The Confederate army was composed of militias created by local lords after the Irish Rebellion of 1641. The English force was made up of a contingent of soldiers sent from England and the English settlers in Munster such as the Boyle family –two of whom Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery and Richard Boyle, 2nd Earl of Cork fought at the battle. Barry seized Liscarroll Castle on the Awbeg river – trying to cut off the English held city of Cork. Inchiquinn marched his troops out of the city to re-take the castle and the battle was joined close by.