Cork v Tipperary: Brian Hayes starts as Rebels show four changes for final

Brian Hayes has been named to start Cork in Sunday’s Allianz HL Division 1 final against Tipperary at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (4pm).

St Finbarr’s clubman, scorer of six goals in the league campaign so far, was forced off with a knee issue in the win over Galway a fortnight ago. In the immediate aftermath of the injury, there were fears that he might be ruled out for the remainder of the season but those concerns were allayed after a scan.

Cork still expected to be without the attacker for the league final and possibly the championship opener against Clare on Easter Sunday, April 20, but he has been passed fit and is named at left corner-forward on a Rebels side that shows four changes from the 12-point triumph against Galway.

Eoin Downey of Glen Rovers returns to the team at full-back, flanked by Niall O’Leary and Seán O’Donoghue, in what is a straight swap with Damien Cahalane, who came in for him following the win away to Clare.

Also in defence Newtownshandrum’s Cormac O’Brien, who had started four of the previous five games prior to Galway, is given the number 7 jersey as Mark Coleman drops to the substitutes’ bench. Ciarán Joyce and captain Robert Downey are in the other two spots.

In attack, All-Ireland minor and U20 medallist Diarmuid Healy – scorer of 1-5 in his sole start to date, against Kilkenny – is named at right half-forward, coming in for Brian Roche, with Darragh Fitzgibbon continuing at centre-forward as Ethan Twomey and Tim O’Mahony maintain their midfield partnership while Shane Barrett is on the left wing.

Despite Hayes’ recovery, there is one alteration in the full-forward line as Alan Connolly is named to start instead of Declan Dalton.

It’s the first time this year for the front three that began last year’s All-Ireland final – Patrick Horgan, Connolly and Hayes – to start a match together. In total, the Cork side features 12 of the lineup from that defeat to Clare in Croke Park last July – O’Brien, Twomey and Healy the additions in place of Coleman, Séamus Harnedy and Dalton, all of whom are named as subs.

Also able to take his place on the bench is Dalton’s Fr O’Neills clubmate Ger Millerick, who was ever-present in the first three games before having to withdraw in the first half of the win over Kilkenny with a hamstring problem.

As has been well-documented, Cork’s last league title came in 1998 while the last time they beat Tipperary in a final was in 1953. Tipp are seeking to bridge a 17-year gap back to 2008, with both counties having lost five deciders since their last wins.

CORK (Allianz HL final v Tipperary): Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s); Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Shane Barrett (Blarney); Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Mark Coleman (Blarney), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Shane Kingston (Douglas).