GAELIC GAMES/Cork team v Galway: All-Ireland champions Cork have named an unchanged team for Sunday's 118th All-Ireland hurling final.
This was much as expected after last month's gripping semi-final win over Clare.
There had been speculation about a couple of places given the subdued form of a couple of players, but John Allen and his management team don't make changes easily and are happy to give the go-ahead to the same team.
The side shows just one change from the team which lined out 12 months ago. Pat Mulcahy is named at corner back instead of Wayne Sherlock. Last year Mulcahy was just back on the panel after recovering from a broken leg, sustained shortly after his club Newtownshandrum's All-Ireland success.
This time it's Sherlock who must start on the bench as a result of the injury that kept him in dry dock for most of the early stages of the season. He has completely recovered but has been unable to get back into what has been a winning team.
In the semi-final, Sherlock came on as a replacement for Ronan Curran after 50 minutes, and he would have been first in line for a starting place had the selectors decided to drop the centre back with John Gardiner moving into the position.
Brian Corcoran, who was replaced at the same time as Curran in the double substitution that was widely credited with not alone turning the tide of a match that was running strongly against the champions but also with demonstrating Allen's ability to make hard calls, is fit again and lines out in his fourth final.
Although for much of his decorated career Corcoran was a defender, he will now have started more All-Irelands at full forward than in any other position.
Thirteen years ago he played corner back, and in 1999 he anchored the defence at centre back, before starting last year at full forward after coming out of retirement 18 months ago.
Overall this is an experienced side with seven survivors from the final of six years ago. As well as Corcoran, full back Diarmuid O'Sullivan, goalkeeper Donal Cusack, wing back Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and forwards Ben O'Connor, Timmy McCarthy and Joe Deane lined out in 1999.
Neil Ronan has replaced Corcoran to good effect in both the Munster final and last month's semi-final. He was mentioned as a possible addition to the team given the below-par performances of the McCarthys, Timmy and Niall, on the half forward line.
Cork will be attempting to record back-to-back All-Irelands for the first time in the new century, as well as to rack up a 30th title and go two clear at the top of the roll of honour. The county would become only the second - after the Kerry footballers - to break 30 senior All-Irelands.
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín will captain the team and is looking to become the first Na Piarsaigh player to lift the MacCarthy Cup. Cork have yet to lose an All-Ireland final to Galway despite the counties having met on five occasions, 1928, '29, '53, '86 and '90.
1 Donal Óg Cusack
(Cloyne)
2 Pat Mulcahy 3 Diarmuid O'Sullivan 4 Brian Murphy
(Newtownshandrum) (Cloyne) (Bride Rovers)
5 John Gardiner 6 Ronan Curran 7 SeáÓg Ó hAilpín (Na Piarsaigh) (St Finbarr's) (Na Piarsaigh)
8 Tom Kenny 9 Jerry O'Connor
(Grenagh) (Newtownshandrum)
10 Kieran Murphy 11 Niall McCarthy 12 Timmy McCarthy
(Sarsfields) (Carrigtwohill) (Castlelyons)
13 Ben O'Connor 14 Brian Corcoran 15 Joe Deane
(Newtownshandrum) (Erins Own) (Killeagh)
SUBSTITUTES: Paul Morrissey (Newtownshandrum), Martin Coleman (Ballinhassig), John Browne (Blackrock), Wayne Sherlock (Blackrock), Graham Callinan (Glen Rovers), Jonathan O'Callaghan (Castletownroche), Kieran Murphy (Erins Own), Cian O'Connor (Erins Own), Ronan McGregor (Na Piarsaigh), Shane O'Neill (Bishopstown), Neil Ronan (Ballyhea), Peter Kelly (Erins Own), Kevin Hartnett (Russell Rovers), Ciarán McGann (Castlelyons).
