ONE OF the least surprising selections of the summer sees Cork start Sunday’s Munster football final against Limerick with just one enforced change from the team that so convincingly beat Kerry in the semi-final replay back on June 13th.
Kieran O’Connor comes back into the defence as an indirect replacement for the suspended Noel O’Leary, who received a straight red card the last day along with Kerry’s Paul Galvin. O’Leary was a late call-up for that game, and with O’Connor named at left-half back, Ray Carey continues in the right-corner back position, having effectively replaced O’Connor for the Kerry match.
Otherwise it’s very much a case of same again. John Miskella has recovered from his hamstring strain to start at right-half back, with Graham Canty manning centre back. Paddy Kelly, Pearse O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan continue in the half-back line, as does Daniel Goulding, James Masters and Donncha O’Connor in the full-forward line – Michael Cussen is again kept in reserve.
The remainder of the football action this weekend centres of Saturday’s first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers, where 16 counties look to put their championship back on track. Wexford’s task against Offaly, albeit on home soil, won’t be made any easier with the news wing back Adrian Morrissey is out after undergoing groin surgery. Morrissey sustained the injury late in the Leinster quarter-final defeat to Kildare. Former All Star Matty Forde is again out with a long-term back injury.
Meath will take on Waterford at Páirc Tailteann without forward and team captain Stephen Bray, who has a hamstring injury. Anthony Moyles is also doubtful, although changes are expected from the disappointing show against Dublin last month.
The meeting between Armagh and Monaghan at Clones looks the most competitive. Armagh welcome back midfielder Charlie Vernon following a broken jaw. However Stephen Kernan is ruled out following knee surgery.
In hurling, Kilkenny will again start Sunday’s Leinster final against Dublin without full back Noel Hickey, who has a knee ligament problem. Centre back Brian Hogan has returned to training after recovering from a broken collarbone, and likewise James “Cha” Fitzpatrick after breaking a bone in his hand. Manager Brian Cody won’t announce his team until after training on Friday.
Cork hurling manager Denis Walsh has made some interesting switches for Saturday’s first outing in phase one of the qualifier series against Offaly in Tullamore. Tadhg Óg Murphy of Sarsfields will make his first championship start at midfield alongside Tom Kenny as an indirect replacement for Niall McCarthy. Jerry O’Connor moves into the half-forward line, while Shane Murphy is named in the full-back line ahead of Cian O’Sullivan.
CORK (SF v Limerick): A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, A Lynch; J Miskella, G Canty, K O’Connor; A O’Connor, N Murphy; P Kelly, P O’Neill, P Kerrigan; D Goulding, J Masters, D O’Connor.
CORK (SH v Offaly): Dl Óg Cusack; S O’Neill, E Cadogan, S Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, T Óg Murphy; Jy O’Connor, P Cronin; T McCarthy; B O’Connor, A Ó hAilpín, K Murphy.
