Former Cork captains Shane O'Neill and Patrick Cronin are among seven players that have been cut from the Rebels squad ahead of the start of their Championship campaign.

Manager Kieran Kingston has also released Paudie O'Sullivan, Cian McCarthy and Stephen Moylan following last Sunday's relegation play-off win over Galway.

The Rebels had lost all five of their Allianz League games up to that point before prevailing in the playoff.

Cian Buckley and Cathal Cormack are the other players set to depart.

Cork open their All-Ireland campaign with a Munster senior hurling quarter-final against Tipperary on May 22nd.