Cork's football selectors have made four changes from the team which was heavily defeated by Down last Sunday for their National League meeting with Limerick this weekend. There is also some interesting positional switches in the side. Most notably Steven O'Brien moves from full back to centre forward in an obvious attempt to ignite an attack that only managed 1-2 in the defeat by Down. In other switches, Sean Og O hAilpin lines out at full back, while Stephen Dinneen, last week's centre forward, moves to the wing.
Three of the changes in personnel are enforced. The Castlehaven contingent of Brian Collins, Niall Cahalane and Colin Crowley are involved in the Munster club semi-final against Laune Rangers. Ollie O'Sullivan, the fourth change, is left out.
They are replaced by Michael O'Donovan at right corner back, Donagh Wiseman at left corner back, Ronan McCarthy at left half back and Michael Harrington at right full forward. The availability of Cahalane for Castlehaven's postponed match against Laune is still in doubt. Cahalane's name was mentioned in the report of the referee, Niall Barrett, after his team's defeat by Beara in the Cork county final and Cahalane was given a personal hearing by Cork's Games Administration Committee last Friday night. It is understood that Cahalane asked for time to call witnesses and this request was granted, but at least one of the witnesses is out of the country at the moment. However, if he is heard before the weekend and if Cahalane is suspended, it would mean that he will not be available on Sunday.
Clare, who have had an up and down start to their National League campaign - won one, drew one, lost one is their record to date - have a number of problems as they travel to Aughrim to take on Wicklow. Charles O'Loughlin is out of the country on business, Joe Considine and Ger Keane are injured and Tom Morrissey has had a family bereavement. The Clare selectors have, however, selected the same defence and midfield as played in the win over Limerick, but have left the left half forward position vacant.
Cork (SF v Limerick): P Mackey; M O'Donovan, S Og O hAilpin, D Wiseman; M Cronin, B Corcoran, R McCarthy; P Hegarty, N Murphy; C O'Sullivan, S O'Brien, S Dinneen; M Harrington, J Kavanagh, A Dorgan.
Clare (SF v Wicklow): J O'Halloran; N Hawes, R Rouine, D O'Driscoll; B Keating, P Gallagher, A Malone; D O'Sullivan, P Cosgrove; J Enright, M Daly, A N Other; B Lynch, S Hehir, F McInerney. Subs: F Maguire, P McMahon, E McGuane, G Quinlan, F Griffin, A Daly, C Shannon, M Liddane, P Cantwell, C Nagel, D Moloney.
