Condon, Donal O’Mahony
Pat Ryan has been very traditional Cork in developing the virtues of long ball and creating a sense of danger by getting forwards on the ball as quickly as possible. Modern coaching orthodoxy frowns on it but it’s been successful.
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