Changes for Cork and Wexford for SHC clash

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has tweaked his team for Saturday's crucial All-Ireland SHC third phase qualifier against Wexford in Thurles (throw-in 5pm).

Damien Cahalane from St Finbarr's will make his Championship debut, taking on the full-back role with Brian Murphy shifting to the left corner. Stephen Banville will be Cahalane's direct rival on Saturday evening.

There is a second personnel change in the Cork defence with Eoin Cadogan, fresh from earning a Munster SFC winners' medal, restored to the left half-back berth alongside Christopher Joyce who made his bow in the 1-26 to 2-16 win over Offaly last weekend.

Niall McCarthy, who came on late against Offaly, is fit enough to start at left half forward this time around, while Luke O'Farrell has also done enough to warrant his selection at full-forward.

The Midleton youngster will be flanked by Paudie O'Sullivan and top-scoring captain Pat Horgan. In a notable switch, Pa Cronin has been moved to midfield where he will link up with Lorcán McLoughlin.

The four players to drop down to the Rebels' substitutes bench are Conor O'Sullivan, William Egan, Darren Sweetnam and Jamie Coughlan.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Stephen Banville and Paul Roche have been parachuted into the Wexford team for the third phase tie.

Eoin Moore drops to the bench to accommodate Roche's selection at right corner back, while Banville will take his place at the edge of the square in a rejigged Model attack.

With Harry Kehoe and PJ Nolan making way, Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng is listed at midfield alongside David Redmond and U-21 starlet Jack Guiney is positioned on the forty beside Garrett Sinnott who reverts to centre forward from full-forward.

Wexford and Cork have not met in a Championship game since the 2004 All-Ireland semi-final which the Rebels won on a 1-27 to 0-12 scoreline.

Wexford have not beaten Cork at Senior Championship level since they were 2-14 to 2-8 winners of the 1956 All-Ireland final.

CORK (SHC v Wexford): Anthony Nash; Shane O'Neill, Damien Cahalane, Brian Murphy; Tom Kenny, Christopher Joyce, Eoin Cadogan; Lorcán McLoughlin, Pa Cronin; Conor Lehane, Cian McCarthy, Niall McCarthy; Paudie O'Sullivan, Luke O'Farrell, Pat Horgan.

Subs: Darren McCarthy, Conor O'Sullivan, Stephen McDonnell, William Egan, Seán Óg hAilpín, Daniel Kearney, John Gardiner, Darren Sweetnam, Jamie Coughlan, Cathal Naughton, Stephen Moylan.

WEXFORD: Eanna Martin; Paul Roche, Matthew O’Hanlon, Keith Rossiter (capt); Richie Kehoe, Ciaran Kenny, Darren Stamp; David Redmond, Diarmuid Lyng; Jack Guiney, Garrett Sinnott, Diarmuid O’Keeffe; Paul Morris, Stephen Banville, Rory Jacob.

Subs: Mark Fanning, Eoin Moore, Stephen Murphy, James Tonks, Shaun Murphy, Harry Kehoe, Eoin Quigley, Liam Og McGovern, Aidan Nolan, Willie Devereux, Paudge Doran.