Cork back at full strength for semi-final clash with Dublin

Alan Cadogan, Mark Ellis and Stephen McDonnell return for Nowlan Park encounter

Cork are back to full strength for Sunday's Allianz Hurling League semi-final against Dublin at Nowlan Park.

Manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has welcomed back Alan Cadogan, Mark Ellis and Stephen McDonnell to the starting line-up – all three of whom missed the their four-point quarter-final win over Wexford.

Cadogan and Ellis were injured, while McDonnell missed out because of work commitments, but all three now resume their places – with McDonnell replacing William Kearney at corner back, Ellis returning to centre back in place Killian Burke, with Cadogan taking over from Anthony Spillane at corner forward.

Opponents Dublin will announce their team after training this evening.

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Dublin under-21 football manager Dessie Farrell has announced an unchanged team for Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary, which has a 4.0 start at O'Connor Park in Tullamore. Cormac Costello, Conor McHugh and Colm Basquel make up the full-forward line that helped Dublin secure another Leinster title last month, as they look to win back-to-back titles.

Opponents Tipperary are also unchanged from last week’s Munster final victory over Cork.

Goverment grant

Meanwhile, the

Gaelic Players Association

(GPA) have welcomed the Government’s renewal of the €900,000 players grant scheme, which has operates by refunding players expenses in accordance with the provisions set out in the GAA/GPA agreement.

“The Government support schemes are of major importance to our county hurlers and footballers,” said GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell, “as they recognise the unique contribution the players make as the leading exponents of our indigenous national games.”

CORK (SH v Dublin): A Nash; S O’Neill, D Cahalane, S McDonnell; L McLoughlin, M Ellis, C Murphy; D Kearney, A Walsh; C Lehane, S Harnedy, R O’Shea; A Cadogan; L O’Farrell, P Horgan.

DUBLIN (U-21FC v Tipperary): L Molloy; E Mullan, D Byrne, E Murchan; E Lowndes, C Mulally, R McGowan; S Cunningham, S Carthy; G Burke, A Foley, N Scully; C Costello, C McHugh, C Basquel.

TIPPERARY (U-21F v Dublin): E Comerford; K Fahey, J Feehan, C O’Shaughness; R Mulcahy, L Boland, B Maher; S O’Brien, C O’Riordan; J Lonergan, I Fahey, L Casey; K O’Halloran, J Keane, P Maher.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics