Kelleher makes four changes for Kerry clash

CORK boss Niall Kelleher has made four changes for tonight’s Munster JFC final against Kerry in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7.30pm from the team that defeated Waterford at the semi-final stage.

In defence Enda Wiseman, who was a member of the Cork team that claimed All-Ireland junior honours in 2009, comes in at right corner-back in place of Rory Buckley. There are three new faces into the attack with Matthew Dilworth starting at right half-forward while Kevin Hallissey and Tom Clancy, who won Munster U21 medals with Cork earlier this season, are selected in the corner-forward positions.

Hallissey has recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the earlier rounds while Clancy is rewarded for an impressive second-half performance against Waterford when he struck two goals after being sprung from the bench.

The three players to lose out are Seamus O’Sullivan, who is out for the year with cruciate ligament damage, while Kevin O’Driscoll is gone to Boston for the summer and Mark Cronin drops to the bench. There are four new faces on the Cork bench with Peter Daly and Jamie Wall, who were both wing-backs for the Cork U21s this year, included amongst the substitutes along with Murt Kelleher and Liam Shorten.

Kerry manager Kerry O’Sullivan has made two changes in personnel from the side that defeated Limerick at the semi-final stage. Brian McGuire comes in at centre-back with Brian Costello moving to midfield instead of Mike Coakley, while in attack Paul Kennelly replaces Michael Brennan at left half-forward. McGuire was a member of the Kerry senior panel that claimed Munster honours against Cork last Sunday. Eight players between the two squads were involved when the counties squared off in the Munster U21 football final in Páirc Uí Rinn back in April. Brian Coughlan, Hallissey, Clancy, Daly and Wall are the Cork representatives while James Walsh, Alan Fitzgerald and Pa Kilkenny were the Kerry trio involved in that game.

CORK (JF v Kerry): T O’Connor (Douglas); E Wiseman (Castletownbere), E O’Mahony (Macroom), K Harrington (Bantry Blues); S Kiely (Macroom), R O’Sullivan (Kinsale), AJ O’Connor (Kiskeam); D O’Donovan (Bishopstown), A O’Sullivan (Castletownbere); M Dilworth (Knocknagree), C Keane (Newcestown), B Coughlan (Kinsale); K Hallissey (Éire Óg), A O’Brien (Kildorrery), T Clancy (Fermoy).

Subs: S Murphy (Lyre), P Gayer (Castlemagner), R Buckley (Macroom), P Daly (St Mary’s), J Wall (Kilbrittain), M Kelleher (Whites Cross), M Cronin (Gabriel Rangers), H Dockery (Mallow), L Shorten (Ballingeary).

KERRY (JF v Cork): S Óg Ó Ciardubháin (Cordal); K O’Dwyer (Waterville), S Brosnan (Kerins O’Rahillys), C O’Mahony (Ballydonoghue); E Hickson (Annascaul), B McGuire (Listowel Emmets), J Walsh (Knocknagoshel); B Costello (John Mitchels), A Garnett (Spa); G Sayers (Keel), M Murphy (Gneeveguilla), P Kennelly (Ballydonoghue); G O’Grady (Glenbeigh/Glencar), B Poff (St Pat’s), A Fitzgerald (Castlegregory).

Subs: P O’Sullivan (Churchill), P Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar), M Coakley (Scartaglen), T McGoldrick (Brosna), K O’Connor (Listowel Emmets), F Courtney (Beaufort), P O’Connor (Gneeveguilla), D O’Callaghan (St Pat’s), G O’Driscoll (Skellig Rangers).