Football

Cork name unchanged team for All-Ireland hurling final clash with Clare

Pat Ryan starts with the same side that dethroned All-Ireland champions Limerick in the semi-final

Cork's Pat Ryan
Cork's Pat Ryan

CORK manager Pat Ryan has named the same starting 15 to the one that dethroned champions Limerick for when Cork take on Munster rivals Clare in the All-Ireland decider at Croke Park this weekend.

The Rebels halted Limerick’s drive for five with an outstanding performance in the semi-final and Ryan has put his faith in the same starting 15 players once again.

Cork also defeated John Kiely’s men in the group stages of the Munster Championship but missed out on a place in the provincial decider due to earlier defeats to Waterford and Clare.

Victories over Joe McDonagh Cup champions Offaly and Dublin saw Ryan’s men qualify for the last four in the race for Liam McCarthy, where they saw off Limerick by two points in the end.

Cork are hoping to end a 19-year wait for an All-Ireland title and face a familiar foe, Clare, in a repeat of the 2013 decider which the Banner county won after a replay.

Cork Patrick Collins, Niall O’ Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’ Donoghue, Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman, Tim O Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes

Subs Brion Saunderson, Damien Cahalane, Ger Millerick, Tommy O Connell, Luke Meade, Ethan Twomey, Conor Lehane, Jack O Connor, Shane Kingston, Padraig Power, Robbie O’Flynn