Cork v Limerick team news: Robert Downey ruled out late with Luke Meade called into first 15 

Cork hurling captain Robert Downey has been ruled out of Saturday's high-profile Allianz NHL clash with Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Having picked up an injury in the opening-day win over Wexford, the All-Star centre-back failed to recover despite being named in the first 15 on Thursday night.

Luke Meade has been promoted to the starting line-up instead, which means either Tim O'Mahony, originally named at midfield, or Ethan Twomey, in the number 10 geansaí, will move to the half-backs.

Seán O'Donoghue, with a groin issue, and Declan Dalton, after his red card last weekend, were already ruled out while Seamus Harnedy injured his thumb at training earlier this week.

Darragh Flynn has been added to the bench in Downey's absence.

Limerick are missing a number of key players as well, with Jason Gillane, Aaron's brother, named in goal with Nickie Quaid out. Kyle Hayes will be centre-back with Adam English at midfield and some young guns in attack.

CORK v Limerick: 

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers); Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville); Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Shane Barrett (Blarney); Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s), Pádraig Power (Blarney), Alan Connolly (Blackrock).

Subs: 

Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Mark Coleman (Blarney), Micheál Mullins (Whitechurch), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Robbie Cotter (Blackrock), Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin).

LIMERICK (v Cork): 

J. Gillane; 

S. Finn, D. Morrissey, B. Murphy; 

D. Byrnes, K. Hayes, C. Coughlan; 

A. English, W. O’Donoghue; 

G. Hegarty, C. Lynch (c), A. O’Connor; 

D. Ó Dalaigh, S. O’Brien, P. O’Donovan.

Subs: S. Dowling, S. Flanagan, A. Gillane, V. Harrington, M. Houlihan, E. Hurley, D. Langan, F. O’Connor, D. Reidy, C. Scully, E. Stokes.