Dillon to start at full-back for Cork

Milford clubman Eoin Dillon has been named at full-back in the Cork team for Sunday's Allianz NHL Division 1 final against Galway at Semple Stadium (throw-in 7pm).

Dillon, a newcomer to the panel, started in the position last weekend when the Rebels beat Wexford 4-20 to 1-17 in a challenge match.

Team manager Denis Walsh has decided to keep the former minor and Under-21 player in place, taking over from the injured Eoin Cadogan in the pivotal role.

While Dillon's call-up for the final is a surprising selection, there is a degree of flexibility in the Cork full-back line. Both corner backs, Shane O'Neill and Brian Murphy, are accomplished defenders and used to changing positions.

Walsh's team shows eleven changes to the side that lost 3-17 to 2-14 to Galway in the final round of the league phase two weeks ago.

The four survivors are captain Kieran Murphy, Sean Og O hAilpin, Ben O'Connor and Michael Cussen.

Experienced goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack returns between the posts, with John Gardiner and Ronan Curran joining O hAilpin in a reinforced half-back line.

Jerry O'Connor and William Egan drop to the bench as Tom Kenny and Lorcan McLoughlin get the nod as the midfield pairing.

Sarsfields clubman Murphy will lead the Cork attack on the forty, flanked by Michael Cussen and Cathal Naughton.

Cussen has been moved out from the edge of the square, but may be switched back to full-forward depending on how Aisake O hAilpin fares in the number 14 jersey.

Free-taker Ben O'Connor and the in-form Pat Horgan, who scored 1-7 in the recent win over Tipperary, complete the Cork full-forward line for the county's first league final appearance since they lost the 2002 decider to Kilkenny.

Walsh is hoping to guide the Rebels to their first league title since 1998, with the additional carrot of achieving the county's first hurling-football league double since 1980.

CORK (NHL v Galway): Donal Og Cusack; Shane O'Neill, Eoin Dillon, Brian Murphy; John Gardiner, Ronan Curran, Sean Og O hAilpin; Tom Kenny, Lorcan McLoughlin; Michael Cussen, Kieran Murphy (capt), Cathal Naughton; Ben O'Connor, Aisake O hAilpin, Pat Horgan.

Substitutes: Martin Coleman, Shane Murphy, Michael Walsh, Ray Ryan, William Egan, Graham Callanan, Mark O'Sullivan, Jerry O'Connor, Paudie O'Sullivan.