Cork v Dublin: John Cleary keeps faith with same side

Cork have named an unchanged starting 15 from the one which defeated Roscommon for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final against Dublin.

Croke Park is the venue with throw-in at 6.15pm and it will be live on GAA+. The Rebels are aiming to reach the last eight of the Sam Maguire for the third time in four seasons.

While the Leesiders have named the same team that prevailed over the Rossies in that must-win last Group 2 contest last Saturday on a scoreline of 0-19 to 0-17, Paul Walsh did leave the field after 55 minutes with a quad injury and is a doubt for this upcoming game with the Dubs.

His absence would be a blow given his impressive form in recent games. The Kanturk player has used his physicality and height to give Cork a platform around the middle of the pitch, working well with midfielders Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan.

It’s also the same bench as last weekend. The impact from the substitutes played a pivotal role in John Cleary’s charges eking out a two-point triumph over Roscommon. Eoghan McSweeney and Cathail O’Mahony came on and got a point apiece, Ruairí Deane’s experience played a part late on when calm heads were required, Rory Maguire's positioning was effective while Seán Powter recovered the ball to rugby style hoof the ball out over the sideline to signal the end of the game.

Cork will know that they will have to get the same impact and possibly more from those coming on against Dublin if they want to have a chance of causing an upset. 

After a challenging campaign in parts, the Dubs seem to be hitting form at just the right time. Their marksman Con O'Callaghan returned from injury to land 0-5, all from play, in the two-point success over Derry last weekend.

Cork and Dublin last met in the championship back in 2022 in the All-Ireland quarter-final at GAA HQ, on a day when the Dubs won by 11 points.

CORK (v Dublin):

Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers);

Seán Meehan (Kiskeam), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty);

Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), Seán Brady (Ballygarvan), Matty Taylor (Mallow);

Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s), Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg);

Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown), Seán McDonnell (Mallow);

Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven, c), Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary).

Subs:

Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree), Neil Lordan (Ballinora), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Seán Powter (Douglas), Luke Fahy (Ballincollig), Conor Cahalane (Castlehaven), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers), Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown), Hugh O’Connor (Newmarket).