O'Connor makes three Cork changes, Limerick go strong

Micheál Mullins joins his fellow Glen Rovers men Eoin and Rob Downey in the Cork half-back line.

Ciarán Joyce of Cork is tackled by Adam English of Limerick. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Cork hurling boss Ben O'Connor has made three changes to his side for Sunday’s Division 1A final meeting with Limerick.

Micheál Mullins comes into the starting 15 at wing-back alongside fellow Glen Rovers men Rob and Eoin Downey, while Séamus Harnedy and William Buckley replace U20 star Barry Walsh and Newmarket's Hugh O'Connor in attack.

Ciarán Joyce is at full-back for the Rebels, with Dáire O’Leary absent from the 26 due to a hamstring injury. Mark Coleman is included on the matchday panel, but does not start as he is nursing a slight hamstring issue of his own.

Tim O'Mahony and Tommy O'Connell team up in the Cork engine room, with Harnedy joined by captain Darragh Fitzgibbon and Blarney's Shane Barrett in the half-forward line. 

Inside, St Finbarr's duo Brian Hayes and William Buckley line up either side of Alan Connolly, who wears 14.

John Kiely has gone with a strong starting 15 for the Gaelic Grounds clash, while Darragh O'Donovan, Peter Casey and Dan Morrissey are fit enough to make the bench. 

Nickie Quaid takes his place between the sticks behind an ultra-experienced backline of Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes, Will O’Donoghue and Kyle Hayes.

Cork's O'Connell and O'Mahony will be tasked with taking on potent Limerick midfield duo Cian Lynch and Adam English, while Gearoid Hegarty and Cathal O'Neill flank the in-form Aidan O'Connor. 

Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien and David Reidy occupy the full-forward line berths.

Cork: P Collins (Ballinhassig); N O’Leary (Castlelyons), C Joyce (Castlemartyr), S O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); E Downey (Glen Rovers), R Downey (Glen Rovers), M Mullins (Glen Rovers); T O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), T O’Connell (Midleton); S Harnedy (St Ita’s), S Barrett (Blarney), D Fitzgibbon (Charleville); W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), A Connolly (Blackrock), B Hayes (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neill’s), G Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s), D Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), M Coleman (Blarney), E Twomey (St Finbarr’s), B Keating (Ballincollig), H O’Connor (Newmarket), R O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), P Power (Blarney), D Dalton (Fr O’Neill’s), A Walsh (Kanturk).

Limerick: N Quaid; S Finn, M Casey, B Nash; D Byrnes, W O’Donoghue, K Hayes; A English, C Lynch; G Hegarty, A O’Connor, C O’Neill; A Gillane, S O’Brien, D Reidy. 

Subs: C Ryan, P Casey, C Coughlan, F Fitzgerald, M Fitzgerald, E Hurley, D Langan, D Morrissey, D Ó Dálaigh, D O’Donovan, P O’Donovan.