Cork v Tipperary: One change for Rebels as skipper is passed fit

Thu, 24 Apr, 2025 - 22:15

Denis Hurley

Declan Dalton comes into the Cork team as the only change for Sunday’s Munster SHC clash with Tipperary at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (4pm).

Cork's Declan Dalton in action against Tipperary in the Munster SHC game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 2023. Picture: Inpho/Ben Brady

With Shane Barrett given a one-game suspension following his red card in last week’s provincial championship opener, the draw with Clare, Dalton is selected at right half-forward as Séamus Harnedy switches from number 10 to 12.

Otherwise, the starting lineup is the same as that which began in Ennis, with captain Robert Downey passed fit after being forced off against Clare with a swelling in his knee.

Jack O’Connor has been selected for the vacancy on the bench created by Dalton’s accession to the first 15, while there is one other alteration among the substitutes. Cormac O’Brien, who started five games in Cork’s successful Allianz HL campaign but missed the Clare game through injury, is fit again and he takes the place of Eoin Roche.

Cork's Cormac O'Brien, in action against Michael Breen of Tipperary in the Allianz HL Division 1A final, is on the bench. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The game is a repeat of the league final of three weeks ago, which Cork won by ten points to claim the title for the first time since 1998.

Both counties have a point on the board ahead of the sell-out fixture, with Tipp having tied at home to Limerick. Sunday’s other fixture sees Waterford open their campaign with a home game against Clare at Walsh Park (2pm).

During the round-robin era in the provincial championships, the Cork-Tipperary fixture has yet to produce a home winner, with two draws and three away wins.

In 2019, Tipp triumphed at Páirc Uí Chaoimh while Cork staged a fightback to earn a draw at the same venue two years ago.

CORK (Munster SHC v Tipperary): Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers, captain), Mark Coleman (Blarney); Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s); Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s); Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s). Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields).

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields).