Selector Ger Cunningham has expressed frustration at the fact that Cork will be without a host of players for their Waterford Crystal Cup campaign.

College commitments will rule up to a dozen players out of Saturday's quarter-final against Kerry in Pairc Ui Rinn, which will mark Jimmy Barry-Murphy's second coming as Cork manager. Among those unavailable due to their involvement in the Fitzgibbon Cup are UCC's William Egan and Jamie Nagle, and the CIT trio of Stephen McDonnell, Paudie O'Sullivan and Lorcan McLoughlin.

Cunningham told the Irish Examiner: "It's frustrating from our point of view trying to start and prepare for the League and a third of our guys are not available to play. But Jimmy was happy to co-operate with the colleges and we have no issue letting them play with them in preparation for the Fitzgibbon Cup.

"And, in the Fitzgibbon, they are playing at a level which is more advanced in their training, fitness and hurling than some of the other fellas would be. It's a very high level of competition and with matches for the next couple of weeks, it gives us the chance to see those players in action in a competitive environment."

With only five games to look forward to in Division 1A of the restructured NHL, the goalkeeping great admits the new management will have little time to put their stamp on the team before the championship.

"Every game will be competitive but it doesn't leave a huge amount of games from the point of view of experimentation. That's a balancing act - looking at what you have and introducing players as well to give them exposure. That's the challenge and at the same time trying to win those games because a good League run is important from a Cork point of view." Tweet

Most Read Stories