Sheehan named in Cork team

Eire Og clubman Ciaran Sheehan has been selected to start for Cork in Sunday's Allianz Football League Division 1 final against Dublin.

Sheehan sustained an ankle injury during an appearance for Cork IT earlier this week, but looks set to feature in the Croke Park decider (throw-in 4pm).

Cork manager Conor Counihan has made four changes in personnel to the team that beat Armagh 2-15 to 1-12 last time out.

Dual player Eoin Cadogan is suspended following the red card he picked up against Armagh. His place at corner back has been taken by Jamie O'Sullivan from Bishopstown.

The experienced Nicholas Murphy will partner Alan O'Connor at midfield, taking over from hamstring injury victim Aidan Walsh.

In the half-forwards, Paul Kerrigan, who injured his hamstring playing for Nemo Rangers, is replaced by Patrick Kelly.

Also in attack, Donncha O'Connor has been rewarded with the number 14 jersey after scoring 2-03 as a substitute against Armagh. He replaced Fiachra Lynch at half-time that day, and the same swap is repeated here.

The counties last met in a Division 1 final in 1999 when Cork won by 0-12 to 1-07. Nicholas Murphy was at midfield that day alongside Michael O’Sullivan in a team managed by Larry Tompkins.

Current Cork manager Conor Counihan was at centre-back when Cork beat Dublin on a 0-15 to 0-12 scoreline in the 1989 decider.

Hoping to guide the Rebels to their second successive Division 1 title and seventh in all, Counihan said: "Hunger is our biggest issue regarding Sunday. We're probably three months on now from returning from holidays and I expect our fellows to show that in a national final.

"We need to have the same, if not more, hunger than Dublin, but we will have to see what kind of hunger we have.

"We were particularly disappointed with our performance that night (when losing 3-13 to 0-16 to Dublin in February), but you have to give credit to Dublin for their displays throughout the league.

"This is a national title and you don't always get the opportunity. It's going to take a very good team to beat Dublin. Past meetings have been very close and I expect Sunday to be no different."

CORK (AFL v Dublin): Ken O'Halloran; Ray Carey, Michael Shields (capt), Jamie O'Sullivan; Noel O'Leary, John Miskella, Paudie Kissane; Alan O'Connor, Nicholas Murphy; Pearse O'Neill, Patrick Kelly, Fintan Goold; Daniel Goulding, Donncha O'Connor, Ciaran Sheehan.