U20 graduate Gore to start for Cork footballers against Down as Connolly and Kerrigan are held in reserve 

DAMIEN GORE is handed a chance in the Cork attack for the Division 3 league game against Down at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday at 2pm.

The Kilmacabea player, who scored 0-4 in Cork’s All-Ireland U20 win over Dublin last season, comes in for Michael Hurley, who drops to the bench.

It’s the only change in personnel from last week’s 1-15 to 0-9 victory over Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Gore also started the opening game against Offaly at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but struggled to make an impression and was replaced at half-time by Hurley, who went on to top-score with 0-5.

There are alterations in the substitutes with fit-again Anthony Casey taking over from Joe Creedon (Iveleary) as back-up to Micheál Aodh Martin in goal.

And midfield Killian O’Hanlon is returning from a nose injury suffered in CIT’s Trench Cup win over GMIT which needed surgery.

There’s an impressive array of talent and experience on the bench with Nemo Rangers duo, Paul Kerrigan and Luke Connolly, included.

Tadhg Corkery, who made his debut against Leitrim, retains his place in the half-back line while there is a third start for young midfielder Brian Hartnett and Cathail O’Mahony in the inside line.

O’Mahony was meant to face CIT’s Casey, O’Hanlon and substitute defender Paul Ring in the Trench Cup final in Dublin this evening, but this has been postponed to Wednesday, throw-in 5.30pm, as a curtain-raiser to the Fitzgibbon Cup final, hosted by DCU.

Meanwhile, former Cork manager, Peadar Healy, is back in the inter-county scene as a minor selector in place of James Masters, who has stepped aside for family reasons.

The Naomh Abán clubman, who guided Cork between 2015-17, joins manager Bobbie O’Dwyer’s team as they build up defending their All-Ireland title.

CORK: MA Martin (Nemo Rangers); S Powter (Douglas), T Clancy (Clonakilty), K Crowley (Millstreet); T Corkery (Cill na Martra), L O’Donovan (Clonakilty), M Taylor (Mallow); I Maguire (St Finbarr’s), captain, B Hartnett (Douglas); J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), S White (Clonakilty), R Deane (Bantry Blues); D Gore (Kilmacabea), C Sheehan (Éire Óg), C O’Mahony (Mitchelstown).

Subs: A Casey (Kiskeam), P Ring (Aghabullogue), P Murphy (Bandon), P Walsh (Kanturk), C Kiely (Ballincollig), K O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaighs), K O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), C O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), M Hurley (Castlehaven), P Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), L Connolly (do).