Younger O’Sullivan set to make first start

PAUDIE O’SULLIVAN, younger brother of full-back Diarmuid, will make his first start in this season’s League when Cork take on Galway in the semi-final at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.

Star of Midleton CBS’s Dr Harty Cup triumph two seasons ago, O’Sullivan is named at right corner-forward, with Cian O’Connor taking over the left corner-back position from Brian Murphy. The Bride Rovers stalwart, together with Shane Murphy, Timmy McCarthy and Neil Ronan, were not considered because of injury.

Kevin Hartnett replaces Stephen White at midfield, Leigh Desmond is preferred to Kieran Murphy of Erins own at left half-forward with Ben O’Connor moving to right half-forward and Brian Corry taking over at full-forward Kevin Canty.

Meanwhile Tipperary have made two changes from the side that defeated Waterford for Sunday’s Allianz NHL semi-final showdown with All-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.

Benny Dunne comes in at midfield with James Woodlock moving to left half-forward to the exclusion of John O’Brien. Roscrea’s Tommy Fitzgerald, is introduced at full-forward with Lar Corbett taking over at top of the left from Pa Bourke.

And there is still no place for All Star full-back Declan Fanning with Paul Curran given the thumbs up to continue in the position. Clare are not expected to finalise their side to play Offaly in the NFL at Cusack Park on Sunday until just before the off because of a number of injury problems concerning Roy Donnelly, Alan Clohessy and Mark Turbridy.

But definitely out is team captain Michael O’Shea who sustained a leg injury in the last game against Wexford.

Although Offaly report a clean bill of health manager Pat Roe is also keeping his cards close to his chest.

Tipperary, following the tragic death of team member Darrel Darcy, are not expected to name their side to play Waterford at Dungarvan on Sunday until just before match time.

Limerick are awaiting fitness reports on Pa Ranaghan, Garret Noonan and Tom Cahill before naming their side to play Down away on Sunday.

Tyrone playmaker Brian McGuigan will make his first start in more than two years when the Red Hands take on Mayo in Sunday’s NFL clash at Healy Park. McGuigan has battled his way back from career-threatening leg and eye injuries, and he will once again don the famous number 11 shirt in which he has won two All-Irelands.

His inclusion is one of four changes from the side that lost to Derry last weekend. Pascal McConnell returns in goal, replacing Johnny Curran, while Mickey McGee, who also came in as a sub at Celtic Park, makes his first league start of the campaign, in place of Martin Swift. Ryan Mellon makes way for McGuigan, with Raymond Mulgrew moving to the right wing of the half-forward line, and Colm Cavanagh comes in at full-forward, with Niall Gormley making way and Colm McCullagh moving to the corner.

Both teams can mathematically be relegated on the final day of the Division One programme, but a draw will ensure the survival of both.

The losers of the Omagh tie are likely to avoid the drop, with Kildare needing a massive win over already relegated Laois to pull off what would be a dramatic escape.

Laois re-introduce Brian “Beano” McDonald for their tie with Kildare at O’Moore Park on Sunday. McDonald is named at left corner-forward in place of Ross Munnelly, while Cathal Ryan replaces David Murphy.

CORK (SH v Galway): D. Óg Cusack; S. O’Neill, D. O’Sullivan, C. O’Connor; J. Gardiner, E. Cadogan, S. Óg Ó h-Ailpin; T. Kenny, K. Hartnett; B. O’Connor, N. McCarthy, L. Desmond; P. O’Sullivan, B. Corry, C. Naughton.

Subs: A Nash, R Curran, C McGann, C Murphy (Erins Own), S White, P Cronin, J Deane, P Horgan , K Canty.

TIPPERARY (SH v Kilkenny): B. Cummins; E. Buckley, P. Curran, C. O’Brien; E. Corcoran, C. O’Mahony, S. Maher; B. Dunne, S. McGrath; S. Butler, R. O’Dwyer, J. Woodlock; E. Kelly, T. Fitzgerald, L. Corbett.

WESTMEATH (SH v Down): M. Briody; G> Glavin, P. Greville, C. Jordan; D. Curley, D. McCormack, A. Price; P. Clarke, B. Connaughton; P. Dowall, B. Murtagh, E. Loughlin; N. Killcoyne, J. Shaw, D. McNicholl.

TYRONE (SF v Mayo): P. McConnell; R. McMenamin, J. McMahon, M. McGee; D. Harte, C. Gormley, P. Jordan; C. Holmes, S. Cavanagh; R. Mulgrew, B. McGuigan, E. McGinley; T. McCullagh, C. Cavanagh, T. McGuigan.

DERRY (SF v Donegal): J. Deighan; K. McGuigan, K. McCloy, F. Mac Eldowney; L. Hinphey, G. O’Kane, M. McIvor; F. Doherty, J. Conway; M. Lynch, B. McGoldrick, E. Muldoon; C. Gilligan, P. Bradley, E. Bradley.

LAOIS (SF Kildare): M. Nolan; C. Ryan, M. Timmons, C. Healy; P. O’Leary, D. Rooney, P. McMahon; P. B. Quigley, J. O’Loughlin; B. McCormack, P. Lawlor, B. Sheehan; M. Tierney, C. Kelly. B. McDonald.

MAYO (SF Tyrone): D. Clarke, K. Higgins, K. Conroy, C. Boyle, D. Heaney, T. Howley, T. Cunniffe, R. McGarrity, T. Parsons, J. Gill, A. Dillon, A. Campbell, C. Mortimer, A O’Malley, A Moran.