Murphy in for O’Leary as Cork face crucial Dublin test

THE Cork senior football selectors have made just one change on their team for next Sunday’s challenging showdown with Dublin at Parnell Park in the Allianz National Football League.

Gary Murphy comes in at left corner back for the injured Noel O’Leary.

O’Leary is the latest addition after twisting his knee in last Saturday’s win over Longford and will be out of action for a couple of weeks.

“It had been feared Noel had damaged his cruciate ligament as he was in severe pain after the Longford game,” said coach Billy Morgan. “Thankfully X-rays showed the damage was minimal but enough to keep him out of action for three weeks.

Morgan added: ” Colin Corkery is fit again but has done nothing in terms of training. I’ve never seen anything like the injuries we’ve picked up,, but I suppose it goes with the territory.”

Dublin have no injury problems and will pick from a full squad.

However, Tommy Lyons will be looking for more consistency from his side after surrendering a four-point lead to Fermanagh last time out.

Pat Roe has also postponed naming the Wexford team for the clash with Galway, but for different reasons.

The Model County will play Longford in the Leinster U21 FC this afternoon and there are three seniors involved. Centre forward John Hudson who failed a fitness test before the Sligo game last Sunday, is still doubtful for the trip to Tuam Stadium.

The situation is similar for Galway manager John O’Mahony who has five players on the injured list, and with county champions Caltra involved in the club final this afternoon, he’ll be keeping his fingers crossed nothing happens to the Meehan brothers, Tomas, Declan, Noel and Michael.

Kevin Walsh still hasn’t recovered from an injured toe, Kieran Fitzgerald has an ankle injury which will keep him out for two weeks; Gary Fahy played last Sunday after getting an injection in his hip, but O’Mahony said Fahy is very sore and may miss the Wexford game.

Disappointed at dropping a point to Meath last Sunday, Limerick manager Liam Kearns has received a timely boost ahead of Sunday’s game with Sligo in Markievicz Park with the availability of Jason Stokes.

The Drom-Broadford player has recovered from a broken toe and is certain to start.

However, Muiris Gavin is troubled with a back injury which forced him out of last Sunday’s game after 20 minutes but according to Kearns, is sure he will be fit.

David O’Shaughnessy (knee) and Donal O’Donoghue (hamstring) are ruled out of the Westmeath team for clash with champions Tyrone in Omagh.

Sean Boylan will await fitness reports on Nigel Crawford and Donal Curtis before naming his team for the visit of Armagh to Pairc Tailteann. Both players missed the drawn game with Limerick, Crawford with a toe injury and Curtis because of cracked ribs. Evan Kelly, who scored Meath’s goal against the Shannonsiders and injured his foot in the process, is considered doubtful.

CORK (SF v Dublin): K. O’Dwyer; S. O’Brien, G. Canty, G. Murphy; E. Sexton, A. Lynch, M. Cronin; M. O’Sullivan, D. Hurley; K. McMahon, C. McCarthy, A. Cronin; P. Clifford, M. O’Croinin, C. Crowley.