Team Check: Corkery back for Cork

Cork SF

Cork SF

There are four changes from the team that beat Limerick last month for Sunday's semi-final clash with Kerry in Killarney. Back come Ronan McCarthy, Anthony Lynch, Fachtna Collins and Colm Corkery.

For Corkery, it will be the first championship start in three years while Collins appeared as a sub in last year's All-Ireland final loss to Meath. Both McCarthy and Lynch started in that game.

In total, 11 players remain from the team that beat Kerry in last year's Munster final - the main absence being the injured Podsie O'Mahony. The returning Steven O'Brien keeps his place at full forward while Don Davis makes a switch from his usual right half forward position to the left flank.

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CORK (SF v Kerry): K O'Dwyer; R McCarthy, S Og O hAilpin, A Lynch; C O'Sullivan, E Sexton, M Cronin; N Murphy, F Collins; A Dorgan, J Kavanagh, D Davis; P Clifford, S O'Brien, C Corkery.

Kerry SF

Seamus Moynihan takes the full back mantle for the meeting with Cork. He fills the problem position for manager Paidi O Se due to the absence of the injured Barry O'Shea is one of four changes from the side that fell to Cork last year.

Maurice Fitzgerald - still returning to full fitness - is named among the subs while also missing are Eamonn Breen and John McGlynn. Tom O'Sullivan and Eamon Fitzmaurice come into the defence and Michael Francis Russell will start in the attack.

The team also shows three changes from that which lost to Meath in the league semi-final. Indirect switches for Mike Hassett, Enda Galvin and Denis O'Dwyer are Killian Burns, Moynihan and John Crowley.

KERRY (SF v Cork): D O'Keeffe; K Burns, S Moynihan, M McCarthy; T O Se, E Fitzmaurice, T O'Sullivan; D O Se, D Daly; A MacGearailt, L Hasset, N Kennelly; M F Russell, D O Cinneide, J Crowley.

Kilkenny SH

Noel Hickey, Stephen Grehan and Eddie Brennan will each make their championship debuts in the team to face Dublin in Sunday's Leinster semi-final. Brennan, who starts at left corner forward, has been averaging a goal a game since making his first senior start in the league match last March against Tipperary - where he scored 2-3.

The 28-year-old Grehan comes in for John Power at centre forward, and Hickey at corner back for Willie O'Connor. Both Power and O'Connor - held out for this game - are expected to be named among the subs.

In O'Connor's absence, the side will be captained by midfielder Paddy Mullally - who played in last year's Leinster final. In total, there are five changes from the team that fell to Cork in last year's All-Ireland final - with injuries to Canice Brennan and Andy Comoerford as well as the absent O'Connor, Ken O'Shea and Pat O'Neill.

KILKENNY (SH v Dublin): J McGarry; P Larkin, S Meally, N Hickey; M Kavanagh, E Kennedy, P Barry; D Byrne, P Mullally; H Shefflin, S Grehan, B McEvoy; C Carter, DJ Carey, E Brennan.

Wexford SH

Chris McGrath is the sole championship debutant in the team to face Offaly in Croke Park on Sunday. The corner forward from Shelmaliers comes into an extremely experienced full forward line with Larry Murphy and Tom Dempsey.

There are fives changes from the team that fell to Offaly last year - starting with Colm Kehoe and Daragh Ryan in the full back like, Declan Ruth at wing back and Michael Jordan at wing forward, in addition to McGrath.

In what will probably be his last championship season, Martin Storey will again start in his usual centre forward while captain Rory McCarthy - who started last year at wing forward - will now play at wing back.

WEXFORD (SH v Offaly): D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D Ryan, S Flood; R McCarthy (capt), L Dunne, D Ruth; A Fenlon, R Guiney; M Jordan, M Storey, P Codd; T Dempsey, L Murphy, C McGrath.

Offaly SH

Brian Whelahan and Joe Dooley, both of whom have been out of the game for some time through injury are included on the Offaly side to meet Wexford in the Leinster semi-final on Sunday. Niall Claffey makes his championship debut at left full back as replacement for the injured Colm Cassidy.

OFFALY: S Byrne; S Whelehan, K Kinahan, N Claffey; Barry Whelahan, Brian Whelahan, K Martin; Johnny Dooley, J Pilkington; P Mulhare, G Hannify, B Murphy; M Duignan, J Errity, Joe Dooley.

Antrim SF

Manager Brian White has delayed naming the side to face Derry until this morning. Injuries to goalkeeper Sean McGreevy (back) and midfielder Sheeny McQuillan (ankle) have necessitated a little more analysis before deciding the starting 15 although both players did come through last night's training session.

Also passed fit is forward Kevin Madden although it remains to be seen what role he will be given.

Derry SF

Manager Eamonn Coleman will announce the team to face Antrim today. The full panel trained last night and bar any last minute injuries, it is expected that there will be minimum changes from the team that beat Meath in last month's league final.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics