Gardiner, McCarthy return for Cork

NHL SEMI-FINALS:VETERAN CORK hurlers John Gardiner and Niall McCarthy make timely returns to the starting line-up for Sunday's National Hurling League semi-final against Tipperary in Thurles.

McCarthy gets his opportunity due to Cathal Naughton’s pulled hamstring. Former captain Gardiner is unable to break into the half-back line but he comes in at midfield to partner Lorcan McLoughlin in place of Darren Sweetnam.

The half-back line remains Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, dual player Eoin Cadogan and Kilbrin’s William Egan. Donal Óg Cusack captains the side from goalkeeper.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made four changes from the side that drew with Tipperary on April 1st with Conor O’Sullivan starting at right-corner back due to Brian Murphy’s hamstring injury.

Jamie Coughlan moves to wing forward with the other change seeing Luke O’Farrell named ahead of Conor Lehane. Lehane is joined among the replacements by former midfield starter Tom Kenny.

Tipperary manager Declan Ryan must plan without captain and fullback Paul Curran due to a knee problem while the corner-back Donagh Maher is also out with a hamstring strain. This means Pádraic Maher moves to the square’s edge, where he will mark Paudie O’Sullivan, with David Young coming in at wing back. Conor O’Brien replaces Donagh Maher in the corner.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody will not, as usual, release his team to face Division Two champions Clare in the other semi-final of the rejigged league play-offs until today.

Clare are seeking a shock result without centre back James McInerney.

The Cork Under-21s to face Dublin in tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi-final in Portlaoise remain unchanged from the 15 that beat Kerry in the Munster final. Full-back Damian Cahalane (knee), wing-back Jamie Wall (knee), centre-back Tom Clancy (calf), midfielder Ruairí Keane (groin) and captain Donal Óg Hodnett (knee) have all recovered as Cork seek to capture a third All-Ireland at the age grade since 2007.

Meanwhile, Armagh’s long-serving goalkeeper Paul Hearty last night announced his retirement from intercounty football.

CORK (SH v Tipperary):D Óg Cusack; S O'Neill, S McDonnel, C O'Sullivan; S Óg Ó hAilpín, E Cadogan, W Egan; J Gardiner, L McLoughlin; J Coughlan, P Cronin, N McCarthy; L O'Farrell, P O'Sullivan, P Horgan.

TIPPERARY (SH v Cork) :B Cummins; C OBrien, Padraic Maher, M Cahill; T Stapleton, C O'Mahony, D Young; B Maher, J Woodlock; G Ryan N McGrath, Pa Bourke; S Burke, B OMeara, J OBrien.

CORK (Under-21 FC v Dublin):S Mellett; D ODonovan, D Cahalane, A Cronin; J Cronin, T Clancy, J Wall; R Deane, E Healy; K Hallissey, D Óg Hodnett (capt), J ORourke; B Hurley, L Connolly, M Sugrue.