Skipper Cronin gets nod to start for Cork

Cork senior hurling captain Patrick Cronin has been passed fit to start in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final showdown against Tipperary.

Cronin was forced off at half-time in the Munster final victory over Limerick with a hairline fracture in his ankle, a medical boot fitted for the subsequent three weeks in order to fast-track his recovery.

Serious question marks hung over the fitness of the Bishopstown hurler, having only returned to full training last Thursday week, but management are confident Cronin will see out the 70 minutes, naming the captain on the edge of the square.

The Cork team is unchanged from the side which overcame Limerick 2-24 to 0-24 on July 13. Cork footballer Mark Collins, though not named on the Cork panel for Sunday, has impressed the hurling management since called in to train with the squad. The Douglas hurler, who plays football with Castlehaven, has been involved with Brian Cuthbert’s Cork football side all summer and has very little hurling done. The 24-year old lined out at wing-forward in Douglas’ first round win over Sars in the local championship, contributing 0-2. His inclusion in the Cork hurling camp brings to four the number of dual players in the hurling set-up.

Tipperary, meanwhile, have also named an unchanged side from the team which scored a 2-23 to 0-16 quarter-final victory over Dublin three weeks ago.

Manager Eamon O’Shea has kept faith with Paddy Stapleton at left corner-back. The Borris-Ileigh defender retains the number four shirt despite the return to fitness of Michael Cahill.

The Thurles Sarsfields hurler was ruled out of the Dublin fixture with a knee complaint and must be content with a place on the bench.

A crowd of 60,000 is expected at Croke Park on Sunday, which would be the largest hurling attendance in 2014. Just over 45,000 patrons filed through the turnstiles on Jones Road for last Sunday’s meeting of Kilkenny and Limerick, but GAA top-brass are forecasting a sizeable hike in the attendance figure for the second semi. Cork and Tipperary have never before clashed at the All-Ireland semi-final juncture, their last championship meeting dating back to 2011 where the Premier County recorded a comfortable 3-22 to 0-23 first round win in Munster.