Cork chiefs postpone club games ahead of All-Ireland final

CORK’s qualification for next month’s All-Ireland final has led to county board chiefs postponing club matches fixed for next week involving members of the starting 15 that defeated Dublin in last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Graham Canty, Ray Carey, Paudie Kissane, Noel O’Leary, Pearse O’Neill, Ciaran Sheehan and Daniel Goulding were all set to be action next Monday and Tuesday night but they will all now have a respite due to the desire of the Cork management to have a clear run for three weeks until the September 19 final date.

The games that are postponed are the premier intermediate football clashes between Bantry Blues and Nemo Rangers, and Clyda Rovers against Grenagh, the intermediate hurling tie between Aghada and Kilworth, and the intermediate football game between Cill na Martra and Éire Óg.

But dual star Eoin Cadogan will feature for his club Douglas against UCC in next Monday night’s Cork SHC fourth round clash while panellists Paddy O’Shea and Ger Spillane will be in action on Tuesday night. In total eight of the Cork panel are in club action between now and next Tuesday night, and manager Conor Counihan will be hoping his squad incurs no further injury problems.

Meanwhile Cork manager Brian Cuthbert has made three changes to his starting 15 for Sunday’s ESB All-Ireland MFC semi-final against Galway in Croke Park from the team that defeated Armagh in the last eight in dramatic circumstances.

James Goggin replaces Kevin Fulignati at right corner-back while Matthew O’Shea also comes into the defence at full-back.

O’Shea’s introduction sees Damien Cahalane move to midfield, John O’Rourke switch to right half-forward and Kevin Sheehan drop to the bench. The final personnel change sees Mark Sugrue replace Thomas Hegarty at full-forward.

Meanwhile Cork boss Pat Kenneally has made one change in personnel for Saturday evening’s All-Ireland IHC final against Kilkenny in Semple Stadium. Tadgh Healy comes into the team at right half-back instead of Donagh Lucey, while a positional switch in attack sees Brian Corry start at right half-forward as Eoin Conway moves into full-forward.

CORK (MF v Galway): D Hanrahan (Douglas); J Goggin (St Finbarr’s), M O’Shea (Glengarriff), D Murphy (Ballincollig); D Lester (Bishopstown), T Clancy (Clonakilty), J Wall (Kilbrittain); J Burns (St Finbarr’s), D Cahalane (Castlehaven); J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), D Fitzgerald (Kiskeam), A Cronin (Nemo Rangers); K Hallissey (Éire Óg), M Sugrue (Bandon), B Hurley (Castlehaven).

Subs: S Masters (Kilmichael), K Fulignati (Nemo Rangers), K Sheehan (Mallow), T Hegarty (O’Donovan Rossa), D O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), C O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers), D McEoin (Ilen Rovers), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers), S O’Mahony (Gabriel Rangers).

CORK (IH v Kilkenny): D McCarthy (Ballymartle); M Walsh (Kildorrery), C Fogarty (Killleagh), B Coleman (Ballinhassig); T Healy (Buttevant), K Hartnett (Russell Rovers), M Ellis (Millstreet); D O’Callaghan (Ballinhassig), B Fitzgerald (Douglas); B Corry (Ballymartle), B Cooper (Youghal), C Casey (Inniscarra); M Harrington (Douglas), E Conway (Fr O’Neills), M O’Sullivan (Tracton).

Subs: C Cronin (Lisgoold), A O’Brien (Kildorrery), J Halbert (Watergrasshill), B Lawton (Castlemartyr), K Lane (Kilworth), S Corry (Ballymartle), E Clancy (Fermoy), D Lucey (Bandon), J Grace (Youghal).