Experienced goalkeeper Anthony Nash has been handed the Cork senior hurling captaincy for 2015.

The twice AllStar succeeds Pa Cronin who asked to "step back from the captaincy", according to a statement released by Cork.

The news was confirmed ahead of last night’s Canon O’Brien Cup challenge vitory over UCC (1-25 to 2-121) at the Mardyke.

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy accepted Cronin’s request “with regret”, the player having captained Cork to Munster success last year and to the 2013 All-Ireland final.

Nash brings a wealth of experience to the position having debuted in 2006 and stepped up impressively as a back-to-back AllStar following Donal Og Cusack’s departure.

Cork's first competitive game of 2015 is against UL on Saturday in the preliminary round of the Waterford Crystal Cup.