Cork v Kilkenny: First start for Diarmuid Healy as Cork make four changes

Diarmuid Healy will make his full debut for Cork as one of four changes to the team for tomorrow evening's Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Kilkenny at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (5pm).

The Lisgoold man, who scored a point after coming on as a sub in last week's defeat to Tipperary, is named at left half-forward, with two other alterations to the Cork attack. Declan Dalton, suspended for the draw with Limerick and the Tipp match after a red card in Cork's opening-round win over Wexford, comes in to the team on the other wing while Patrick Horgan is given his first start of the year in the full-forward line. Robbie O'Flynn, who started on the wing at FBD Semple Stadium, now joins Horgan and Brian Hayes in the inside line.

Ethan Twomey, Robbie Cotter and Jack O'Connor are the players to make way, while the only other change is in the half-back line. Captain Robert Downey, who was forced off in the first half against Wexford, comes back at number 6 with Ciarán Joyce moving to the wing while Cormac O'Brien drops to the bench. Micheál Mullins, who had an encouraging debut in Thurles, keeps his spot.

In total, the team features 11 of the starters from last July's All-Ireland final defeat to Clare, with Seán O'Donoghue (hip), Mark Coleman (calf), Seámus Harnedy (thumb) still injured while Alan Connolly recovers from a bout of influenza.

Speaking to The Echo earlier this week, prior to the tragic and sudden death of his brother Ray, Cork manager Pat Ryan identified the need to improve on the taking of goal chances compared to the Tipperary game.

“From our point of view, you’re looking for a really good effort out of fellas,” he said, “and I thought that we got that for the most part.

“You’ll never play as fast you would for championship but I still felt that we could have been faster. Tipperary were very well-prepared and they were better than us on the night but I still felt that we could have got something from it – we had three goal opportunities in the last 15 minutes that we didn’t take.

“If we had taken them, we might have had the momentum then to drive on.”

With Cork on three points from three games - one behind their visitors, whose clash with Limerick last weekend was postponed due to the bad weather - a victory is vital if they are to stay in the hunt for a top-two spot and a place in the league final. Equally, another loss would slightly increase relegation fears. TG4 will broadcast the game live.

The weekend's other games in the top flight see Wexford take on Galway at Chadwicks Wexford Park, a clash which has the same throw-in time as the Cork-Kilkenny meeting on Saturday evening. On Sunday, Limerick do battle with the All-Ireland champions Clare, who have lost their three outings to date. That match starts at 3.45pm and will also be shown on TG4.

CORK (Allianz HL v Kilkenny): Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Niall O'Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Ger Millerick (Fr O'Neills); Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Micheál Mullins (Glen Rovers); Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Tim O'Mahony (Newtownshandrum); Declan Dalton (Fr O'Neills), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold); Brian Hayes (St Finbarr's), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin's Own), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers).

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr's), Cormac O'Brien (Newtownshandrum), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr's), Jack O'Connor (Sarsfields), Robbie Cotter (Blackrock), Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr's), Tommy O'Connell (Midleton), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers).