Cork minor footballers announce team to face Tyrone in All-Ireland quarter-final

The Cork minor football management have made four changes to the starting 15 which lost to Kerry in the Munster final for Saturday’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC quarter-final against Tyrone at Laois Hire O’Moore Park (1.45pm).

The Rebels were beaten on a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-9 against the Kingdom at Austin Stack Park in Tralee two weeks ago. Despite the defeat, Keith Ricken’s charges did keep going right to the end and showed great character when it could have been very easy to do the opposite.

Captain Cathal McCarthy starts at centre-back having won his red card appeal at a hearing on Wednesday. The sending-off late on against Kerry would have meant the St Colum’s player would be out for this crucial game, but his availability is a boost.

There are first championship starts for three Cork players against Tyrone.

The first change from the Kerry defeat comes in the half-back line with Jerry O’Leary replacing the injured Eoin Looney with the other three alterations coming in the forward department.

Luke O’Mahony, son of former Cork footballer Podsie O’Mahony, makes his first championship start of the year at wing-forward instead of Tom Whooley, who drops to the bench.

Sam Long also makes his first start this season, as he comes in for Niall O’Callaghan in the other wing-forward position while Jack Byerley gets the nod at number 13 for his first start with Seán O’Sullivan dropping out.

Cork are big outsiders coming into this encounter. Tyrone won the Ulster championship after a comfortably enough victory over Cavan two weeks ago, 2-11 to 1-8. It was their third provincial success in five seasons. The Red Hand also won the very competitive Ulster league earlier in the year.

They are the favourites to claim the All-Ireland trophy. The Rebels will be well aware that they can’t afford to make too many mistakes against their talented opponents.

All the pressure is on Tyrone, which will suit Cork. Ricken’s charges can go out and express themselves. As long as they can put in a strong performance and represent the jersey well, the result will look after itself.

CORK (v Tyrone):

Rory Twohig (Kilmeen);

Ben Coffey (Clonakilty), Aaron Keane (Kinsale), Matthew Kiernan (Carrigaline);

Jerry O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), Cathal McCarthy (St Colum’s, c), Brian Cronin (Ballincollig);

Samuel Kelleher-Leavy (Macroom), Ronan Hayes (Carbery Rangers);

Luke O’Mahony (Ballincollig), Donagh Flynn (Argideen Rangers), Sam Long (Newcestown);

Jack Byerley (Clonakilty), Ben Corkery-Delaney (Carrigaline), Eoin Maguire (Castlehaven).

Subs:

Diarmuid O’Riordan (Mallow), Jack Hanrahan (Mitchelstown), Éamonn Ger O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers), Joe Miskella (Ballincollig), Daniel McCarthy (Castlehaven), Tom Whooley (Clonakilty), Eoghan Aherne (Boherbue), Edwin Collins (Kiskeam), Niall O’Callaghan (Castlehaven).