Cork v Kerry: Unchanged starting 15 for Rebels with Brian Hurley on the bench
Brian Hurley of Cork against Donegal at Páirc Uí Rinn last season. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Cork manager John Cleary has made no changes to the starting 15 for Saturday’s crucial All-Ireland SFC Group 2 Round 2 clash against Kerry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (4.45pm).
The Rebels will be looking to respond after the disappointing 1-13 to 0-12 loss away to Meath in the opening group match last Saturday. Captain Brian Hurley missed the game with a shoulder injury, but is fit enough to be named among the substitutes here.
There’s also a return for Seán Brady following his controversial red card against Kerry in the Munster semi-final in April. He served his suspension against Meath. The Ballygarvan player has to settle for a place on the bench in this one.
Midfielder Seán Walsh is back among the reserves after not being included in the matchday squad last weekend against Meath. His physical presence was a miss in Navan.
There’s still no sign of Tommy Walsh and Conor Corbett. A heel injury has troubled Walsh since going off in that Kingdom loss last month. There was an expectation that Corbett would be involved this weekend. He has been going well in training over the last month or so following a cruciate ligament injury sustained last summer in America.
Saturday’s encounter against Kerry comes just six weeks on from the sides classic battle down the Páirc, which went to extra time. Kerry were fortunate to come out victorious on a scoreline of 3-21 to 1-25. Cork played very well, but missed chances proved costly.
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry are hot favourites to finish top of this particular group and started the All-Ireland series with a 3-18 to 0-17 home win over Roscommon.
The green and gold have improved considerably since the meeting with Cork, which included a 4-20 to 0-21 Munster final victory over Clare at Fitzgerald Stadium. That was followed by the easy success against Roscommon.
The Leesiders won’t be lacking in motivation especially after their below-par display against Meath last Saturday. The likelihood is that Cleary’s charges will bring a huge performance like they have done in previous meetings against their arch rivals.
Whether it will be good enough to come close or even overcome Kerry remains to be seen.
Cork haven't beaten the Kingdom in the championship at senior level since November 2020 during the Covid-impacted campaign.
Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers);
Seán Meehan (Kiskeam), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree, c), Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty);
Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), Seán Powter (Douglas), Matty Taylor (Mallow);
Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s), Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg);
Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), Seán McDonnell (Mallow);
Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown), Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary).
Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree), Neil Lordan (Ballinora), Seán Brady (Ballygarvan), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Luke Fahy (Ballincollig), Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown), Conor Cahalane (Castlehaven), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues), Éanna O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), Hugh O’Connor (Newmarket), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven).
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