Unbeaten Division One B leaders Cork have decided to experiment in a number of positions for Sunday's final divisional match against Laois at Fermoy. With the luxury of already having qualified for the semi-finals, Cork's management have room for manoeuvre and according to selector Fred Sheedy, "we're trying out a few new faces".
Four changes have been made to the team which achieved an encouraging one-point win over Tipperary last weekend, courtesy of a decisive point from centre forward Fergal McCormack. Centrefielder Mick Daly was married this week and is away on honeymoon whereas goalkeeper Ger Cunningham, forwards Joe Deane and Brian O'Driscoll are named on the bench for this weekend.
Cunningham and Deane are obviously being rested but O'Driscoll has been a less permanent fixture on the side and was substituted in the Tipperary match. Cusack has already had a run in the current campaign, being drafted in to the side as a late call-up for the experienced Cunningham who failed a fitness test before the drawn match against Wexford in New Ross.
Daly's place goes to Austin Walsh who resumes his All-Ireland winning under-21 partnership with Pat Ryan whereas Kieran Morrison and Sean O'Farrell come into the full-forward line in the corners with Seanie McGrath dropping back to right wing forward.
Morrison has experience at senior level and made his championship debut three years ago against Clare but this is his first start of the current campaign. He has been an important part of UCC's three successive Fitzgibbon Cup wins and captained last year's side. O'Farrell is another of last year's successful under-21s.
Tipperary have also made four changes for their visit to Enniscorthy on Sunday. Manager Len Gaynor and his selectors have also made a number of interesting positional judgments. Paul Shelley, Conor Gleeson, Thomas Dunne and John Carroll have been called up at the expense of Noel Keane, Raymie Ryan, John Enright and Liam McGrath.
Dunne appeared as a late substitute in Cork only days after returning from the US where he had been working. An All Star at centrefield during last year's run to the All-Ireland final, he is named on the wing for the Wexford match. There is a complete new pairing at centrefield with Colm Bonnar moving up from centre back to fill a position he held as far back as the 1989 All-Ireland victory and Carroll coming in.
At the back, Shelley's re-appearance four weeks after an appendix operation is a surprise although he has been back in training; more surprising is his selection at full back. He played number three in the 1996 championship but after an All Star season at right corner back last season, his best position was assumed to have been found.
Laois make one enforced change for the trip to Cork. John Shortall, sent off against Kilkenny for a foul on DJ Carey, is suspended with Brian O'Shaughnessy coming in at right corner back in a straight swap. Dublin recall Jamesie Brennan in place of Connie Ring, Niall Butler for Tomas McGrane - both changes were substitutions in last week's match in Limerick - and at the back Sean Duignan replaces Derek McMullen.
Wexford have made only one change in personnel for the match against Tipperary. Donal Berry has suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury and his place at left corner back goes to Sean Flood. There is also one positional change with Michael Jordan and Paul Codd switching on the left wing of the attack.
Meanwhile Offaly have brought in two more of the Birr contingent for Sunday's trip to Parnell Park. Joe Erritty comes in at right-corner back, indirectly replacing Colm Cassidy whose wing-back berth goes to Barry Whelahan. Daithi Regan returns to the team at centre forward with Kevin Martin reverting to his more usual left wing-back position in place of Niall Claffey who has a broken collar bone.
