Tipperary v Cork: Ciarán Joyce named on the bench as Rebels go with same starting 15

CIARÁN Joyce has been passed fit for a place on the bench as the Cork management opt to go with an unchanged starting 15 for Sunday’s Munster SHC clash with Tipperary.

The Castlemartyr centre-back missed last Saturday’s victory over Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a hamstring injury – the first championship game he didn’t start since making his debut in 2022 – but the problem has cleared sufficiently to allow him to be named among the substitutes. Robbie O’Flynn, also ruled out for the Limerick clash due to a hamstring, is again marked absent but will hopefully be available for the All-Ireland series if Cork manage to qualify from Munster.

There are two changes to the bench outside of Joyce's return due to injuries picked up at the last training session, Damien Cahalane and Brian Roche, who both came on against Limerick, are now unavailable, with Conor Cahalane called up to the squad. 

Robert Downey continues at centre-back in Joyce’s absence. The Glen Rovers man was forced off late in Saturday night’s victory but was due to cramp. 

Tipperary come into the game after a defeat away to Limerick in their first outing and then a draw away to Waterford a fortnight ago. Their late fightback to avoid defeat has given Liam Cahill’s men hope and so, they, like Cork, are targeting the victory that is essential to stay in with a shout of qualification. Sunday’s losers will definitely be eliminated, while a draw would give Tipp some hope but end Cork’s hopes.

Cork manager Pat Ryan was heartened by the Limerick result, not least the way in which his team came back from four points down to win by two, after seeing an eight-point lead wiped out.

It is a performance level he also felt was there against Clare before Cork were reduced to 14 players, ending up losing by two. However, he is keenly aware of the need to back up that performance against another team that is fighting for their lives.

“We’re fully in believing in what we saw, even last year without getting across the line, what our performance can look like,” he said.

“It’s just about trying to get that for 70 minutes. In fairness, we’re playing Tipperary, who are in exactly the same position as us – although they might get something out of a draw whereas a draw would do us no good.

“We’re after two points with three games played and it’s vital for us to win; realistically, it’s vital for them to win and it’s real traditional fare, going up to Cork and Tipperary in Thurles. 

It’s a huge game, obviously they got out of Munster last year so they’ll probably be the favourites going into this game.

“It’s backs-to-the-wall again, it’s up to our lads to perform again and be ready to go.” 

The game at FBD Semple Stadium starts at 4pm and is live on RTÉ2 – Cork’s first time to be shown on terrestrial television in the current championship campaign.

Prior to that match, former Clare team-mates Brian Lohan and Davy Fitzgerald go head-to-head as Clare take on Waterford at Cusack Park in Ennis (2pm).

Waterford are currently the only unbeaten side left in Munster, though their remaining two matches are away to the sides that have contested the last two Munster finals, as they face Limerick on the final day.

The Déise have three points, having beaten Cork and then drawn with Tipp, while Clare are on two after opening with defeat at home to Limerick and then winning away to Cork.

If Cork do pick up another win, they will finish their round-robin programme on four points and then wait a week for the final placing to be determined by the Limerick-Waterford and Tipp-Clare games.

CORK (Munster SHC v Tipperary): 

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); 

Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra, c); 

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

Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville); 

Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s); 

Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: 

Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Conor Cahalane (St Finbarr's), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Seán Twomey (Courcey Rovers).