CORK'S hurling management has reacted sharply to the heavy defeat by Tipperary two weeks ago, by making five changes ink personnel and five positional switches in the side to face Kilkenny in Nowlan Park this weekend.
Team manager Jimmy Barry Murphy is evidently concerned by what he saw a fortnight ago. "It was a bit of a shock and exposed certain weaknesses that had previously been unseen. I thought Tipp were very impressive but we were poor."
Two of Cork's changes are brought about by injuries, to Mark Mullins and Dan O'Connell, but the remainder are unforced although young corner back Joe Deane is being rested. "He's had an awful lot of games," says Barry Murphy, "and we've decided to rest him and he also picked up a slight injury playing for UCC."
The axe falls most heavily on the full back line. Tipperary did well in this area with Michael Cleary, Tommy Dunne and David Bourke enjoying a productive afternoon.
Veteran defender Denis Walsh drops right off the panel after a particularly disappointing display and Christy Connery who was replaced by Eamonn Morrissey during the match, loses out to the same player from the start on Sunday.
Nonetheless it is surprising to see last year's minor Sean Og O hAilpin move to the full back posit ion. Starting at right corner back the last day, the young debutant struggled to deal with Cleary but his promise as well as his lack of experience has obviously been taken into account. "Sean Og found it hard and it was new to him but there's a problem at full back and we have to look at all options," says Barry Murphy.
Midfield was another area where Cork struggled against Tipp and both players from this sector are moved away Fergal McCormack to wing back and Mickey Mullins to wing forward. Timmy Kelleher moves out of the half backs to switch with McCormack whereas Kevin Egan, brother of Barry and a star of the 1994 minor team, who had a few outings in last season's League, comes in to partner Kelleher.
Replacing the injured O'Connell and Mullins are Ger Manley and Teddy McCarthy who after a couple of matches as substitute, is named at full forward. To accommodate this, regular full forward Alan Browne moves out to right corner forward. Kilkenny have named an unchanged team.
Tipperary have made just one change from the match in Corks for their home fixture with All-Ireland champions Clare. Aidan Ryan, whose father has died, was not considered and Kevin Tucker from Nenagh Eire Og comes in to join his brother Eddie on the half forward line.
There is also one positional switch which sees Brian Flannery and Michael Ryan swap corner back positions but otherwise the Division One leaders show a predictable satisfaction with the team that beat Cork.
Clare have a variety of problems that have postponed the selection of their team until tomorrow evening. A number of injuries plus the position of Sixmilebridge players, a fortnight before the All-Ireland club final with Dunloy, have contributed to the difficulty.
Brian Lohan, PJ O'Connell, Ollie Baker, Liam Doyle and Fergus Tuohy are all nursing injuries whereas the Sixmilebridge players are not currently training with the county. The club's corner back Michael O'Halloran was injured for the match against Kilkenny but is now fit again.
Whether he or his club mate on the first-choice team, goalkeeper David Fitzgerald, will be considered has yet to be resolved. Furthermore with so many injuries threatening the team, Sixmilebridge's Chaplin brothers may also come into the picture.
The death has occurred of Timmy Ryan, Borrisoleigh, who won All-Ireland senior hurling honours with Tipperary in 1951 when his brother Ned was also on the team. He also captained Borrisoleigh to the Tipperary senior hurling title in 1953.
He was father of Tipperary hurlers, Bobby, Aidan and Pat `Flowery' Ryan. A keen golfer, he was a founder member of the Hurlers Golfing Society. He is survived by his wife Bridget, sons Pat, Bobby, Aidan, Eamon and John and daughters Dymphna and Angela.
