McCarthy's impressive form earns Cork recall

Timmy McCarthy is back in the Cork team for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final at Croke Park. The Castlelyons player has been in and out of form all season, but is named in the left-wing-forward position for the meeting with Antrim after his explosive display when introduced in Cork's qualifier win over Tipperary.

His reintroduction is the sole change from the team that started in Killarney last Saturday week, with the young Garvan McCarthy the player to lose out.

He was also the player to make way the last day, when Timmy McCarthy was called in after 31 minutes at a time when Tipperary were pressing ahead. McCarthy went on to score 1-1, the goal coming after a fine solo run, and played in key role in Cork's eventual six-point win.

Manager Donal O'Grady has resisted the temptation for any further positional switches, and Kieran Murphy will again line out at right-corner forward, with team captain Ben O'Connor staying in the other wing-forward position.

Midfielder Michael O'Connell, who was called in for Tom Kenny the last day, must again be content with a place among the substitutes.

Cork selector John Allen last night made it clear that they would be in no way underestimating Antrim.

"Our mood has been very good since the Tipperary game," he says, "but we're fully aware at how well Antrim are going. And we're expecting a very hard game."

Just last Saturday the Ulster champions gave a clear indication of the sort of threat they will present when they took a full-strength Waterford team to two points in a specially arranged challenge game in Antrim.

Previous reports from the county have said the recent form is better than it has ever been under manager Dinny Cahill.

Full forward Paddy Richmond is proving their big scoring danger. He collected 2-2 against Waterford, with Brian McFall's accurate free-taking helping to take his total to 1-10. They are also injury free.

Kilkenny, meanwhile, will this evening announce their team for Sunday's second quarter-final against Clare. Manager Brian Cody, clear to carry out his sideline duties, can pick from a full panel with the exception of under-21 player Conor Phelan, who is suffering with a finger injury.

Clare aren't set to announce their starting line-up until later in the week, with full back Brian Lohan almost certain to miss out after the recurrence of his hamstring injury in last Saturday's qualifier win over Offaly. Alan Markham is also doubtful with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, Laois and Westmeath have their share of injury problems ahead of their Leinster football final replay in Croke Park on Saturday.

Russ Munnelly, however, is expected to be included in the Laois team named later tonight as his ankle injury is not as bad as first feared.

Dessie Dolan (thumb), Rory O'Connell (wrist), Derek Heavin (ankle) and Michael Ennis (hamstring) are the concerns for Westmeath, who will name a team tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, Tipperary was yesterday mourning the sudden death of one of the most respected referee's in the North Division - Brian O'Reilly (35), from the Kilruane McDonaghs club. Only last Saturday he acted as linesman for referee John Ryan in the All-Ireland minor B hurling semi-final between Meath and Kerry at McDonagh Park, Nenagh, in the afternoon and returned that evening to referee a North Tipperary Junior B hurling championship game between Ballina and Toomevara.

CORK (SH v Antrim): D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; K Murphy, B Corcoran, J Deane.