O'Sullivan ready to resume for Cork

Team News: Diarmuid O'Sullivan will be back in the Cork team for Sunday's Allianz Hurling League semi-final against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The dual player missed the last round of the league against the same opposition earlier this month because of a groin injury, but has recovered sufficiently to regain his place at full back.

Filling in the last day was Pat Mulcahy. Cork lost that game but it didn't alter their straight run into the semi-finals because of their better scoring difference. Mulcahy is likely to start among the substitutes on Sunday, but a number of other changes are expected.

Manager Bertie Óg Murphy found himself with an extensive injury list when the team came together on Monday night, with Timmy McCarthy, Ben O'Connor, Fergal Ryan, Wayne Sherlock, Niall McCarthy and John Browne among those requiring treatment.

At least Jerry O'Connor has been passed fit after missing the last game. Like O'Sullivan, he played for his club at the weekend without any problems.

Tipperary manager Nicky English will wait until tomorrow night before confirming his starting line-up. Definitely ruled out are midfielder Eddie Enright and full forward John O'Brien, and there are minor concerns over Brendan Dunne (ankle), his brother Tomás (flu), Eamonn Corcoran (head injury) and Paul Kelly (hamstring).

Enright has undergone an operation for the finger injury he sustained in last Sunday's win over Galway and faces a race against time to be fit for Tipperary's championship opener against Clare on May 19th. O'Brien has his dislocated thumb in plaster but is more likely to be back playing before the Clare match.

Kilkenny meet Limerick in the other semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, and both will name their starting line-ups this evening. Kilkenny have no major injury worries, but are still missing some of their regular players.

Brian McEvoy remains suspended (though he will be eligible for the league final on May 5th should Kilkenny progress) and DJ Carey and John Power have only recently returned to training and won't feature for the remainder of the league. Manager Brian Cody has also indicated that Carey won't be rushing his return to full fitness and is not in his plans for the opening championship game against Offaly on June 9th.

Limerick have no injuries. Veteran defender Stephen McDonagh is clearly in line for a place at corner back for Sunday and indeed the championship after his flawless show against Clare last Sunday.

The referees for the semi-finals will be confirmed later today. TG4 have also announced that their GAA Beo live match on Sunday will be the Cork-Tipperary clash. Coverage starts at 3.15.

In other team news, Dublin defender Stephen O'Shaughnessy has been ruled out of the Leinster under-21 football final against Wicklow in Newbridge on Sunday because of a shoulder injury.

In contrast, Tyrone's centre forward Stephen O'Neill is confident of playing in the National Football League final on Sunday week despite sustaining ankle ligament damage in a club game at the weekend just hours after playing for the county.

Ciarán Meenagh, who came on as a substitute in the win over Mayo, was also carried off with a leg injury while playing for Loughmacrory and is expected to be out of action for some time.

The Meath football management have quashed rumours that John McDermott is on the verge of another comeback. Although McDermott is playing well for his club Skryne and was seen with the team in Limerick last Sunday, Meath selector Colm Coyle said there was "nothing in" the rumours.

"He flew down, we had to pick him up at the hotel, and so he came with us on the bus to the ground," said Coyle.