O’Connell favourite to replace Gardiner

Mickey O’Connell, Cian O’Connor or Pat Mulcahy for John Gardiner?

If, as expected, the Na Piarsaigh star is ruled out with a hand injury, one of this trio will line out against Wexford in next Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park.

Fourteen of the 15 that started the quarter-final victory over Antrim will again get the green light, with Gardiner’s replacement the only matter to be resolved when the management’s deliberations are revealed tonight.

There is no shortage of options available to Donal O’Grady and his fellow selectors, but it remains a guessing game as to the outcome.

They could move Tom Kenny back into the slot he occupied last year and bring in Mickey O'Connell to replace him at midfield to partner Jerry O’Connor.

Alternatively they could bring in Pat Mulcahy or young Cian O’Connor as a direct replacement in the number five shirt.

If recent club form is taken into account then the Newtownshandrum man would get the nod but a protracted absence from the inter-county scene due to a hand injury sustained in a car accident could militate against him.

O’Connell has plenty of experience on the big stage, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1999, and he is well capable of coping with an occasion like this.

O’Connor is an excellent prospect and is highly-rated by this management team but his lack of big match inter-county experience could be a factor.

It’s make your mind up time tonight, with O’Connell slightly favoured to get the nod.

Interestingly, if Cork win on Sunday and face Kilkenny in another final, it will be the first time in either hurling or football that both finalists will have arrived via the back door.