Rebels hand Jordan debut for Cats clash

JOE JORDAN of Blarney makes his senior debut as Cork take on All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the Allianz NHL at Nowlan Park in Denis Walsh’s first match in charge on Sunday.

Jordan, who impressed during Blarney’s All-Ireland Intermediate club odyssey, replaces John Gardiner at right half back in a side that shows a number of other changes from that which defeated Limerick last weekend.

Ciaran McGann continues at left half back after replacing Seán Óg Ó hAilpín during the course of the Limerick game, while Kevin Hartnett joins Tom Kenny at midfield at the expense of Cathal Naughton.

Graham Callinan comes in at left half forward for his first league appearance of the season with Jerry O’Connor moving into the left corner and Niall Ronan filling the full forward position again.

Tipperary have made five changes from the team that narrowly defeated Dublin last weekend for Sunday’s visit to Galway.

Darren Gleeson from Portroe takes over the goalkeeping spot from Brendan Cummins. Paddy Stapleton is re-introduced at right half back with Brendan Maher losing out.

James Woodlock moves to midfield in place of Gearóid Ryan with Lar Corbett starting on the left flank of attack, while Tony Scroope takes over the right corner forward berth from Noel McGrath.

Wexford have announced an unchanged team for their crunch Allianz NHL Division Two tie with Offaly in Wexford Park on Sunday.

Waterford will not announce their team to play Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday until just before the off because of a catalogue of injuries that have ruled Ken McGrath, Tony Browne, Brian Phelan, Eoin Murphy and Seamus Prendergast out of contention.

Meanwhile grassroots GAA members in Cork are developing a ‘Clubs Forum’ in an effort to improve communications with the County Board, which will hold a meeting in the Maryborough House Hotel tonight.

The meeting will be attended by 32 delegates representing all divisions in the county and the forum, which arose from the recent meetings between the 2008 Cork panel and club representatives, is hoping to improve communication lines so as to avoid a repeat of the recent bitter hurling strike.

CORK (SH v Kilkenny): D Óg Cusack; S O’Neill, E Cadogan, C O’Sullivan; J Jordan, R Curran, C McGann; K Hartnett, T Kenny; B O’Connor, K Murphy (Erins Own), G Callinan; P Horgan, N Ronan, J O’Connor.

TIPPERARY (SH v Galway): D Gleeson; E Buckley, P Curran, C O’Brien; P Stapleton, C O’Mahony, S Maher; J Woodlock, S McGrath; P Maher, S Callinan, L Corbett; T Scroope, M Webster, J O’Brien.

WEXFORD (SH v Offaly): D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D O’Connor, A O’Connell; M Jacob, S Nolan, D Stamp; C Farrell, C Kenny; D Lyng, A Ahore, P Carley; R Jacob, S Banville, D Redmond.