Limerick make one change, Joyce absent for Cork

A hamstring strain has ruled Ciarán Joyce out of contention.

Thu, 09 May, 2024 - 13:00

John Fogarty

Seamus Flanagan is the only change to the Limerick side which plays Cork in the Munster SHC at at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday night.

Flanagan comes in for the injured Peter Casey.

There is a further positional switch, with Cathal O'Neill named at corner forward and Cian Lynch swapping to midfield.

Limerick are still without All Star midfielder Darragh O'Donovan due to a calf complaint.

Meanwhile, a hamstring strain has ruled Ciarán Joyce out for Cork. Mark Coleman comes in for the Castlemartyr man as Pat Ryan has otherwise announced the same team that began the loss to Clare last Sunday week.

Despite going off injured late into the second half 11 days ago, Tim O’Mahony is named in the back-line. Ethan Twomey was replaced by Coleman in the 49th minute of that game but is retained.

Tom Kenny: Cork must stay on the Pat Ryan line

Coleman had been dropped from the opening day defeat to Waterford. Robbie O’Flynn is not included in the squad, his and Joyce’s spots being taken by Bride Rovers’ brothers Brian and Eoin.

From the team that were there from the off in the narrow defeat to Limerick in TUS Gaelic Grounds 12 months ago, there are nine starters – Patrick Collins, Niall O’Leary, Seán O’Donoghue, Robert Downey, Darragh Fitzgibbon, O’Mahony, Seamus Harnedy, Declan Dalton and Patrick Horgan.

A draw against Limerick will not end Cork’s championship campaign. Providing they follow it up with a victory against Tipperary in Thurles on Sunday week to move to three points, they stand a chance of finishing in the top three for the first time since 2022.

That is regardless of what happens in the earlier game between Clare and Waterford in Ennis. A win for The Banner will push them to four points while victory for Waterford would see them jump to five.

Should Cork pick up a point against Limerick, a draw for the Déise would put them out of Cork’s reach. A point for Clare would see them climb to three points but not yet out of Cork’s reach.

CORK (SHC v Limerick): P. Collins (Ballinhassig); N. O’Leary (Castlelyons), E. Downey (Glen Rovers), S. O’Donoghue (c, Inniscarra); T. O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), R. Downey (Glen Rovers), M. Coleman (Blarney); E. Twomey (St Finbarrs), D. Fitzgibbon (Charleville); D. Dalton (Fr. O’ Neills), S. Barrett (Blarney), S. Harnedy (St Ita’s); P. Horgan (Glen Rovers), A. Connolly (Blackrock), B. Hayes (St Finbarrs).

Subs: B. Saunderson (Midleton), G. Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s), D. Cahalane (St Finbarrs), E. Roche (Bride Rovers), T. O’Connell (Midleton), L. Meade (Newcestown), B. Roche (Bride Rovers), C. Lehane (Midleton), S. Twomey (Courcey Rovers), J. O’Connor (Sarsfields), S. Kingston (Douglas).

LIMERICK: N Quaid (Effin); S Finn (Bruff), D Morrissey (Ahane), B Nash (South Liberties); D Byrnes (Patrickswell), D Hannon (Adare), K Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry); W O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), C Lynch (Patrickswell); G Hegarty (St. Patricks), D Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca), T Morrissey (Ahane); A Gillane (Patrickswell), S Flanagan, C O’Neill (Crecora/Manister)

Subs: D McCarthy (Glenroe), C Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), C Coughlan (Ballybrown), A English (Doon), G Mulcahy (Kilmallock), B Murphy (Doon), A O’Connor (Ballybrown), F O’Connor (Effin), D Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), O O’Reilly (Kilmallock), M Quinlan (Garryspillane)

TIPPERARY (SFC v Antrim): E Comerford; T Condon, J Feehan, J Morris; M Stokes, P Feehan (C), K Costello; S Grogan, C Kennedy; C Cadell, J Kennedy, P McGarry; J Kennedy, R Quigley, D Brennan.

Subs: J Rodgers, L Boland, T Doyle, E Moloney, M McFadden, S O’Brien, S O’Connell, S O’Connor, E Power, M Russell, C Sweeney