Updated 12.25pm
CORK HAVE MADE three changes for Wednesday night’s Eirgrid Munster U21 football semi-final against Kerry in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Captain Brian O’Driscoll – who has battled injury problems recently – returns to the team at wing-forward while Kevin Davis is named at centre-forward and Michael McSweeney comes in at right corner-back.
All three players came on as subs during last week’s victory over Limerick at the quarter-final stage. Dylan Quinn and Conor Horgan both drop to the bench as McSweeney and Davis replace them while O’Driscoll’s inclusion sees Alan O’Donovan switch to midfield and Andrew Murphy drops out of the panel.
Injury continues to rule out senior player Ian Maguire along with Sam Ryan and Kieran Histon. The inclusion of Kevin Davis sees him line up in a team that also includes his cousin Jamie at right corner-back. Kevin is the son of current Cork senior selector and ex-Cork senior footballer Don while Jamie is the son of two-time Cork senior All-Ireland winner Tony.
Cork
1. Micheál Martin (Nemo Rangers)
2. Michael Mc Sweeney (Newcestown)
3. Jamie Davis (Douglas)
4. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)
5. Tomas O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers)
6. Sean White (Clonakilty)
7. Kevin Crowley (Millstreet)
8. Alan O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
9. Darragh Murphy (Valley Rovers)
10. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh) Capt.
11. Kevin Davis (O’Donovan Rossa)
12. Ryan Harkin (Mallow)
13. Cathal Vaughan (Iveleary)
14. Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael)
15. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
Subs
16. Anthony Casey (Kiskeam), 17. Dylan Quinn (St Finbarr’s), 18. Kevin Cremin (Boherbue), 19. Cian Kiely (Ballincollig), 20. Dan O’Callaghan (Clyda Rovers), 21. Colm Hyde (Naomh Abán), 22. Conor Horgan (Nemo Rangers), 23. Cillian McIntyre (Carrigaline), 24. Michael Hurley (Castlehaven)
Extended training panel
Ross O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), Niall Motherway (Dungourney), Michael Desmond (Cill Na Martra), Cian Dorgan (Ballincollig), Anthony O’Connor (Knocknagree)
Kerry boss Darragh Ó Sé has named six players from last year’s All-Ireland minor winning team in the county’s side for the match against Cork.
Goalkeeper Shane Ryan, corner-backs Cormac Coffey and Brian Ó Beaglaoich, midfielder Barry O’Sullivan, wing-forward Micheal Burns and corner-forward Matthew O’Flaherty all started in the minor final triumph over Donegal last September.
Full-back Gavin Crowley is the only member of the starting Kerry team who lost out to Cork in the Munster championship last year to be named here. Centre-back Denis Daly and corner-forward Conor Keane both came on as subs in that game while Pádraig Ó Conchúir, Greg Horan and Adrian Spillane – a trio named as substitutes for Wednesday – all started in last year’s U21 loss.
Kerry’s team contains plenty players who enjoyed Sigerson Cup experience this year. Denis Daly and Cathal Ó Lúing played for UL, Jack Savage and Keane lined out for IT Tralee while Jack Barry was part of the UCD setup that reached the semi-final. From finalists UCC, Gary O’Sullivan, Éanna Ó Conchúir, Ronan Murphy and Adrian Spillane were all involved in their panel.
Corner-back Brian Ó Beaglaoich won a Corn Uí Mhuirí medal last week with PS Chorca Dhuibhne, as did extended panel member Tom O’Sullivan. Substitutes Conor Jordan and Greg Horan were both involved in the Austin Stacks team that reached the AIB All-Ireland club semi-final last month.
Kerry
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Cormac Coffey (Kerins O’Rahillys)
3. Gavin Crowley (Templenoe)
4. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
5. Ronan Murphy (Beaufort)
6. Denis Daly (St Mary’s)
7. Cathal Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht)
8. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil)
9. Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)
10. Brian Crowley (Templenoe)
11. Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys)
12. Micheal Burns (Dr Crokes)
13. Matthew Flaherty (Dingle)
14. Dara Roche (Glenflesk)
15. Conor Keane (Killarney Legion)
Subs
16. Darragh O’Shea (Ballydonoghue), 17. Cathal Murphy (Rathmore), 18. Greg Horan (Austin Stacks), 19. Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks), 20. Gary O’Sullivan (Listry), 21. Kevin McCarthy (Kilcummin), 22. Eanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht), 23. Donal Maher (Kilcummin), 24. Liam Carey (Beaufort).
Extended training panel
Adrian Spillane (Templenoe), Cillian Fitzgerald (Churchill), David Foran (St Senan’s), Killian Spillane (Templenoe), Niall Sheehy (John Mitchels), Pádraig Ó Conchúir (Dingle), Sean T. Dillon (St Senan’s), Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle).
