Kerry v Cork: Rebels reveal side for trip down to Killarney

CORK football manager John Cleary has made one change from the team which defeated Limerick in the Munster senior football championship quarter-final two weeks ago for Saturday’s semi-final against Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney (4pm).

There is a bit of rejigging in defence with Maurice Shanley coming in for Seán Meehan. The latter had impressed at centre-back over the past six weeks or so, but the number six jersey will now be worn by Tommy Walsh who moves out from corner-back, with Shanley moving into that position.

Other than that, it’s as you were with no new faces on the bench, which means Rory Maguire hasn’t made it back in time to be in the mix after the Castlehaven player suffered an injury in the win over Kildare in early March.

Bringing in Shanley does make sense, with the Clonakilty star a no-nonsense defender even though Meehan can count himself a tad unfortunate not to make the starting 15. It’s obviously a tactical decision by the management to try and curb Kerry’s dangerous attackers. 

Cork have been generally defensively sound over the past few matches in the league and the championship outing against Limerick a fortnight ago, but there’s no doubt Kerry will test out a defence that has improved since the three defeats from the first three games in the Allianz Division 2 football league.

The midfield partnership of Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan has been ever present since the season got underway in January, and that area of the pitch will be vital. The forward department picks itself really. Seán Powter at 11 and Conor Corbett at 14, will be key figures if the Leesiders want to have any chance of troubling Kerry.

The Rebels will be hoping to end the long wait for a championship win in Killarney. You have to go back to 1995 since the last time Cork came out of Fitzgerald Stadium with a victory.

This will be Kerry’s first championship match of the campaign and they will be determined to put the disappointment of last season behind them after losing the All-Ireland final to Dublin.

CORK (v Kerry):

Christopher Kelly (Éire Óg);

Kevin Flahive (Douglas), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty);

Luke Fahy (Ballincollig), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk), Matty Taylor (Mallow);

Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s), Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg);

Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Seán Powter (Douglas), Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline);

Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven, capt).

Subs:

Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers), Seán Meehan (Kiskeam), Darragh Cashman (Millstreet), Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty), Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), David Buckley (Newcestown), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues), Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).