Jason Cregan (Tralee) stands on the brink of equalling John Walsh’s record (2009-2011) of three Munster Matchplay titles in a row. Jason’s quest will begin with a match against Tralee clubmate and Kerry Inter-County colleague Darren Goodall, who has returned to the sport in recent years after excelling in Munster as a juvenile.

Local supporters will be out early to watch 2020 Cork Strokeplay champion Rob O’Donoghue (Douglas) play Bruff’s James Ryan, 2018 Munster Inter-County winner with Limerick.

Seven time champion John Walsh (Collins) meets reigning All Ireland Matchplay champion Ray Murphy (St. Anne’s) in a repeat of the 2011 provincial decider at Claycastle, won by Walsh to complete that three-in-a-row.

A couple of members of Ireland’s successful World Cup squad in Spain last October cross swords in the Douglas first round. Two-time runner-up Damien Fleming (Deerpark) meets fellow All-Ireland Matchplay champion Kieran Earls (Bruff), who won the 2022 Munster Matchplay at Bishopstown.

All-Ireland Under 20 Strokeplay champion Eoin Keating is the second Douglas member into action and he plays 2023 provincial Intermediate Matchplay champion Phillip Burns (Brinny).

Michael Fennell (Lakeside) has experienced much success provincially and nationally, particularly in Inter-County combat and in Mixed Foursomes. A semi-finalist in this championship six years ago, Michael’s opening round opposition is provided by local man David O’Leary, the 2016 Cork Intermediate Strokeplay champion.

In another mouth-watering opening round encounter, 1998 and 2003 provincial kingpin Chris Scannell (Collins) meets his 2015 equivalent Tommy Hanley (Bruff).

National Matchplay runner-up in the successive years of 2022 and 2023, John Cahill (Fermoy) has never triumphed in the Munster adult Matchplay although he was provincial Juvenile Matchplay champion in 1997. Cahill will bring a rich vein of form (including a Fermoy Scratch Cup win last Sunday) into the 2025 Munster Matchplay in which he initially faces clubmate Philip Sweeney, winner of a couple of Dublin Matchplays during his exile in the capital!

2004 champion James Cleary (Larkspur Park) will do battle with fellow Tipperary man Stephen O’Reilly (Hillview), the 2023 National Matchplay champion.

Wily octogenarian Liam O’Brien (1996 Munster Strokeplay champion in addition to his All-Ireland Matchplay and Strokeplay titles) completes the home club representation as he tackles Hillview’s Paul Sweeney, a two-time Munster Inter-County winner with Tipperary.

2023 Munster Strokeplay champion David Sexton is opposed by fellow Cork player Graham Bouge (ESB), the 2024 Cork Intermediate Strokeplay runner-up.

Cunnigar’s Dylan Moroney is back to defend the intermediate title he won so impressively at Cunnigar twelve months ago. First challenger to the Waterford man’s crown will be Pat Kirwan (Douglas) winner of the Munster Strokeplay championship at senior level away back in 1983!

2024 Cork Matchplay runner-up Ian Leech (St. Anne’s) and Colin Hammond (Collins) will have to temporarily set aside their Cork Intermediate Inter-County teammate camaraderie as they open intermediate proceedings at Douglas.

2021 Cork Junior Matchplay champion Alan Duggan (St. Anne’s) is up against Glen O’Driscoll (Ballinlough) in another all-Cork clash.

Reigning Cork Matchplay champion Gerard Hogan (St. Stephen’s) will be hoping to build on that form as he tangles with Mark O’Regan (Tralee), two-time National Boy’s Matchplay semi-finalist.

Keith Richards (Fermoy) reached the main National Matchplay quarter-finals back in 2006 and will seek to bring that experience to bear on his match-up with 2024 McDonagh Junior Scratch Cup winner Noel Stapleton (Lakeside)

2023 Munster Strokeplay champion Darren Temple (St. Stephen’s) winning last weekend’s Fermoy Intermediate Scratch Cup winning form into his battle with Bobby McCarron (Listowel) who has delivered much success for Kerry Inter-County teams, both adult and juvenile.

1999 Munster Schools winner Shane O’Connor is Douglas’ sole standard bearer in the Intermediate championship. Cian Murphy (St. Anne’s), who was Munster Juvenile Matchplay champion in 2017 and 2020 All-Ireland Under-20 Strokeplay runner-up, stands in the way of O’Connor’s progress.

First round opponents Morty Ahern (Collins) and Ken Hayes (Larkspur Park) have both shone in Inter-County championships. Ken was a National Junior Inter-County winner in the blue and gold of Tipperary in 2019. Morty helped Cork to the National Intermediate Inter-County title in 2023.

Aidan O’Sullivan represented Bruff in the 2023 National Inter-Club final. Here he has been drawn against Tipperary Inter-County player and 2022 Eden Scratch Cup winner Celestine Ryan (larkspur Park).

Cork has a very strong hand in the junior championship with 20 of the 32 contestants representing Leeside clubs. Holder Paul Walsh (Collins) puts his title on the line against Paddy Murphy (Deerpark).

The first five matches out will be all-Cork affairs.

Mark O’Keeffe (Douglas) will have the honour of setting the championship in motion against 2023 semi-finalist and 2023 Munster Strokeplay runner-up Gerard Dinan (ESB)

Dinan’s clubmate Jamie Nagle is next up versus Fermoy Junior Scratch Cup victor Alan Abraham (Fermoy).

Kieran Power (Claycastle) takes on Niall Dwane (ESB) while Shane O’Mahony (Bandon) opposes Dan Ahern (Crosshaven), a Munster Inter-County runner-up with Cork last year.

The second Douglas contestant Michael McKnight (Douglas) will attempt to take a first step towards a home semi-final against Raffeen Creek Scratch Cup winner Dave Connolly (Crosshaven).

Bishopstown duo Stephen Conlon and Ian McCarthy were Munster Scotch Foursomes runners-up in 2024. They’re both in action here, against Evan Moloney (Larkspur Park) and Munster Inter-County 2024 winner Noel Lee (Tralee) respectively.

Gerry O’Connor (Larkspur Park) was ultra-impressive in winning last year’s All-Ireland Junior Matchplay championship on home turf. At Raffeen Creek he is confronted by ESB’s Tom Cantwell, a past Cork Intermediate Strokeplay champion.

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