[ad_1]
Reigning champions Kerry are the favorites to emerge from what will be the strangest of all meetings with their neighbors.
The floodlights will be on for a championship game in the late afternoon in November and there will be no spectators present.
And given the weather the gods unleashed last Sunday, everyone involved should be on the lookout for what is forecast with the prospect of even more rain.
Last season, Cork fell behind at the beginning of the provincial final, but rallied to be three points behind Kerry, pushing Dublin all the way only to fall short by denying them their historic five in a row from All Ireland triumphs.
Its relevance has been diluted to some extent by the change in the Cork team, which is lining up this time.
Between the goalkeeper and the six defenders only two remain, both on the left flank, Kevin Flahive in the corner and Mattie Taylor in the half line.
Coach Ronan McCarthy has made a bold statement with the inclusion of last season’s All-Ireland U20 winning winger and center-back in the form of Maurice Shanley and Sean Meehan, respectively.
And since Kerry is likely to stick with the same lineup that won the Division 1 league title recently, when his team is unveiled on Friday night, it could mean Shanley will pick up David Clifford and Meehan to try and stop Sean. O’Shea in ’40.
Back in shape, Sean Powter and Kevin O’Donovan, who reached the second half in a 1-19 to 3-10 loss last season, round out the defensive structure.
Of course, the positions or the numbers on the jerseys count for little these days and this will surely be confirmed in the individual jobs assigned to each player.
For example, you could see Flahive picking up Clifford like he did last season and Taylor might go off course to do O’Shea, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Kerry’s scoring threat isn’t limited to just Clifford and O’Shea because a rejuvenated Tony Brosnan, scoring 0-6 in the final league win over Donegal, represents another forward Cork must keep an eye on.
Cork opted for the regular midfield pairing of captain Ian Maguire and Killian O’Hanlon who faced David Moran and Jack Barry in 2019, though Diarmuid O’Connor is also in the frame of Kerry for jersey number nine.
There is a third rookie in the championship and another link to last season’s U-20 successes with Colm O’Callaghan named in the middle of an attack that has a familiar look.
The Éire Óg player is joined by Ruairí Deane and John O’Rourke in that sector, while there is plenty of scoring power and experience on the inside line from Mark Collins, Luke Connolly and Brian Hurley.
Cork has chosen an experienced and talented bench with a springer in young Mitchelstown’s Mark Keane for his first appearance, who has just returned from playing Aussie Rules.
Collingwood’s player Keane would have been in midfield more than likely if he had stayed for last season’s U-20 wins and could be used in midfield or as a target on the edge of the square.
There is no place in 26th for top scorer Cathail O’Mahony, who missed the last league game against Louth due to injury. Mark White and Tom Clancy are not involved this season, while Tomás Clancy, Liam O’Donovan and Ciarán Sheehan are out with injury.
There are still plenty of good options on the Cork bench, from Paul Kerrigan, Michael Hurley, Seán White and Kevin O’Driscoll to U20 graduates Damien Gore and Paul Ring, and the surprise inclusion of Mark Keane.
There is a very settled look at the Kingdom. The only expected change from last season in defense will see Peter Crowley start at center back, but the other five remain as does goalkeeper Shane Ryan.
Cornerback Tom O’Sullivan sacked 1-1 that day and winger Gavin White was a scorer against Donegal to reflect the scoring power across the team.
And manager Peter Keane is sure to fill a bench with the likes of Stephen O’Brien, Tommy Walsh, Gavin Crowley, Brian O Beaglaoich and Paul Geaney and James O’Donoghue if they’re fit.
MA Martin (Nemo Rangers); S Powter (Douglas), M Shanley (Clonakilty), K Flahive (Douglas); K O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), S Meehan (Kiskeam), M Taylor (Mallow); I Maguire (St Finbarr’s, c), K O’Hanlon (Kilshannig); J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), C O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), R Deane (Bantry Blues); M Collins (Castlehaven), B Hurley (do), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers).
A Casey (Kiskeam), S Ryan (St Finbarr’s), P Ring (Aghabullogue), M Hurley (Castlehaven), T Corkery (Cill na Martra), P Walsh (Kanturk), K O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaighs), S White (Clonakilty), P Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), M Keane (Mitchelstown), D Gore (Kilmacabea).
[ad_2]