Saunderson starts as Ryan names much-changed Cork side for Waterford 

STEPPING UP: Cork’s Brion Saunderson in action against Waterford’s Charlie Treen. Pic: Ken Sutton, Inpho

The Cork hurling team for Sunday’s visit of Waterford shows 11 changes from the side that fell to Kilkenny.

Brion Saunderson is named between the sticks, in place of Patrick Collins, for what will be the Midleton goalkeeper’s league debut.

Captain Sean O’Donoghue is the sole member of the full-back line from a fortnight ago to make the cut here. Joining O’Donoghue will be league debutant Cathal McCarthy and Damien Cahalane, the latter making his first appearance of 2024.

There is an entirely new half-back line; Ger Millerick, Ciarán Joyce, and Mark Coleman replacing Tim O’Mahony, Niall O’Leary, and Rob Downey. Tomorrow will be Coleman’s first start for Cork since the 2022 All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Galway.

Tommy O’Connell retains his place at midfield, and he is joined on this occasion by Ethan Twomey. The experienced pair of Conor Lehane and Patrick Horgan are the two forwards from the Kilkenny defeat to hold onto their starting berths. 

Flanking the centre - and full-forward will be Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy, making his first appearance of the new season, Brian Hayes, and Jack O’Connor.

Elsewhere, Dónal Burke will make his first appearance for Dublin in this evening’s game against Limerick since tearing his hamstring in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat. 

His Galway namesake David is at midfield for the county’s game against Antrim, what will be his first appearance in maroon since last March’s league win over Clare.

CORK (AHL v Waterford): B Saunderson; C McCarthy, D Cahalane, S O’Donoghue; G Millerick, C Joyce, M Coleman; E Twomey, T O’Connell; S Barrett, C Lehane, S Harnedy; B Hayes, P Horgan, J O’Connor.

WATERFORD (AHL v Cork): S O'Brien; C Ryan, M Fitzgerald, PJ Fanning; C Lyons, T Barron, B Nolan; P Leavey, D Lyons; P Curran, J Prendergast, N Montgomery; K Mahony, S Walsh, P Fitzgerald. 

CLARE (AHL v Wexford): C Broderick; R Hayes, C Cleary, A Hogan; C Galvin, J Conlon, D Lohan; C Malone, S Rynne; D Fitzgerald, R Mounsey, P Crotty; M Rodgers, A McCarthy, I Galvin.

GALWAY (AHL v Antrim): D Fahy; D Morrissey, F Burke, P Mannion; A Tuohey, C Fahy, Daithí Burke; David Burke, S Linnane; G Lee, T Monaghan, C Cooney; E Niland, C Whelan, J Flynn.

DUBLIN (AHL v Limerick): S Brennan; J Madden, P Smyth, J Bellew; C Donohoe, C Crummey, D Gray; C Burke, S Gallagher; R Hayes, D Burke, B Hayes; D Sutcliffe, C O’Sullivan, S Currie.

KILKENNY (AHL v Offaly): D Brennan; M Butler, C Delaney, T Walsh; D Blanchfield, D Corcoran, S Murphy; P McDonald, M Carey; A Mullen, C Kenny, J Donnelly; B Drennan, L Blanchfield, E Cody.