Kerry order same again

Kerry have named an unchanged starting 15 for Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final against Cork at Croke Park.

Given that there were no injury concerns, it was expected that the side, which had dethroned disappointing All-Ireland champions Galway in the quarter-final, would get the nod for this weekend.

The only ambiguity concerned the status of captain Darragh Ó Sé who was sent off in a club match 11 days ago, but exonerated by the Kerry county board.

GAA president Seán McCague reviewed the documentation in the case earlier this week, but found no reason to intervene.

There had been some speculation that Séamus Moynihan might have been switched from full back given the difficulties that he has experienced on Cork captain Colin Corkery in the past couple of seasons. But Páidí Ó Sé has decided to leave well enough alone.

In the Munster semi-final and replay Moynihan was switched to centrefield, but, despite playing well there, was deemed to be needed more at full back.

Kerry will be favourites going into the first All-Ireland meeting of the two old Munster rivals.

"We had a full pick," according to selector John O'Keeffe, "but it's just when you expect everything to go well that you can be upset.

"Training has been simply a matter of ticking over, which has been unusual for us as we had been playing a lot of matches in the weeks before."

Kerry have followed the path beaten by Galway last year when they recovered from a surprise provincial semi-final defeat, proceeded through the qualifiers and won the All-Ireland.

Is it a more satisfactory way to progress? "I'll tell you on Monday," said O'Keeffe.

KERRY (SF v Cork): 1 Declan O'Keeffe; 2 Marc Ó'Sé, 3 Séamus Moynihan, 4 Michael McCarthy; 5 Tomás Ó'Sé, 6 Eamonn Fitzmaurice, 7 John Sheehan; 8 Darragh Ó Sé (capt), 9 Donal Daly Firies; 10 Seán O'Sullivan, 11 Eoin Brosnan, 12 Liam Hassett; 13 Michael F Russell, 14 Dara Ó'Cinnéide, 15 Colm Cooper.