Cork make nine changes for hurling league clash against Waterford

New Cork hurling manager Kieran Kingston has maintained his highly experimental approach to the Munster hurling league, making nine changes to his side for this evening’s clash with Waterford at Mallow.

Last Sunday’s narrow win over Kerry means Kingston’s team should make the final if they beat Waterford. That hasn’t stopped him from making a series of changes, with Patrick Collins getting the call in goal in place of the regular Anthony Nash. Bill Cooper returns from injury to start at centre forward, while Stephen Murphy will make his competitive debut at right corner back, with Cormac Murphy named at midfield alongside Damien Cahalane.

Meanwhile Clare county board treasurer Bernard Keane admits that there are “no guarantees” that Cusack Park will be ready to host the Banner County’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1B opener against Offaly on February 14th.

A €2.3m facelift is almost complete at the Ennis venue and while new board chairman Joe Cooney is confident work will be completed in time for the Offaly visit, Keane admitted that “a few hurdles” still need to be vaulted.

“They are making progress,” said Keane. “I think around the 15th of February we’re hoping to have it ready for. It will hopefully be ready for the hurling game. The first football match is January 31st, a home game against Sligo, and I think that will be going to Miltown-Malbay. We’re hopeful that we’ll be ready for the hurling but there are no guarantees on that just yet. A few hurdles have to be cleared.

“There’s real progression in the work on the toilets and all of the different areas, all parts of the project and turnstiles etc. The whole project is costing €2.3m. It’s good value for money, we could have gone bigger but we feel it will be a nice, compact stadium when it’s finished.

“If everything works out according to plan, we’ll be pleased with it. We didn’t want to go too far into debt or put our clubs under financial strain.”

The GAA has now confirmed the four venues for next month’s All-Ireland senior club championship semi-finals: Navan and Thurles will host the hurling semi-finals on Saturday, February 6th, with Sarsfields of Galway facing Cushendall of Antrim at Pairc Tailteann (2.0), followed by the meeting of Oulart The Ballagh (Wexford) and Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh at Semple Stadium (3.45).

Portlaoise and Cavan will host the football semi-finals set for February 13th, with Dublin and Leinster champions Ballyboden St Enda’s face Clonmel Commercials of Tipperary at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise (4.30) while Mayo’s Castlebar Mitchels take on Armagh and Ulster kingpins Crossmaglen Rangers at Breffni Park (6.15). All four matches will be broadcast live by TG4.

CORK (SH v Waterford): P Collins (Ballinhassig); S Murphy (Blackrock), C Spillane (Castlelyons), C Buckley (Na Piarsaigh); P O'Mahony (Midleton), M Ellis (Millstreet), W Egan (Kilbrin); C Murphy (Mallow), D Cahalane (St Finbarr's); D Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Cooper (Youghal), P Cronin (Bishopstown); P O'Rourke (Na Piarsaigh), L O'Farrell (Midleton), S Moylan (Douglas).