Sheedy out as Cork U20s make three changes, Kennedy starts for Kerry

RULED OUT: Cork's Dara Sheedy got injured against Kerry. Pic: Eddie O'Hare.

The absence of Cork senior Dara Sheedy is one of three changes to the Cork U20 football team for tomorrow’s de facto Munster semi-final against Waterford (Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm).

Sheedy was withdrawn 20 minutes into last week’s one-point victory over Kerry after sustaining a bang to the leg. Midfielder Trevor Kiely was similarly withdrawn at half-time because of injury.

Neither Sheedy nor Kiely are part of the matchday 24 for tomorrow’s visit of the Déise.

Corner-back Harry Wixted is the third member of last week’s starting line-up not among this week’s first 15. He is named on the bench.

Matthew Ahern of the Barrs, who started Cork’s opening game against Clare, comes back in at corner-back in place of the aforementioned Wixted.

Also promoted to the first team are forwards Luke Shorten and Dylan O’Neill. Both were introduced as subs during the 0-10 to 0-9 win over Kerry, with O’Neill getting his name onto the scoresheet. Shorten is selected in Sheedy’s No.11 berth, with O’Neill in the corner.

Mark O’Brien, half-forward against Kerry, goes to midfield to partner captain Darragh Clifford in Kiely’s absence.

Elsewhere, Tomás Kennedy has not been pulled by the Kerry senior management ahead of their Munster opener against Clare on Saturday, and so will again line out at full-forward for the U20s in their Banner assignment on Wednesday (Austin Stack Park, 7pm).

Kennedy, along with Daniel Kirby, was Kerry’s leading performer in last week’s narrow defeat to Cork, but with the Kerry seniors opening their championship campaign less than three days on from Wednesday’s U20 game, a fixture in which the Kerins O’Rahillys youngster will be in the frame for his senior championship debut, there was a question mark as to whether he would be involved for the U20 midweek tie.

The two changes from the Cork defeat are injury enforced. Corner-back David Mulvihill and midfielder Killian Dennehy both failed to finish the Cork game because of injury. Neither are part of Wednesday’s matchday panel.

Isaac Brosnan is selected at left corner-back, while Máirtín McKivergan comes in at left half-forward.

Cork: B Curtin (Valley Rovers); F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa), P Rose (Ballincollig), M Ahern (St Finbarr’s); S O’Leary (Kilmurry), C McCarthy (St Colum’s), O Foley (Bishopstown); D Clifford (Éire Óg), M O’Brien (Ballinora); D Miskella (Ballincollig), L Shorten (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), G Holland (Bishopstown); S Coakley (Douglas), R Barrett (St Finbarr’s), D O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).

Subs: J O’Flaherty (Douglas), H Wixted (Bishopstown), A Keane (Kinsale), L Murphy (Barryoe), B Corkery Delaney (Carrigaline), D O’Mullane (Kilmurry), S Connolly (Ilen Rovers), J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), J Cullinane (Bandon).

Kerry: K Robak (Dr Crokes); M Lynch (Milltown/Castlemaine), G Evans (Keel), I Brosnan (Castleisland Desmonds); S Ó Cúinn (An Ghaeltacht), A Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), P Walsh (Listowel Emmets); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), E Boyle (Ballyduff); J O’Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks), G White (John Mitchels), M McKivergan (Ballymacelligott); P Lane (Austin Stacks), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), R Carroll (Austin Stacks).

Subs: B Fitzsimons (Kenmare Shamrocks), D Stack (Kilcummin), M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), J Joy (Ballymacelligott), E O’Flaherty (Ardfert), J Curtin (Ballyduff), R Sheridan (Duagh), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), P Finucane (Tarbert), D Sargent (John Mitchels).

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