CORK'S selectors include only two newcomers to senior championship hurling for Sunday's eagerly awaited Munster first round match against Limerick at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Joe Deane, a minor last year but a regular throughout the National League, is named at left corner forward and Fergal McCormack is selected at wing back.

Despite this statistic the team is fairly inexperienced. Only six have played in an All Ireland final and only five were on the last Cork side to win the title, six years ago. "No trouble picking it, it picked itself," was the content reflection of Cork's manager Jimmy Barry Murphy. "I'm pleased with the training in general. Kevin Kehilly has done a marvellous job, and they're as fit as they can be.

The main surprise is the omission of another star minor from last year, Sean Og O hAilpin, who also played regularly throughout the League. Barry Murphy has frequently expressed reservations about fielding players as young as O hAilpin and Deane but always stressed that he would not exclude them on the sole grounds of youthful inexperience.

"Sean Og has been handicapped by being in college in Dublin and not training like Joe (a student at UCC) because he's only here at weekends," said the manager. "He's also been carrying a slight injury that needs time but he'll be fine for Sunday. He's still very much in our plans and would be a definite option to come into the match."

Into the team at corner back comes Fergal Ryan, who came on as a substitute against Clare in last season's dramatic Munster semi final defeat. His performances last year were seldom convincing but Barry Murphy believes this was due to unsuitable positioning as well as an undeveloped talent.

"Fergal has been playing excellently for Blackrock and for us in recent matches. He's made the position his own and has come on an absolute ton. Last year he, was being used around the middle and he's not really a midfielder."

Also making his championship debut is Fergal McCormack whose hurling has caught the eye while playing in recent Fitzgibbon Cup tournaments for Waterford RTC. He is named at right wing back.

Another departure from the tested patterns of the League is the expected transfer of Brian Corcoran to midfield. The Texaco Hurler of the Year from 1992 has had a frustrating time in the intervening years. Moved from corner back to full back to centre back and this season to centre forward, the talented dual player's redeployment has been carefully thought through by the selectors.

It's not giving away any secrets to say that we have been struggling at midfield," said Barry Murphy. "At the same time, we felt that Brian was' cooped up and now has the freedom to express himself. He's very mobile and it suits him and us."

The captaincy of the team falls to Mark Mullins, the only representative of county champions Na Piarsaigh. Mullins had been by no means certain of starting on Sunday - even in the absence of the team's one injury problem - Ger Manley (who is named in the substitutes).

However, Mullins held off the challenges of Darren O'Donoghue and Darren Ronan to secure selection. Despite the harrowing defeats of the last two years, he has made good contributions to the team on each occasion and Barry Murphy acknowledges the track record.

"Mark has been injured and wasn't in great form during the league but he's come back into form a lot. In the past couple of championships he's been one of our better performers.

"Ger Manley is a loss. In a tight panel like we have, he's a big loss, but I'm philosophical. You're bound to get injuries coming up to a championship.

Earlier in the week there had been gloomy rumours about the prospects of full forward Alan Browne taking his place. His loss would have been a major problem for Cork as he has been a reliable goalscorer and willing worker over the last 18 months. Barry Murphy is, however, unconcerned.

"Alan was troubled with a leg infection. He got a cut playing for his club but it's not going to be problem."

The recall of Teddy McCarthy, 10 years after he won an All Ireland medal in his first season, was fairly predictable. In an attack where the wingers and corner forwards aren't physically imposing, he and Browne provide central strength.

The one debutant in the team is Joe Deane who has had an exhausting but successful spring. Only out of minors a year, he is subject to the usual demands on players his age. College activity led to a Fitzgibbon Cup medal, with UCC and although he had a relatively quiet finals weekend, his performances in the previous rounds had been exceptional.

"He's a great prospect," said Barry Murphy. "And I hope I'm not pushing him too soon. He's great potential and if there's a better corner forward in Cork, I haven't seen one."

The match has attracted a lot of attention with no one sure how it will turn out. Even the usually polemical odds at Cashman's book makers in Cork are undecided. The man who starts his first senior championship as manager isn't pretending to be any wiser.

"The bookies reflect the mood. I think people in the county know how far we have to go."