O'Shea opts against changing his defence

ALL-IRELAND SFC/SEMI-FINAL CORK v KERRY:KERRY MANAGER Pat O'Shea has stuck with the six defenders who conceded an average of 17 points over the past three games ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final against Cork - the 17th championship meeting between the sides since 1998.

Considering the damage caused by Cork full forward Michael Cussen in the second half of the Munster final and Galway's Joe Bergin in the All-Ireland quarter-final, it was believed the physical presence of either Daniel Bohane or Tommy Griffin would be utilised at full back.

Pádraig Reidy was favourite to make way, with Tom O'Sullivan and Marc Ó Sé retained as corner backs.

However, O'Shea has remained loyal to the All-Ireland winning defence, with a back spasm sustained by Bohane last weekend in a trial match and the need to hold Griffin in reserve as a midfield option ensuring the status quo was preserved.

O'Sullivan has been the Kerry full back in recent seasons since Mike McCarthy retired, but his and Ó Sé's height disadvantage when faced with a big modern full forward has been identified as the primary weakness in the Kerry defence.

Kerry are hardly alone in struggling to unearth a full back capable of coping with the new wave of big full forwards being used by most teams. Last year's All Star full back was Derry's Kevin McCloy, while in 2006 it was Fermanagh's Barry Owens, both players capable of dealing with such physical demands.

Cork also redeployed midfielder Derek Kavanagh to full back this season, but the experiment has not always proved a success as Dublin introduced young midfielder Ross McConnell to the position in 2006 only to be badly exposed against Westmeath and Tyrone this summer.

Tommy Walsh has finally been named as an inside forward, where he has been all along despite previously wearing number 10, alongside Kieran Donaghy in a two-pronged full-forward line, with Colm Cooper working off the aerial threat of both men. Cooper has regularly dropped deep this season to work in a more creative role.

Bryan Sheehan and Donnacha Walsh should fill the wing forward slots, with Declan O'Sullivan attacking from centre forward.

Despite finishing off a fine team goal against Galway, Walsh was replaced relatively early against Monaghan and Galway, with the running threat of Eoin Brosnan or Darren O'Sullivan options at O'Shea's disposal.

Both Brosnan and Seán O'Sullivan started the Munster final defeat to Cork but have since been replaced in the Kerry attack by Tommy Walsh and a fit again Declan O'Sullivan - both men have been in impressive form.