Cork sides show no changes

CORK FOOTBALL and hurling managers Conor Counihan and Gerald McCarthy have decided to leave well enough alone.

On the hurling front, McCarthy has named the same starting XV he watched stumble in the first half of last month's All-Ireland quarter-final against Clare. So, despite speculation to the contrary, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, "the Rock", retains the full-back role.

Should the Kilkenny forwards gain the upper hand on Sunday be sure to see the changes that have served Cork so well against Galway and Clare. That is John Gardiner being redeployed to the square's edge, Tom Kenny moving to wing back, Cathal Naughton to midfield and Kieran Murphy coming in at corner forward. Neil Ronan is again held in reserve.

With the footballers there is one slight positional change as Nicholas Murphy is again named at right wing forward but he is expected to operate in his natural midfield role to allow Graham Canty operate as the free man in front of the defence. The Cork captain may be given the job of wrapping up Kildare's John Doyle.

Derek Kavanagh is retained at full back (and finally given the number three jersey) but the massive impact of Michael Cussen off the bench against Kerry in the Munster final is not rewarded with a starting place. James Masters is again held in reserve while Fintan Goold is another quality forward who can be sprung into action.

Meanwhile, Kerry could be without centre back Aidan O'Mahony after he sustained an ankle/calf injury against Monaghan last Sunday. Although X-rays revealed no fracture, O'Mahony is confined to crutches and must be considered doubtful for the weekend meeting with Galway.

CORK (SF v Kildare): A Quirke; D Duggan, D Kavanagh, A Lynch; B O'Regan, G Spillane, K O'Connor; G Canty, A O'Connor; N Murphy, P O'Neill, S O'Brien; D Goulding, D O'Connor, J Hayes.

CORK (SH v Kilkenny): D Óg Cusack; S O'Neill, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, P Cronin, C Naughton, J Deane, P Horgan.