Cork v Donegal: Rebels opt for same starting 15

CORK football manager John Cleary has made no changes from the team which defeated Clare two weeks ago for Saturday’s Group 3 Round 2 clash against Donegal at Páirc Uí Rinn (2.30pm).

It wasn’t pretty but that two-point victory over the Banner County at Cusack Park might well turn out to be a huge result in the context of Cork’s campaign. Considering three teams qualify out of four, it was a huge win in what is a difficult group. There were nervy moments late on in the 1-13 to 1-11 success but Seán Powter’s first half goal and the impact of the substitutes were crucial when the final whistle was blown much to the relief of the management, players and fans.

There is no Luke Fahy for the second successive game, with the Ballincollig player still out with a hamstring injury sustained a month ago. There are a few changes on the bench, with Seán Meehan, Fionn Herlihy and Jack Cahalane replacing Neil Lordan, John O’Rourke and David Buckley.

The standard of the opposition will go up a few notches this weekend and the Leesiders know they will have to play much better than they did against Clare. But, in one way, it was a high-pressure encounter versus Clare in what was a must-win contest so nerves may have played a part in the performance especially in the second half. 

In this game, the pressure is off to a certain extent with Donegal favourites to pick up the two points. Hopefully, that will help Cork to play a small bit more.

Donegal are motoring along nicely and were impressive in their opening group match against Tyrone last weekend as they won 0-21 to 0-14 in Ballybofey. That’s on the back of winning the Allianz Division 2 football league title and the Ulster Crown this year. 

It will be the second meeting of Cork and Donegal in 2024 on Saturday having locked horns back in January in the opening Allianz Division 2 league outing. It was a one-sided match that day in Ballybofey with the green and gold winning on a scoreline of 1-20 to 2-6.

Cleary’s charges face Tyrone in the final group game at a neutral venue in two weeks’ time.

CORK (v Donegal):

Christopher Kelly (Éire Óg);

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

Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), 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), Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), Fionn Herlihy (Dohenys), Jack Cahalane (Castlehaven), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues), Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).