Cork to play strong hand

Cork have named a strong side for Sunday's Allianz National Hurling League game against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Cork are already assured of a place in the play-offs with their unbeaten run in Division 1B, but Tipperary need a win to ensure progression to the quarter-finals at best.

Full back Diarmuid O'Sullivan is ruled out through injury, and into his place comes Pat Mulcahy. The rest of the defence remains unchanged from the team that beat Offaly last Sunday week.

There are two alterations in the attack, with Niall McCarthy taking over from Neil Ronan at right wing forward, and Alan Browne coming into centre forward in an indirect swap with Ben O'Connor. Jerry O'Connor moves out to the other wing.

Tipperary will name their team this evening, as will Kilkenny, who are also assured of a quarter-final place from Division 1A.

Clare manager Cyril Lyons has also delayed naming his team to face Waterford until after training this evening. With 11 players from the panel involved in an under-21 game on Monday evening, Lyons decided to give them another day to recover.

In football, senior panellist Declan Quill will captain the Kerry under-21 side which plays Clare in the Munster final in Ennis on Friday evening. Quill is named at right half forward.

Barry Cahill is likely to be fit for Dublin's Leinster under-21 football semi-final against Kildare in Navan on Sunday, despite missing the conclusion of the football league with the senior side because of a hamstring injury. Dublin are not expected to name their side until Saturday morning.

On the senior front, Ian Robertson continued his rehabilitation following injury with an appearance for Ballymun Kickhams at the weekend, his first game since last summer.

Elsewhere, Mayo's Kieran McDonald has withdrawn his application for a transfer from Crossmolina to Shrule/Glencorrib in Galway. The forward is working in Galway but has decided to commit to the Mayo club for the season, and is likely to play against Charlestown on Sunday.

Cavan captain Anthony Forde is an injury concern ahead of the league semi-final against Roscommon in a fortnight's time. He picked up a rib injury in Sunday's hard contest with Sligo.

The venues for the National League semi-finals on April 14th, which in Division One feature Cavan against Roscommon and Mayo against Tyrone, will be decided this evening by the GAC.

CORK (SH v Tipperary): D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, P Mulcahy, F Ryan; D Barrett, J Browne, S Óg Ó hAilpin; T McCarthy, A Cummins; N McCarthy, A Browne, J O'Connor; S McGrath, E Collins, J Deane.

KERRY (Under-21 football v Clare): D Hennebry; G Walsh, P Costello, B Dennehy; B Guiney, J Cahillane, S Curran; S Scanlon, M Finn; D Quill, J O'Connor, P Kelly; C Cooper, R O'Connor, DJ Fleming.