Cork v Kerry: Rebels reveal side for clash down the Páirc

Cork manager John Cleary has made no changes from the team which defeated Limerick in the Munster SFC quarter-final two weeks ago for Saturday’s semi-final against Kerry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7pm).

The subs bench is also the same as the 0-24 to 0-13 victory over Limerick at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, which means this upcoming game has come too soon for Conor Corbett. The Clyda Rovers player returned to training recently after suffering a cruciate ligament injury last summer.

If the Rebels do stick with the team that is named, it will be the acid test for the three newcomers after making their championship debuts against Limerick, corner-backs Neil Lordan and Seán Brady and wing-forward Seán McDonnell.

Cork manager John Cleary. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

The new defenders have done quite well so far in this campaign. They have been part of a team that have kept a clean sheet in the last three games, but that will be tested against one of the favourites for the All-Ireland.

In the last two championship encounters against Kerry, the Leesiders have done responsibly well in terms of curbing the threats of Kerry’s dangerous forwards and that will need to be the case again if Cork want to beat the Kingdom for the first time in nearly five years.

The midfield partnership of Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan have been ever present more or less for the past few years and that area of the pitch will be vital at the weekend as they will come up against Joe O’Connor and Barry Dan O’Sullivan. That’s a new midfield pairing for the Kingdom with Diarmuid O’Connor out injured.

Joe O'Connor of Kerry is tackled by Colm O'Callaghan of Cork last year. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

This will be Kerry’s first championship outing of the campaign and they will be determined to put the disappointment of last season behind them after losing the All-Ireland semi-final to the eventual winners Armagh. They have started the year well though after winning the Allianz Division 1 Football League title last month.

CORK (v Kerry):

Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers);

Seán Brady (Ballygarvan), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), Neil Lordan (Ballinora);

Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), 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), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary).

Subs:

Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree), Bríain Murphy (Nemo Rangers), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk), Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), Darragh Cashman (Millstreet), Seán Powter (Douglas), Conor Cahalane (Castlehaven), Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues), Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown), Hugh O’Connor (Newmarket).

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