Kiely set to start for Rebels
Seán Kiely of Ballincollig, who scored the crucial winning point against Kerry in the quarter-final, comes into the team at left half-forward as an indirect replacement for Brian O’Driscoll, who played at corner-back against the Kingdom and in the semi-final against Limerick.
Tom Clancy moves from midfield to take O’Driscoll’s spot in the full-back line, while John O’Rourke moves from number 12 to 8 to facilitate Kiely’s inclusion.
Clancy, O’Rourke and captain Damien Cahalane, who plays at centre-back, have played for the Cork senior team in the Allianz League this year, and are among eight survivors from the side which won last year’s provincial title at the age.
Cork are looking for a third consecutive Munster win and an eighth in 10 years.
Meanwhile, Tipperary manager David Power has refused to discuss the absence of goalkeeper Evan Comerford in his squad. News emerged over the weekend that Comerford, a 2011 All-Ireland minor medallist, would not be taking part, with sources indicating that a clash between the player’s soccer and Gaelic football commitments is the reason he is no longer involved.
Power did confirm: “Evan Comerford is not on the panel any more.”
As a result, Gearóid Slattery will start in goal, and Power has made one other change in personnel from the side that defeated Clare in the semi-final, with Darragh Kearney returning to the side at full-back following illness.
Liam Treacy is the man to lose out in the reshuffle and Michael Quinlivan has been named to start at full-forward, despite limping out of last Sunday’s Allianz NFL Division 4 defeat against Offaly in Tullamore.
CORK: D Hanrahan (Douglas); T Clancy (Clonakilty), C Dorman (Bishopstown), A Cronin (Nemo Rangers); TJ Brosnan (Newmarket), D Cahalane (Castlehaven), J Wall (Kilbrittain); J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), I Maguire (St Finbarr’s); A Cadogan (Douglas), M Sugrue (Bandon), S Kiely (Ballincollig); D MacEoin (Ilen Rovers), B Hurley (Castlehaven), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers).
TIPPERARY: G Slattery (Cashel King Cormacs); N O’Sullivan (Moycarkey-Borris), D Kearney (Clonmel Óg), C O’Sullivan (Galtee Rovers); N O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), S Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), P Dalton (Arravale Rovers); S O’Brien (Ballina), D Fitzell (Cashel King Cormacs); B Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), I Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), D Leahy (Arravale Rovers); L McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), M Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials), S Leahy (Arravale Rovers).
