Cork v Waterford: Three changes in each team for league final in Thurles

CORK have made three changes to the team that beat Kilkenny in the Allianz NHL semi-final for Saturday's showdown with Waterford in Thurles, 7.15pm.

The injured Daire O'Leary, Niall O'Leary and Shane Kingston don't start, with fit-again Sean O'Donoghue, Tim O'Mahony and Seamus Harnedy coming into the line-up.

Niall O'Leary and Kingston are included on the bench, as is Alan Cadogan who hasn't featured at all since picking up a knock in the league opener against Clare.

Interestingly, Ciarán Joyce is named at corner-back, having previously operated at midfield and wing-back in the campaign. 

Kieran Kingston and his selectors are hoping to steer the county to a final league crown since 1998. 

Cork are in their first league final for seven years when they were beaten by a Waterford outfit that repeated the feat in the Munster championship. The Rebels also lost the 2012 and 2010 deciders.

Waterford were more impressive in their semi-final demolition of Wexford than Cork were in reeling in Kilkenny after a slow start but there won't be much between the teams at Semple Stadium.

Austin Gleeson is suspended for the Déise but Stephen Bennett is back from injury and he's one of three changes to Liam Cahill's side, along with Conor Prunty returning at full-back and Calum Lyons coming in at midfield.

CORK v Waterford:

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); 

Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr); 

Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Mark Coleman (Blarney, c), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers); 

Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills); 

Robbie O’Flynn (Erin's Own), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Seamus Harnedy (St Ita's); 

Conor Lehane (Midleton), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers).

Subs: Ger Collins (Ballinhassig), Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Sean O’Leary-Hayes (Midleton), Sam Quirke (Midleton), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Mark Keane (Ballygiblin), Alan Cadogan (Douglas) 

WATERFORD: S O’Brien; C Gleeson, C Prunty, S McNulty; J Fagan, T de Burca, C Daly; D Lyons, C Lyons; N Montgomery, J Prendergast, P Curran; D Hutchinson, S Bennett, M Kiely.