Cork v Tyrone: Rebels stick with same starting 15

THE Cork football management have unsurprisingly opted to go with an unchanged starting 15 for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC Group 3 Round 3 clash with Tyrone at Glenisk O’Connor Park (3pm).

After the two-point win over Donegal two weeks at Páirc Uí Rinn, it will come as no surprise to anyone that there are no alterations on the back of a fine performance and a win. That 3-9 to 0-16 victory over the recently crowned Ulster champions puts John Cleary’s side in pole position ahead of the final round of games.

As was anticipated, there is no Luke Fahy in the 26 that has been named, with the Ballincollig player still out with a hamstring injury but is making great progress and there’s a confidence that he may be involved in the quarter-final in two weeks’ time, if Cork reach that stage. There is one change on the bench with John O’Rourke coming in for Jack Cahalane.

Donegal are playing Clare in the other match in the group on Saturday, but regardless of what happens in that one, if the Rebels pick up the two points on offer or draw the game, they will be going straight to the quarter-finals of the Sam Maguire.

Building on the win over Donegal is the next step for Cork. They won’t want to pass on the huge opportunity in what is a massive game for Cork football. There have been times over the past 10 years or so where Cork have failed to kick on from impressive victories. The win over Kerry in 2020 being a prime example.

After going into the Donegal game a fortnight ago with less pressure than the opening round win over Clare in Ennis, there will be that added pressure on the group now especially after the manner of the performance and the late rally to beat Donegal. That shouldn’t faze the management and players who are experienced enough and good enough to deal with it.

Another factor will be that extra Cork support that will be roaring on the team given it’s a double-header with the hurlers on after against Offaly in the All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final at 5.15pm.

Tyrone will be outnumbered in the stands, but they could be a dangerous animal on the pitch. They are hot and cold, and you genuinely don’t know what to expect from them on any given day. They lost to Donegal by seven points in the first group game before beating Clare on home soil on a scoreline of 3-15 to 0-10. Corner-back Niall Devlin scored 2-2.

CORK (v Tyrone):

Christopher Kelly (Éire Óg);

Kevin Flahive (Douglas), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty);

Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk), Matty Taylor (Mallow);

Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s), Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg);

Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Seán Powter (Douglas), Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline);

Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven, c).

Subs:

Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers), Seán Meehan (Kiskeam), Darragh Cashman (Millstreet), Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), Fionn Herlihy (Dohenys), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).