Team news: Cork name 12 of last year's All-Ireland final team for Galway clash
TEAM NEWS: Cork manager Pat Ryan has announced 12 of last year’s All-Ireland final starting team for Saturday’s de facto Division 1A semi-final against Galway in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm). Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Cork manager Pat Ryan has announced 12 of last year’s All-Ireland final starting team for Saturday’s de facto Division 1A semi-final against Galway in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm).
Eoin Downey, Seamus Harnedy and Alan Connolly, who are listed on the bench, are the only players missing from last July’s team for a game where a draw will be enough for The Rebels to secure a first NHL decider in three years.
Eleven of the side that began the comprehensive win over Clare in Ennis earlier this month have been named in the team. Patrick Collins returns to goal for Bríon Saunderson, Damien Cahalane comes in for Eoin Downey at full-back, Ciarán Joyce takes the place of Tommy O’Connell and Mark Coleman is in line for his first start of the league as he replaced Cormac O’Brien.
Newtownshandrum man O’Brien was successful in contesting his one-match ban arising from his red card against Clare and is among the substitutes as is Connolly, who has recovered from a recent bout of illness.
Meanwhile, Tipperary, who have already qualified for the April 5 final, have rested their U20 players among others for their clash with Clare in FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday.
With the likes of Darragh McCarthy, Oisín O’Donoghue and Sam O’Farrell expected to play in the county’s U20 Munster opener against Limerick on Tuesday, Liam Cahill has omitted them from the panel for the game in Thurles.
Gearóid O’Connor, Bryan O’Mara and John McGrath also drop to the bench as Tipperary make seven changes to the line-up that began the victory over Kilkenny. In come Brian McGrath, Willie Connors, Seamus Kennedy, Noel McGrath, Conor Bowe, Jason Forde and Dylan Walsh.
: P. Collins (Ballinhassig); N. O’Leary (Castlelyons), D. Cahalane (St Finbarrs), S. O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); C. Joyce (Castlemartyr), R. Downey (c, Glen Rovers), M. Coleman (Blarney); T. O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), D. Fitzgibbon (Charleville); D. Dalton (Fr O’Neills), S. Barrett (Blarney), E. Twomey (St Finbarrs); B. Roche (Bride Rovers), B. Hayes (St Finbarrs), P. Horgan (Glen Rovers).
: B. Saunderson (Midleton), E. Roche (Bride Rovers), E. Downey (Glen Rovers), C. O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), T. O’Connell (Midleton), L. Meade (Newcestown), J. O’Connor (Sarsfields), D. Healy (Lisgoold), A. Connolly (Blackrock), S. Kingston (Douglas), S. Harnedy (St Ita’s).
: B. Hogan; R. Doyle, E. Connolly, M. Breen; J. Caesar, R. Maher (c), B. McGrath; C. Morgan, W. Connors; S. Kennedy, J. Morris, N. McGrath; C. Bowe, J. Forde, D. Walsh.
R. Shelly, M. Corcoran, S. Kenneally, J. McGrath, A. Ormond, G. O’Connor, B. O’Mara, J. Ryan, B. Seymour, C. Stakelum, D. Stakelum.
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