O’Neill makes Rebel return despite injury doubts

CORK boss Denis Walsh last night made three changes for Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Kilkenny from the team that defeated Antrim in last month’s quarter-final tie.

Defensive duo Shane O’Neill and Sean Óg Ó hAilpín both return to the starting line-up having missed the victory over Antrim with Shane Murphy and Ray Ryan the two players dropping to the bench.

O’Neill is named at right corner-back, yet speculation persists he may be unable to start due to the hamstring injury which prevented him from returning to full team training until Tuesday night.

Ó hAilpín is selected in his customary left half-back position in what is his first game since being substituted due to injury during the drawn Munster final against Waterford in July.

The final change in personnel comes in attack with Patrick Horgan returning to the starting line-up at right corner-forward, having been dropped for the Munster final replay against Waterford.

Horgan comes in for Paudie O’Sullivan who had struck 0-3 in the victory over Antrim.

Elsewhere the attack is unchanged with captain Kieran Murphy continuing in the centre-forward position that he was switched to for the Antrim clash.

But informed sources last night suggested that Sarsfields’ Cian McCarthy, who was involved with the county U21 side this season, may yet be handed a surprise championship debut on Sunday afternoon.

Jerry O’Connor and Patrick Cronin, who have both endured injury travails this season, have to be satisfied with places amongst the substitutes as will U21 captain William Egan, who has got on the scoresheet when sprung from the bench in the last two matches.

In all there are 11 survivors from the team that started the last championship meeting between Cork and Kilkenny, when Brian Cody’s men triumphed in the 2008 All-Ireland semi-final by 1-23 to 0-17.

The four new players in are full-back Eoin Cadogan, right half-forward Michael Cussen, centre-forward Cian McCarthy and full-forward Aisake Ó hAilpín. Both Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Joe Deane have retired since that game, while Jerry O’Connor and Patrick Cronin are on the bench on Sunday.

CORK SH: D Óg Cusack; S O’Neill, E Cadogan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, C Naughton; M Cussen, K Murphy, N McCarthy; P Horgan, A Ó hAilpín, B O’Connor. Subs: M Coleman, S Murphy, R Ryan, W Egan, J O’Connor, L McLoughlin, G Callanan, P O’Sullivan, C McCarthy, A Nash, E Dillon, P Cronin, M Walsh, M O’Sullivan, L O’Farrell.