GAELIC GAMES:CORK MANAGER Conor Counihan has made four changes in his team to face Dublin in Sunday's Allianz Football League Division One final at Croke Park – three of which were enforced.
With corner-back Eoin Cadogan suspended from the last-round win over Armagh, Jamie O’Sullivan comes into the defence in his place. Midfielder Aidan Walsh also misses out as expected having pulled a hamstring on under-21 duty last weekend, and into his place comes Nicholas Murphy.
Donncha O’Connor, who has recovered from a groin injury, comes back into the starting line-up – having appeared as a second-half substitute against Armagh, and the player to miss out there is Fiachra Lynch.
Ciarán Sheehan has overcome his injury scare, the ankle injury sustained in action with college side Cork IT earlier this week, and thus maintains his place at corner forward, but Paul Kerrigan misses out with the hamstring injury he sustained playing for Nemo Rangers at the weekend – with Patrick Kelly his indirect replacement.
Dublin were unbeaten in their path to the final, winning six games and drawing the final-round against Galway. Cork won five, losing to Dublin and Mayo. To date, Cork have also score 6-110 in their campaign and conceded 7-91; Dublin have scored 16-82 and conceded 6-92.
The counties last final meeting was 1999, when Cork won by 0-12 to 1-7 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Nicholas Murphy was at midfield that day, just as he will be again on Sunday – while Counihan was at centre back on the team that beat Dublin in the 1989 final.
Elsewhere, Donegal will give forward and captain Michael Murphy every chance to prove his fitness ahead of the Division Two final against Laois – which acts as the curtain-raiser in Croke Park on Sunday. Murphy has been suffering from a dead leg since playing with his club, Glenswilly, last weekend, and manager Jim McGuinness is keen for him to start – and the expectation is that he will at least play some role.
McGuinness already has an extended list of injury concerns, namely Karl Lacey, Neil McGee, Paddy McGrath, Kevin Cassidy, Adrian Hanlon and Mark McHugh and few of these are likely to be considered, particularly with their championship opener against Antrim just three weeks away.
Laois have confirmed Colm Begley as team captain for Sunday’s game. The former Australia Rules player has rediscovered his best form this season, playing mostly at wing forward, and has started in every league to date.
Manager Justin McNulty has been rotating the team captaincy so far, with veteran midfielder Pauric Clancy wearing the armband when Laois beat Donegal in the last round just under two weeks ago.
Both Louth and Westmeath are missing key players for their Division Three showdown on Saturday evening, also in Croke Park.
Louth forward Shane Lennon is again ruled out with the leg muscle sustain in club action with Kilkerley Emmets last month, and manager Peter Fitzpatrick has decided not to risk him ahead of their Leinster championship opener against Carlow on June 12th.
Dessie Dolan is ruled out for Westmeath, having been hindered by injury throughout the league. Manager Pat Flanagan is also without teenage star John Heslin, who is serving his second suspension of the season and won’t be back until the championship, after which he intends pursuing a career in Australian Rules.
Longford are without David Barden for their Division Four final against Roscommon in Croke Park on Saturday evening. Barden has a leg injury since Longford’s last-round win over Carlow, having been a regular fixture in the half-forward line with his brother and captain Paul.
