Rebels bidding to derail champs
Cork defeated Kerry in the Munster final with strong performances from senior panellists Eoin O’Mahony and Sean Kiely in defence while Kevin Hallissey was to the fore in attack. Cork have a strong midfield pairing in Andrew O’Sullivan and Daniel O’Donovan while Carthach Keane captains the side from centre-forward.
Sligo are All-Ireland champions in this grade beating the Kingdom in last year’s decider. They got the better of Mayo in the Connacht final by a point in June with centre-back Mark Quinn and midfielder Michael McGowan giving influential displays. In attack the scoring responsibilities will fall to left half-forward Vincent Frizzell and left corner-forward Gary Gaughan. The other All-Ireland junior semi-final also takes place this evening with Kildare and Lancashire meeting in Newbridge at 6pm. The Lilywhites are aiming for a first final since 1970 while Lancashire last contested the decider in 1963.
CORK: T O’Connor; E Wiseman, E O’Mahony, K Harrington; S Kiely, R O’Sullivan, AJ O’Connor; A O’Sullivan, D O’Donovan; T Clancy, C Keane, B Coughlan; K Hallissey, A O’Brien, L Shorten.
SLIGO: B McGovern; C Davey, J Martyn, K Cryan; S McManus, M Quinn, G Gilsenan; K Byrne, M McGowan; M Butler, J Hynes, V Frizzell; A Taaffe, J Clarke, G Gaughan.