Kerry should get the result they need to reach Munster final

MUNSTER UNDER-20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PHASE 2 ROUND 2

Kerry v Tipperary

Wednesday, April 24 Austin Stack Park, Tralee at 7pm

KERRY U-20 football manager Tomás Ó Sé has made five changes to the side for Wednesday’s Munster championship (Phase 2 Round 3) clash with Tipperary at Austin Stack Park (7pm).

After back-to-back away victories over Clare and Cork respectively, the Kingdom just need to avoid defeat to be absolutely certain of a place in the provincial decider one week later.

However, should Kerry lose to the Premier county, and the Rebels, as expected, are too strong for the Banner at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, also on Wednesday, all three sides would finish on four points.

With Dara O’Callaghan limping out of the four-point win over Cork in the closing stages, the Kilcummin full-back is replaced by Maidhcí Lynch of Dr Crokes, with Ryan Diggin switching to the three jersey.

At midfield, Currow’s Cathal Brosnan gets his first taste of action after being named to partner captain Rob Stack in the engine room, in place of Eddie Healy, while there are three alterations in attack.

Rathmore’s Fionn Murphy comes in for Evan Boyle at wing-forward, while St Michael’s/Foilmore’s Ian O’Sullivan and Paddy Lane of Austin Stacks get the nod at corner-forward.

O’Sullivan replaces the side’s top scorer Cormac Dillon, while Lane takes the place of Luke Crowley, who played 55 minutes on his Joe McDonagh Cup senior hurling debut in Mullingar on Sunday.

Tipperary, with four wins already in the competition from five games, will be fully aware that only a victory will give them any chance of advancing so, with a dangerous talisman in Orrin Jones, they demand respect. Still, despite freshening things up, Kerry should have more than enough.

VERDICT: Kerry

KERRY TEAM TO PLAY CORK: M Tansley; M Lynch, R Diggin, G Evans; C Keating, C Lynch, D O’Connor; R Stack, C Brosnan; F Murphy, O Ferris, D Kirby; I O’Sullivan, T Kennedy, P Lane. Subs: J Hoare, A Segal, A Crowley, C Dillon, E Healy, E Boyle, L Evans, B Hanafin, L Crowley.