McCarthy puts faith in Knocknagree young gun McSweeney
KNOCKNAGREE’S Eoghan McSweeney is set to be handed his championship debut by Cork football manager Ronan McCarthy in next Saturday evening’s Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final against Limerick (Páirc Uí Rinn 7pm).
The half-forward has been named in the starting fifteen for the clash with the Treaty and is one of three debutants for the senior footballers. Douglas man Nathan Walsh is also set to make his debut, at corner-back, while Clonakilty’s Liam O’Donovan has been named at wing-back. It’s a bold move by the football management team as they seek to make a positive impact on this championship following the disappointment of their relegation to Division 3 of the National Football League. While the changes are on one level bold and positive, Cork’s injury profile probably played a large part in McCarthy seeing the necessity for change. That said there’s quite a bit of continuity between the team selected for Saturday evening and the team which played Tyrone in last season’s All Ireland qualifiers. Mallow’s James Loughrey features on the full-back line, while Clonakilty’s Thomas Clancy and Mallow’s Mathew Taylor of Mallow will provide experience on the half-back line.
Ian Maguire and Ken O’Hanlon will take the midfield duties while Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven) and Mark Collins (Castlehaven) will give this side a serious attacking threat.
CORK (v Limerick): M White (Clonakilty); N Walsh (Douglas), J Loughrey (Mallow), K Flahive (Douglas); L O’Donovan (Clonakilty), Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty), M Taylor (Mallow); I Maguire (St Finbarr’s), K O’Hanlon (Kilshannig); E McSweeney (Knocknagree), R Deane (Bantry Blues), J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); P Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers), B Hurley (Castlehaven), M Collins (Castlehaven) Subs: M Martin (Nemo Rangers), K O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), S White (Clonakilty), Tomás Clancy (Fermoy), S Cronin (Nemo Rangers), A Browne (Newmarket), R O’Toole (Éire Óg), K O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh), M Hurley (Castlehaven), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers), S Sherlock (St Finbarr’s)