Cuthbert brings back the dual stars
Having featured for the hurlers in the Munster semi-final replay against Waterford, Eoin Cadogan, Damien Cahalane and Aidan Walsh were substitutes in last Saturday week’s win over Tipperary.
However, Brian Cuthbert has chosen to start the three to face their keenest rivals and they are the only personnel changes to the team that started the nervy semi-final.
Andrew O’Sullivan, Mark Collins and John Hayes make way for the trio with Thomas Clancy moving to centre-back as a result of Cadogan’s inclusion at full-back. With Cahalane being introduced, John O’Rourke moves to the half-forward line. Patrick Kelly slides across from right half to centre forward, although he is expected to play at centre-back, and Barry O’Driscoll wears the No 15 jersey.
Walsh was a 34th minute substitute for O’Sullivan 12 days ago while Cadogan came on for Daniel Goulding at half-time. Cahalane was an unused substitute.
The team shows just three changes from the side that lost last year’s Munster final to Kerry in Killarney. The retired Paudie Kissane, Noel O’Leary and Graham Canty are replaced by Noel Galvin, Paddy Kelly and Barry O’Driscoll.
Of the side that beat Cork in the 2012 Munster semi-final, the counties’ last Championship meeting in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, there are just five survivors on Sunday — Cadogan, captain Michael Shields, Walsh, Kelly and Kerrigan. The same five with Goulding began Cork’s 2010 victorious All-Ireland final.
Donncha O’Connor was not considered for inclusion having only returned to full training at the weekend. The Ballydesmond man was ruled out of the Tipperary game with an ankle injury. Kevin Crowley and Brian O’Driscoll remain on the injury list although the latter was back in training this week.
Meanwhile, Galway manager Alan Mulholland has received a timely boost ahead of Sunday week’s Connacht final against Mayo with corner-back Joss Moore set to return for his first game since the league.
The corner-back has been out with a troublesome knee cartilage injury which saw him miss the Connacht championship wins over London and Sligo. The 23-year old doctor returned to action for his club Mountbellew/Moylough at the weekend and encountered no problems in their 2-15 to 1-7 win.
CORK (SFC v Kerry): K O’Halloran (Bishopstown); M Shields (St Finbarr’s), E Cadogan (Douglas), N Galvin (Ballincollig); J Loughrey (Mallow), T Clancy (Clonakilty), D Cahalane (Castlehaven); A Walsh (Kanturk), F Goold (Macroom); P Kelly (Ballincollig), P Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); D Goulding (Eire Óg), B Hurley (Castlehaven), B O’Driscoll (Nemo Rangers).
Subs: D Hanrahan (Douglas), J O’Sullivan (Bishopstown), T Clancy (Fermoy), C Dorman (Bishopstown), A O’Sullivan (Castletownbere), R Deane (Bantry Blues), Colm O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCárthaigh), M Collins (Castlehaven), C O’Neill (Ballyclough), J Hayes (Carbery Rangers), D Hodnett (O’Donovan Rossa).
