JBM places faith in youth ahead of Tipp clash

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made six changes from the team that lost to Kilkenny in the Allianz League final ahead of Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final against Tipperary.

Old hands Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and John Gardiner are two of the players to miss out on a starting berth, with Tom Kenny and Championship debutant Darren Sweetnam being preferred.

With Donal Óg Cusack out with an Achilles injury Anthony Nash will start in goal in place of Martin Coleman, while Conor O'Sullivan and Kenny resume in defence and teenager Sweetnam partners Lorcan McLoughlin at centre-field.

There are two further changes in attack where Newtownshandrum duo Cathal Naughton and Jamie Coughlan get the nod at left half-forward and right corner forward respectively.

Tipperary, meanwhile, will start the Páirc Uí Chaoimh encounter (throw-in 4pm) without experienced forwards Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett.

Kelly, who has amassed an incredible 21-357 in 55 Championship outings, has been dropped from the starting line-up after failing to impress in the quarter-final defeat of Limerick.

Tipp needed the influence of a strong bench that day and three of those substitutes have been rewarded with starting roles against the Rebels - namely, Conor O'Brien, Shane McGrath and Patrick 'Bonnar' Maher.

Out go Donagh Maher, James Woodlock and Kelly, while target man Corbett, who made a well-publicised return to the panel in May, is expected to appear as a substitute at some stage.

These great rivals are meeting for a ninth successive season and have already clashed twice in this year's Allianz League.

They drew 1-23 apiece in Thurles in April in the final round of the Division 1A group games and again three weeks later, also in Thurles, when Cork won the league semi-final by 1-25 to 2-15.

The winners of Sunday's tie will play Waterford in the Munster final on July 15.

CORK (SHC v Tipperary): Anthony Nash; Shane O'Neill, Brian Murphy, Conor O'Sullivan; Tom Kenny, Eoin Cadogan, William Egan; Darren Sweetnam, Lorcan McLoughlin; Conor Lehane, Pa Cronin, Cathal Naughton; Jamie Coughlan, Paudie O'Sullivan, Patrick Horgan.

TIPPERARY: Brendan Cummins; Conor O'Brien, Paul Curran (capt), Michael Cahill; Thomas Stapleton, Conor O'Mahony, Padraic Maher; Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath; Gearóid Ryan, Patrick Maher, Pa Bourke; Brian O'Meara, John O'Brien, Noel McGrath.