Midfielders Jerry O'Connor and Tom Kenny return to the Cork team for Sunday's National Hurling League semi-final against Waterford. Both players had been troubled with injury in recent weeks, but having appeared as substitutes in the final-round win over Clare are now ready to return to the starting line-up in Thurles.
As a result, John Gardiner is surprisingly dropped to the bench, with two further changes in the forward line. Patrick Cronin and Eoin Murphy take over from Timmy McCarthy and Cathal Naughton, with Neil Ronan continuing to hold down the full-forward spot alongside Joe Deane. While Gardiner started at midfield against Clare, his usual role in the half-back line is taken Kevin Hartnett, who starts alongside the familiar Ronan Curran and Sean Óg Ó hAilpín. Ben O'Connor remains on the long-term injury list.
CORK (SH v Waterford): D Óg Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, C O'Connor, K Hartnett, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpin; T Kenny, J O'Connor; P Cronin, N McCarthy, K Murphy; E Murphy, N Ronan, J Deane.
