Davy Fitzgerald will reveal his hand tomorrow but the Cork team to face All-Ireland champions Clare has been released by Jimmy Barry Murphy. And it's the same 15 that beat Waterford 0-28 to 0-14 in last weekend's Munster championship quarter-final replay.
That means several departments have been strengthened from the side which finally lost last September’s gripping decider in Croke Park. The most intriguing changes are the commitment of footballers Aidan Walsh and Damien Cahalane to the hurling cause.
Walsh adds size and power to the Cork midfield, without losing the mobility delivered by Lorcan McLoughlin and Daniel Kearney as McLoughlin moves to wing back.
Cahalane’s presence at fullback, either side of Shane O’Neill and Stephen McDonnell, brings a solidity arguably absent in 2013, and offsets the retirement of Brian Murphy.
Instant bonus
Then there is the inclusion of Mark Ellis, Bill Cooper and Alan Cadogan in Barry-Murphy’s starting line-up while the return of Paudie O’Sullivan, after a horrific leg injury, provided an instant bonus against Waterford. The Cloyne forward clipped over two points in a 10-minute cameo when replacing Kearney last weekend.
Alan’s brother Eoin Cadogan is named as a reserve.
Those who started last year’s All-Ireland final replay who are not included this Sunday are Conor O’Sullivan, William Egan, Cian McCarthy, Luke O’Farrell and Murphy.
O’Farrell is another to return from injury but has not reached the required fitness levels to make the panel. Séamus Harnedy is named at wing forward with Pa Cronin in the corner.
The Clare team will not include Shane O'Donnell, the teenager who stitched 3-3 into hurling's history books last year, as he continues his recovery from a torn hamstring. However, Podge Collins should return after being omitted from his father Colm's football squad.
Tyrone have made three changes for Sunday’s Ulster senior football quarter-final against Monaghan. Conan Grugan, Martin Penrose and Stephen O’Neill replace Conor Clarke, Emmett McKenna and Kyle Coney respectively. Grugan will make his championship debut.
Meanwhile, Dublin are hoping Liam Rushe’s hamstring can hold up to a late fitness test ahead of Saturday’s Leinster semi-final against Wexford.
TYRONE (SF v Monaghan): N Morgan: A McCrory, J McMahon, R McNamee; R McNabb, M Donnelly, P Harte; C Cavanagh, C Grugan; M Penrose, S Cavanagh, C McGinley; D McCurry, S O'Neill, R O'Neill.
MONAGHAN: (SFC v Tyrone): R Beggan: C Walshe, D Wylie, F Kelly; D Mone, V Corey, K Duffy; D Clerkin, D Hughes; P Finlay, P Donaghy, P McKenna; D Malone, K Hughes, J McCarron.
CORK (SHC v Clare): A Nash; S O'Neill, D Cahalane, S McDonnell; Christopher Joyce, M Ellis, L McLoughlin; D Kearney, A Walsh; C Lehane, B Cooper, S Harnedy; A Cadogan, P Horgan, P Cronin (capt).
CLARE (SF v Waterford): J Hayes; D Ryan, K Harnett, M McMahon; S Hickey, G Kelly, C Russell; G Brennan, S McGrath; S Collins, E Coughlan, B Hartnett; M O'Leary, S Brennan, D Tubridy.
