Talented Derry can go the full distance

This time last year, Cork went into their All-Ireland football semi-final with the inevitable sense of confidence that comes from a comprehensive beating of Kerry in a Munster final. Unfortunately for them, they underestimated a Mayo team that eventually sent them home with nothing.

On Sunday, they are back in the hunt for an All-Ireland title and despite another win over Kerry in the Munster final, they are displaying none of that complacency for their meeting with Derry. With a range of selection and positional switches from the team which narrowly beat Kerry by just two points last month, Cork's backroom team are eager to get everything right for the demanding test that lies ahead.

Three new players have been drafted in - full back Paul Deane, wing back Denis O'Hare and wing forward Declan Barron.

Derry by-passed the All-Ireland champions of 1998 (Tyrone) and 1999 (Down) in claiming their first Ulster title in five years last month and there's no doubting their ability to go all the way this year. Cormac O'Neill and Paul Young provided the two crucial goals that brought about the three-point win over Tyrone in that Ulster final, a game marked by impressive attacking football from both sides.

Centre forward Ciaran O'Neill was at the heart of that movement, hitting four points and setting up Young's opening goal. Manager Chris Browne has made just one change for Sunday's game, welcoming back Chris Collins from injury for the centre half back position. Conrad Murphy, who scored 0-7 against Kerry, will be the main target for Cork and if he is adequately contained by Derry, the Ulster champions should progress.

CORK: K Murphy; N O'Donovan, P Deane, E Bourke; N O'Leary, D O'Hare, P McCarthy; K McMahon, K Murphy; D Barron, C Murphy, J Collins; J Masters, C Brosnan, D Burns.

DERRY: B Scullion; M O'Kane, C Feeney, P Mooney; S McKenna, C Collins, G McMaster; K McCann, D Canning; G Donnaghy, Ciaran O'Neill, Cormac O'Neill; M Donaghy, J Kelly, P Young.