Clare v Cork: Brion Saunderson in as Rebels make six changes

Goalkeeper Brion Saunderson makes his first start of the year as Cork make six changes for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling Division 1A clash away to Clare (3.15pm).

Midleton clubman Saunderson takes over in goal from Patrick Collins, having been the number 16 for the previous four league outings, which have seen Cork amass five points – an opening win away to Wexford, then a draw with Limerick before a defeat to Tipperary and last Saturday’s win at home to Kilkenny.

Former captain Seán O’Donoghue, who started against Wexford but was forced off with a hip in injury, is back in the full-back line for the repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final. He takes the place of Ger Millerick, who had to withdraw injured against the Cats, while Tommy O’Connell and Cormac O’Brien start in the wing-back positions. Micheál Mullins drops to the substitutes’ bench while Ciarán Joyce, replaced by O’Brien last Saturday night, is not involved.

Tim O'Mahony and Darragh Fitzgibbon continue at midfield while there are two further changes of personnel in attack as Cork seek a first senior win in Ennis since the 2009 league. 

Ethan Twomey comes in at wing-forward as Diarmuid Healy – who scored 1-5 against Kilkenny last week in his first league start – is rested. Brian Roche is selected at corner-forward as Robbie O’Flynn, who came off with an elbow injury against the Cats, misses out. Shane Kingston returns after injury to take a place on the bench.

Having lost their first three matches, the All-Ireland champions Clare were given a boost in their fight against relegation as they beat Limerick at TUS Gaelic Grounds last Sunday.

By the time the teams take to the field at the newly renamed Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis on Sunday, the landscape in Division 1A should be clearer.

On Saturday night, Limerick welcome Galway while Sunday’s clash in Ennis is preceded by the meeting of Kilkenny and Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park. That game has a 1.15pm throw-in and both it and the Clare-Cork clash will be shown live by TG4.

CORK (Allianz HL v Clare): 

Brion Saunderson (Midleton); 

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

Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); 

Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville); 

Declan Dalton (Blarney), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s); 

Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: 

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields), Micheál Mullins (Glen Rovers), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Daniel Hogan (Sarsfields), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Jack Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Robbie Cotter (Blackrock).