Cork favourites to semi-final spot
Cork and Antrim face off in the All-Ireland quarter-final today for the first time since 1990,in a curtain-raiser the Rebels are strong favourites to win.
However, the northern minnows have been knocking on the door for a few years and the Saffron County are determined not to go down without a fight.
Antrim hurling manager Dinny Cahill fuelled the flames earlier this week when he criticised the recall of Brian Corcoran to the Rebels' line-up and questioned the ability of centre-forward Niall McCarthy.
He also claimed the Saffron County will emerge winners today, in spite of Antrim failing to ever register a championship win over the southerners.
Cork were given quite a scare in their National League encounter between the two in March in Casement Park, eventually winning by three points. Brian McFall (0-3), Ciaran Connolly and Liam Watson (1-0 each) were Antrim's top scorers on the day.
McFall and Watson take their places in a starting line-up that shows one change from the team that won the Ulster final replay against Down.
Liam Richmond comes back in at left wing-forward, Watson moves to top of the right and Darren Quinn makes way. The players took part in a challenge game against Munster champions Waterford last weekend.
Meanwhile, Castlelyons man Timmy McCarthy has been handed a starting role for Cork, after impressing in the Rebels' last match against Tipperary.
Following his substitution in the Munster final defeat to Waterford, McCarthy came on to great effect in the ensuing qualifier tussle with the Premier County, scoring a goal and a point at crucial times in the game.
McCarthy is selected at left half-forward in place of his namesake Garvan, in the only change to the team that defeated Tipp.
In spite of Cahill's blast this week, expect Cork to cruise to the semi-finals.
ANTRIM (SH v Cork): DD Quinn; M Kettle, K Kelly, B Heron; M McCambridge, K McKeegan, J Campbell; J Connolly, C Heron; M Herron, C McGuckian, L Richmond;
L Watson, P Richmond, B McFall.
CORK (SH v Antrim): D Og Cusack; W Sherlock, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Og O hAilpin; T Kenny, J O'Connor; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; K Murphy, B Corcoran, J Deane.
