Cork v Tipperary: Rebels name team with six changes from last week

The Cork team for Saturday’s Allianz HL Division 1A clash with Tipperary shows six changes from the side that started last week’s win over Galway.

The top-of-the-table clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm) is a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final, which Tipp won by 15 points after a second-half Cork collapse and, as with the Rebels’ previous two league outings, there are ten starters from that game last July.

In the full-back line, Ger Millerick comes in for his first start of the year with Seán O’Donoghue also included, with Niall O’Leary and Eoin Roche missing out.

At midfield, Ethan Twomey and Micheál Mullins form a new pairing after Brian O’Sullivan and Tommy O’Connell played there last week and Diarmuid Healy takes over from Séamus Harnedy in the half-forward line.

The other switch is at number 13, where William Buckley – who scored 1-4 in his league debut against Waterford a fortnight ago – comes in in place of Brian Roche.

Included among the Cork substitutes is Ciarán Joyce, who has yet to see action this year due to a minor hamstring injury.

The game, live on RTÉ 2, is expected to draw a crowd in excess of 25,000. It will be preceded by an U20 challenge game between Cork and Wexford.

Cork (HL v Tipperary): Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s), Dáire O’Leary (Watergrasshill), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Mark Coleman (Blarney); Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s), Micheál Mullins (Glen Rovers); Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold); William Buckley (St Finbarr’s), Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neill’s), Alan Connolly (Blackrock).

Subs: Paudie O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neill’s), Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Hugh O’Connor (Newmarket), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own).