Cork v Galway: Four changes at the back for Rebels

Defenders Damien Cahalane and Mark Coleman make their first starts of the year as Cork show four changes for Saturday night’s Allianz HL Division 1A clash with Galway at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm).

Having hit All-Ireland champions Clare for six goals in their last outing a fortnight ago, Cork manager Pat Ryan and his selectors have opted to go with an unchanged front eight for the visit of the Tribesmen in what is effectively a league semi-final.

The winners of the game will advance to meet Tipperary in the decider, while a draw would also be sufficient for Cork, who have seven points from five games compared to six for Micheál Donoghue’s Galway.

In goal, Patrick Collins regains the number 1 jersey after Brion Saunderson made his first appearance of the year in Ennis, while Cahalane comes in at full-back in a straight swap with Eoin Downe, flanked by Niall O'Leary and Seán O'Donoghue.

The St Finbarr’s man has three league appearances to his name already in the campaign, all of the bench, while Blarney’s Coleman has thus far been limited to 22 minutes against Limerick before requiring time out with a calf injury.

He is named at number 7, in place of Cormac O’Brien. The wing-back was sent off in injury time against Clare – along with the home side’s David Fitzgerald – but, following a hearing, the Newtownshandrum man has had his suspension overturned and is able to be named as a substitute. On the other wing, Ciarán Joyce comes back in as Tommy O’Connell makes way, while captain Robert Downey continues at centre-back.

While Darragh Fitzgibbon is again wearing number 9, he featured at centre-forward against Clare with Tim O'Mahony and Ethan Twomey at midfield, while Brian Roche and Shane Barrett played as the wing-forwards. Declan Dalton, who scored 2-6 after shifting to the full-forward line, could play there again alongside Brian Hayes and Patrick Horgan but the Fr O'Neills man retains the number 10 shirt.

The Cork bench features some returning attackers as Alan Connolly, Shane Kingston and Séamus Harnedy are all possibilities to receive game-time after recovering from illness, a groin injury and a broken thumb respectively.

Diarmuid Healy, who scored 1-5 from play against Kilkenny in Cork’s second-last match before missing the Clare win, is another player listed as a replacement.

The Cork-Galway clash is the only Division 1A game with anything riding on it. Also at 7.30pm tomorrow evening, Tipperary will look to go into the final with momentum as they host the already-relegated Clare at FBD Semple Stadium.

Also confirmed as playing in Division 1B next year are Wexford, who make the trip to TUS Gaelic Grounds to take on a Limerick side that saw their chances of qualification for the final end with last Saturday’s defeat to Kilkenny. That was the Cats’ last match of the league campaign as this is their bye round.

CORK (Allianz HL v Galway): 

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); 

Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); 

Ciarán Joyce (Castlelyons), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Mark Coleman (Blarney); 

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

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

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

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s).