Fitzpatrick, Clancy and Murphy to all start for Cork in McGrath Cup final

CORK boss Ronan McCarthy has made wholesale changes to his team for Saturday’s McGrath Cup final against Clare.

The Cork manager has named an entirely new starting 15 from the team that beat Limerick last weekend as he gives as many players as possible an early season run-out ahead of the start of the league campaign at the end of the month.

Carbery Rangers’ James Fitzpatrick (pictured) who came on as a sub against Limerick starts in midfield alongside Eire Óg’s Ronan O’Toole, while two Clonakilty club men, the returning Thomas Clancy and former Cork U20 captain Liam O’Donovan, are named in defence. A second-half sub last weekend, Bandon’s Peter Murphy, who previously captained the Cork juniors, has been named at full back for Saturday’s clash in Miltown-Malbay, with Sam Ryan (St Finbarr’s) and Aidan Browne (Newmarket) either side of him. In attack, Castlehaven’s Mark Collins will make his first appearance of the season in a full-forward line that also includes Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael) and Stephen Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).

Carbery Rangers’s John O’Rourke is named in the half-forward line along with Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree) and Cian Kiely (Ballincollig).

Cork team v Clare: Chris Kelly (Eire Óg); Sam Ryan (St Finbarr’s), Peter Murphy (Bandon), Aidan Browne (Newmarket); Liam O’Donovan (Clonakilty), Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty), Steven Cronin (Nemo Rangers); James Fitzpatrick (Carbery Rangers), Ronan O’Toole (Eire Óg); John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), Cian Kiely (Ballincollig); Mark Collins (Castlehaven), Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael), Stephen Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: Mark White (Clonakilty), Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), Nathan Walsh (Douglas), Conor Dennehy (St Finbarr’s), Tadhg Corkery (Cill na Martra), Kevin Flahive (Douglas), Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Tomás Clancy (Fermoy), Mattie Taylor (Mallow), Damien Gore (Kilmacabea), Blake Murphy (St Vincent's).