There is but they won't play, they have retired in their late twenties. Ricken went with a youth policy because of the success in 2019 and the vast majority of those players are injured. An even bigger joke is that only about 5 of the 2019 AI minor winning team are available to this year's U-20 team, the rest are all injured and mostly long term. They can blame KOD, hurling all they want but I'd seriously look at what programmes trainers have set for players and how the players are being trained and coached at the sessions. KOD gave Ronan McCarthy another opportunity but it was similar for Kieran Kingston. The hurling management have selected 19 year olds on the team but they have proven their worth and have the skillset, there doesn't seem to be any such development of players from underage to senior in football. The hurlers also held on to the mainstay of their older players which is crucial.
Regarding next Sunday and the immediate future I believe it will take Brian Hayes some time to adjust and develop, although he's tall he is similar in physique to many of the current Cork players who are struggling. Hayes should have some part to play v Down. Brian Murphy of Nemo is a player that should have been introduced to the set up, he never played inter-county minor but played U-21 at 18 for Cork and is about 23/24 now.
Overall Thomas Clancy, Daniel O'Mahony, Sean Meehan and Sean Powter are all nailed on starters in defence if available and we have to realise that they are currently irreplacable but development of other players is paramount.
