The Cork team to face Kerry in the Electric Ireland Minor Football championship semi final was named yesterday.
Theres just one survivor from last year's All Ireland final win over Galway, with Eoghan Nash of Douglas captaining the side.
The Rebels won the All Ireland Football Championship last year on September 1st in an extra time win over Galway in Croke Park, the first time Cork lifted the Markham Cup since 2000.
That means it'll be 471 days since the minors last played when they run out in Austin Stacks Park in Tralee tonight, and boss Bobbie O'Dwyer says they're relieved they're able to play at all, given the situation with Covid-19.
"It's wonderful for the young lads in particular, it's every young player's dream to represent their county. These lads have been knocked a couple of times during the year with the various lockdowns.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for them to come out and represent their county and go out and play the game of football that they love.
"The young lads themselves are really looking forward to it. They got a shock with the first lockdown. A young player doesn't look beyond the upcoming game, so we just kept ourselves busy during the first lockdown.
"The second lockdown was a bit of a shock for the players. But they're a fantastic group of resilient young players, and their focus is all on the game.
"Preparation hasn't been exactly as you'd like it to be, but that's the same for every county. It's an opportunity to go and represent your county and wear the red jersey, and it's a fantastic chance."
O'Dwyer is well aware of how strong Kerry will be tonight, and is prepared for a very tough battle with the Kingdom in Tralee.
'We're expecting a fantastic game of football. We're under no illusions whatsoever - we're going down to Tralee to face one of the best football teams in Ireland.
"Well go down fully prepared, and we have to concentrate on what we can do. Kerry will bring a top class game of football as they're a top class county and we respect them enormously.
"We go down with a very good group of players who are very resilient, and we're going down to do a job."
You can listen to the interview with Bobbie O'Dwyer in full on the Big Red Bench Podcast.
The Cork starting 15 in full:
1 – Callum Dungan – Carrigaline
2 – Fergal Walsh – Argideen Rangers
3 – Liam McCarthy – Castlehaven
4 – Daragh Murray – Glanmire
5 – Richard O’Sullivan – Newcestown
6 – Tommy Walsh – Kanturk
7 – Sean Brady – Ballygarvan
8 – Eoghan Nash – Douglas - CAPTAIN
9 – Shane Kingston – Ballinora
10 – Fintan Finner – Castletownbere
11 – Colin Walsh. – Kanturk
12 – Liam O’Connell – Ballincollig
13 – Hugh O’Connor – Newmarket
14 – Conor Hanlon – Buttevant
15 – Sean Walsh – Argideen Rangers
Substitutes:
16 – Diarmuid Byrne – Aghada
17 – Ronan Barrow – Ballinora
18 – Seamie O’Callaghan – Liscarroll/Churhtown Gaels
19 – Jacob O’Driscoll – Valley Rovers
20 – Sean Dore – Ballincollig
21 – Tadhg Cronin – St Colums
22 – Daniel Kelly – Naomh Aban
23 – Ciaran McCarthy – Valley Rovers
24 – Aaron Sheehy – Douglas
