McCarthy forced to field new-look Cork half-back and full-forward lines

Galway's Kieran Fitzgerald and Mayo's David Clarke at McHale Park, Castlebar, yesterday. - (Photograph: Pat Murphy/Sportsfile)

IF EVER the cracks of this golden era in Cork hurling are beginning to show it is with Gerald McCarthy's latest team selection.

Granted, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Ronan Curran are carrying injuries, but the disintegration of arguably the greatest half-back line hurling has ever seen is a timely reminder that all good things must come to an end.

Eoin Cadogan and Ciarán McGann have been charged with filling these legendary boots against Dublin in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening while the youngest member of the half-back holy trinity, John Gardiner, moves to Curran's centre-back role.

Interestingly, the hamstrung Ó hAilpín and Curran (believed to be carrying a serious groin injury that may need surgery) are retained amongst the Cork side's replacements.

Other changes see Niall McCarthy come back at centre forward in place of Kevin Canty, while only Cathal Naughton survives from the full-forward line that lined out in last month's six-point defeat to Tipperary in the Munster semi-final.

Old warrior Joe Deane replaces Paudie O'Sullivan and Niall Ronan is in for Pa Cronin at full forward.

Dublin must plan without Philip Brennan (quad) and David Curtin (hamstring) with the team to be announced today.

Meanwhile, all stand tickets for the Munster hurling final in Limerick's Gaelic Grounds this Sunday have been sold. A number of terrace tickets go on sale in Thurles and Ennis this morning from 10.0.

Clare hurler Brian O'Connell and Armagh footballer Ronan Clarke were named the Gaelic Players Association Players of the Month for June yesterday.

Their selection is a fitting tribute to the achievements of their respective counties in reaching their provincial finals.

CORK (SHC v Dublin): D Óg Cusack; S O'Neill, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; E Cadogan, J Gardiner, C McGann; T Kenny, J O'Connor; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; C Naughton, N Ronan, J Deane.

OFFALY (MFC v Wexford): S Nally; L Dunning, J Moloney, D Ryan; D Kelly, B Geraghty, A Murphy; B Connor, NA Graham; K Lawlor, P Rigney, G Guilfoyle; B Allen, A Sullivan, R Allen.

KERRY (MFC replay v Tipperary): B Kelly; P Reidy, B Shanahan, F Fitzgerald; P Crowley, J Lyne, M Hickey; J O'Sullivan, W Guthrie; D Casey, MT O'Sullivan, C Tobin; J O'Donoghue, BJ Walsh, P Geaney.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times