Wexford v Cork preview: Codd back for Wexford

It took two games to separate Cork and Wexford in last year's Guinness All-Ireland hurling semi-final and the sides meet for the third time in a year today at Croke Park.

The sides will bid for a place against Kilkenny in next month's All-Ireland final and Wexford are looking for revenge for last year's defeat.

A late Rory McCarthy goal earned Wexford a draw in the first game but Cork easily controlled the replay, winning by 13 points.

Before last year, Cork and Wexford had not met in the championship since 1977. The Rebels reached the semi-final as provincial champions last year, whereas Wexford made it via the qualifiers.

However, the roles have been reversed this year. Wexford will be seeking their first semi-final win since beating Galway in 1996, when they went on to claim the Liam McCarthy cup.

With that in mind, Wexford have made just one change to the Leinster final-winning side for today's clash.

Inspirational marksman Paul Codd returns to the side at left half-forward in place of Barry Lambert, who has been ruled out through injury.

Codd has been sidelined for much of the season through injury, but was sprung from the bench in the Slaneysiders' wins over Kilkenny and Offaly.

Paul Carley and Eoin Quigley make up the remainder of the half-forward line, after both passed fitness tests.

Meanwhile, youngster Cian O'Connor has been chosen to replace the injured John Gardiner on the Cork team.

The U21 star goes directly into Gardiner's right half-back position in only his second senior championship game - he began the provincial opening round match against Kerry.

Gardiner was ruled out for the Leesiders after picking up a hand injury while playing football for Na Piarsaigh in a local championship match against Aghada.

The Erins Own youngster's inclusion is the only change from the side that trounced northerners Antrim in the quarter-final.

Castlelyons man Timmy McCarthy continues to hold sway with the Rebel selectors at left half-forward after impressing against Antrim and Tipperary.

Cork are hot favourites to set up a repeat of last year's final, but Wexford's flying full-forward line could cause an upset. The Slaneysiders are also still licking their wounds from last year's semi-final replay trouncing. Ten survivors from last year's game, on both sides, begin the match today.

CORK (SH v Wexford): D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, D O’Sullivan, B Murphy; C O’Connor, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O’Connor; B O’Connor, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; K Murphy, B Corcoran, J Deane.

WEXFORD (SH v Cork): D Fitzhenry; M Travers, D Ryan, D O'Connor; R McCarthy, D Ruth, J O'Connor; A Fenlon, T Mahon; P Carley, E Quigley, P Codd; M Jordan, M Jacob, R Jacob.