Cork lose skipper McDonnell for 2018
December 07, 2017
Cork captain Stephen McDonnell lifts the trophy after his side's Munster SHC final victory over Clare at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
©INPHO/Cathal Noonan.
Cork hurling captain Stephen McDonnell has opted out of the Rebels' squad for 2018.
McDonnell helped the Leesiders to their first Munster SHC title in three seasons back in July when they defeated Clare in Thurles but new manager John Meyler has confirmed that the Glen Rovers clubman will be unavailable next season.
"Stephen's not in our plans. He's taking time out in 2018 so he won't be available," Meyler told the Irish Examiner.
"Our aim is to get two players for each position. It always is. With the five league games, possibly league play-offs, the new format for the Munster championship, you're going to have to have two players for each position.
"But you're also going to have to trust players who may be injured, who may be tired - playing four Sundays in a row is very difficult. I've experience of that with Carlow and Kerry in the round-robin format of the Leinster championship, and I can tell you that by week three of that system fellas are on their knees."
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