Cork v Limerick: Rebel hurling team named for Páirc Uí Chaoimh showdown

CORK have made two changes to the team beaten by Waterford in the league final for the Munster championship opener against Limerick on Sunday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm.

Shane Kingston starts ahead of Alan Connolly, having impressed in the second half two weeks ago, while Niall O'Leary comes into defence with Robert Downey going to the bench. It means Ciarán Joyce makes his championship debut while captain Mark Coleman wears the number six geansaí and Ger Millerick is down to play midfield.

Three of the subs haven't played championship, Tommy O'Connell, Eoin Roche and Mark Keane. There's plenty of experience in reserve though, including Luke Meade, Alan Cadogan, Downey, Jack O'Connor and Conor Cahalane, who all featured in last year's All-Ireland final.

Limerick released their team on Friday night. 

John Kiely and his selectors deployed Davie Reidy and Graeme Mulcahy to lead the attack alongside Aaron Gillane as Seamus Flanagan misses out through injury.

Despite speculation Cian Lynch would be shifted to midfield and Kyle Hayes redeployed as a centre-forward to target Mark Coleman, they're named in their usual 11 and seven spots respectively. Of course that doesn't they won't line up elsewhere come 4pm on Sunday afternoon.

Will O'Donoghue was considered an injury doubt but is selected at centre-field alongside Darragh O'Donovan.

U20 duo Colin Coughlan and Cathal O'Neill were trialled heavily during a league campaign when Cork got the better of a Treaty outfit prioritising the championship but are held in reserve here. If either come on they'll then become ineligible for the Cork-Limerick U20 meeting next Wednesday. 

Ciarán Joyce, making his first senior championship start this weekend, wasn't used by Donal O'Mahony and the U20 management in their win over Clare last Wednesday.

CORK v Limerick: 

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); 

Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); 

Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Mark Coleman (Blarney, c), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr); 

Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill's); 

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

Shane Kingston (Douglas), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Conor Lehane (Midleton).

Subs: Ger Collins (Ballinhassig), Sean O’Leary Hayes (Midleton), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Mark Keane (Ballygiblin), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Alan Cadogan (Douglas)

LIMERICK (v Cork): 

N. Quaid; S. Finn, D. Morrissey, B. Nash; D. Byrnes, D. Hannon (c), K. Hayes; D. O’Donovan, W. O’Donoghue; G. Hegarty, C. Lynch, T. Morrissey; D. Reidy, A. Gillane, G. Mulcahy. 

Subs: B. Hennessy, C. Boylan, M. Casey, R. Connolly, A. Costello, C. Coughlan, R. English, R. Hanley, C. O’Neill, O. O’Reilly, P. Ryan.