Cork hurlers need a few fresh faces to take down Waterford

When Cork lost their opening-round clash with Waterford last year, Pat Ryan’s reaction was swift and decisive.

The template team that emerged from the League was thrown out. Places were put up for grabs. Players seized their chance, and a new line-up emerged.

When the selection meetings were concluded by the middle of that week, nine players remained. 

Six were changed. Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Tim O’Mahony, Declan Dalton, and Brian Hayes have been part of the furniture ever since. 

Barring injury, so too has Ethan Twomey. Of the six who dropped out, only Mark Coleman and Conor Lehane, against Offaly, have started a championship game since.

That day, Cork lost by three points. Last Sunday, they lost…