Counihan makes changes as Cork look ahead

MUNSTER SFC LIMERICK v CORK:  ANYONE who witnessed Limerick beat Tipperary in the Munster quarter-final on May 25th can only hope for better here. Tipperary manager John Evans described it as "an awful game of football".

Limerick have gone backward since contesting the Munster final in 2004, losing to Kerry in a replay. Manager Mickey Ned O'Sullivan makes four changes from the Tipp game: Shane Gallagher, Jim O'Donovan, John Cooke and Ger Collins come into the side in place of Stephen Walsh, Tom Cahill, James Ryan and Dermot Phelan.

For the Cork players, tomorrow marks the first official step toward redemption after last September's thumping All-Ireland defeat to Kerry. But the new manager, Conor Counihan, has made it clear this is a team looking forward.

Just seven of the team that started in that All-Ireland final start tomorrow, and that's only partly explained by injuries to Kevin McMahon and John Miskella. Counihan hands debuts to corner backs Diarmuid Duggan and Brian Regan, wing back Paudie Kissane and midfielder Alan O'Connor, while leaving out James Masters, Michael Cussen, and Derek Kavanagh.

It could be Counihan just wants to give the newcomers their chance ahead of the showdown with Kerry, and if back-up is needed from the sidelines, Cork look far stronger there as well.

CORK:A Quirke; D Duggan, G Canty, B O'Regan; N O'Leary, G Spillane, P Kissane; A O'Connor, N Murphy; S O'Brien, F Goold, P O'Neill; D Goulding, D O'Connor, J Hayes.

LIMERICK:S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Gallagher; P Brown, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J Galvin, J O'Donovan; S Kelly, J Cooke, S Buckley; G Collins, K O'Callaghan (capt), I Ryan.

GUIDELINES:
In the last episode:They meet for the third successive year; Cork hammered Limerick last year, 2-14 to 0-7, and managed a dour 0-9 to 0-5 win the year before.
You bet:Another of the heavily lopsided games of the weekend, with Limerick at 7/1 outsiders, Cork 1/12, and the draw a tempting 18/1.
On your marks:There are plenty of changes in the Cork team, and it remains to be seen how much the players' strike disrupted their preparations. Limerick can make more of a match of it than last year, but Cork look far stronger in all areas.
Gaining ground:Unlike Clare, there is at least home advantage for Limerick, and that could be significant. The Gaelic Grounds suits their running game, and Cork won't want this to come down to the wire.
Just the ticket:As in Killarney, crowd issues should not be a problem. Stand tickets are still available at €25, €15 for OAP/Students, with juveniles admitted free. Terrace admission is €20, €10 for OAP/Students, with juveniles again admitted free.
Crystal gazing:The big hope here is that this will at least prove competitive, and while Limerick may not have the class to win, Munster football badly needs something more than a disappointing one-sided affair. Unfortunately that once again looks on the cards.