Cork make three changes for Kilkenny clash

Shane O'Neill and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín have been pencilled into the Cork team for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final against defending champions Kilkenny.

The defensive pair have been troubled by hamstring problems of late, but are set to start this weekend's heavyweight clash at Croke Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

O'Neill has been included at right corner back, taking the place of Shane Murphy, while Ó hAilpín, who has not played for the Rebels since last month's drawn Munster final, will line out at left half-back.

Ó hAilpín is ready to return after missing the Munster final replay defeat to Cork and the recent 1-25 to 0-19 All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Antrim.

In all, Cork boss Denis Walsh has made three changes to the team that started against Antrim, with the final one seeing Pat Horgan recalled at right corner forward, in place of Paudie O'Sullivan.

Walsh has plumped for a rejigged attack as top scorer Ben O'Connor (2-24, 1-18f) has been moved to top of the left and team captain Kieran Murphy repositioned to centre-forward.

Cork are bidding to reach their first All-Ireland final since 2006. They last played Kilkenny in the Championship in 2008 when they lost an All-Ireland semi-final by nine points.

Walsh's charges managed to triumph on a 0-18 to 1-13 scoreline when the sides met in the National League in March. Free-takers John Gardiner (0-7) and Pat Horgan (0-4) did the bulk of Cork's scoring that day at Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

CORK (SHC v Kilkenny): D Og Cusack; S O'Neill, E Cadogan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Og Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, C Naughton; M Cussen, K Murphy (capt), N McCarthy; P Horgan, A Ó hAilpín, B O'Connor.

Substitutes: M Coleman, S Murphy, R Ryan, W Egan, J O'Connor, L McLoughlin, G Callanan, P O'Sullivan, C McCarthy, A Nash, E Dillon, P Cronin, M Walsh, M O'Sullivan, L O'Farrell.