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. 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. The quartet of changes come in defence. 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 replaces 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.
Limerick are to give former captain Declan Hannon and midfielder Darragh O'Donovan their first action of the year when they face Wexford on Saturday. Diarmaid Byrnes returns from suspension for the match in TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Meanwhile, Jack O’Connor, a substitute for Cork on Saturday, has been shortlisted for AIB club hurler of the year. The Sarsfields man, who along with club-mates Daniel Kearney and Cathal McCarthy is selected in the team of the year, is nominated for the top personal award alongside Na Fianna pair, Brian Ryan and AJ Murphy.
Champions Na Fianna have eight in the team of the year which also includes Ballygunner goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe. All-Ireland semi-finalists Slaughtneil are honoured with three selections.
In the AIB camogie team of the year, All-Ireland winners Sarsfields of Galway have seven inclusions including player of the year nominees sisters Niamh and Siobhán McGrath. They are joined by Truagh Clonlara’s Áine O’Loughlin, one of five from the Clare club in the team.
The winners of the individual awards will be announced as the teams of the year are honoured in Croke Park on Friday night.
: P. Collins; N. O’Leary, D. Cahalane, S. O’Donoghue; C. Joyce, R. Downey (c), M. Coleman; T. O’Mahony, D. Fitzgibbon; D. Dalton, S. Barrett, E. Twomey; B. Roche, B. Hayes, P. Horgan. Subs: B. Saunderson, E. Roche, E. Downey, C. O’Brien, T. O’Connell, L. Meade, J. O’Connor, D. Healy, A. Connolly, S. Kingston, S. Harnedy.
: S. Dowling; V. Harrington, M. Casey, B. Nash; D. Byrnes, D. Hannon, C. Scully; D, Reidy, D. O’Donovan; G. Hegarty, M. Houlihan, T. Morrissey; A. Gillane, S. O’Brien, A. English. Subs: J. Gillane, C. Coughlan, S. Finn, S. Flanagan, E. Hurley, C. Lynch, A. O’Connor, F. O’Connor, D. Ó Dalaigh, P. O’Donovan. E. Stokes.
: 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. Subs: R. Shelly, M. Corcoran, S. Kenneally, J. McGrath, A. Ormond, G. O’Connor, B. O’Mara, J. Ryan, B. Seymour, C. Stakelum, D. Stakelum.
Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner); Fionn McEldowney (Slaughtneil), Conor McHugh (Na Fianna), Kevin Burke (Na Fianna); Paul O’Dea (Na Fianna); Liam Rushe (Na Fianna), Shane McGuigan (Slaughtneil); Brian Ryan (Na Fianna), Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields); Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields), Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil), Ciarán Stacey (Na Fianna); Colin Currie (Na Fianna), AJ Murphy (Na Fianna), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields).
Sophie Cullen (Truagh-Clonlara); Sinead Hogg (Truagh-Clonlara), Laura Ward (Sarsfields), Clare McKillop (Loughgiel Shamrocks); Ellen Horgan (Truagh-Clonlara), Maria Cooney (Sarsfields), Tara Kenny (Sarsfields); Niamh McGrath, Sarsfields), Amy Boyle (Loughgiel Shamrocks); Klara Donohue (Sarsfields), Lucia McNaughton (Loughgiel Shamrocks), Aine O' Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara); Eimear Kelly (Truagh-Clonlara), Siobhan McGrath (Sarsfields), Caoimhe Kelly (Sarsfields).
