Ballinhassig’s Fintan O’Leary will make his first start for Cork in Sunday’s NHL showdown with Wexford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. O’Leary, who starred in Waterford IT’s recent Fitzgibbon Cup victory, replaces Kieran Murphy at right half forward in a team that is also notable for the return of Sean Og O hAilpin. The former All-Ireland winning captain takes over the full back duties from Diarmuid O’Sullivan, while behind him Anthony Nash replaces Brendan Coleman in goal. Other changes from last weekend’s victory over Antrim see Brian Murphy recalled at left corner back with Shane O’Neill switching to right half back to the exclusion of Eoin Cadogan. Leigh Desmond moves from right corner forward to midfield to the exclusion of Kevin Harnett. Cathal Naughton takes over the number 13 jersey, while Neil Ronan returns at full forward, with Kevin Canty moving to left corner forward at the expense of Pa Cronin.

The Cork team selected for Saturday’s Munster under 21 football championship semi-final against Kerry in Tralee features just four players from last year’s All-Ireland winning side. Fiachra Lynch partners Alan Barry at midfield, while Colm O’Neill and Sean Cahalane form the full forward line along with David Goold, brother of senior star Fintan. Three of the Cork players - Tom O’Connor, Eoin Cotter and Alan Barry - figured on the corresponding minor team which defeated the Kingdom in the 2005 Munster minor final.

It was all too easy for Cork as they coasted to a 1-24 to 1-7 national hurling league Division 1A win over Antrim at Casement Park. The Rebels did most of the damage in the second half, after turning around with a slender 0-9 to 1-5 interval lead. Cork had the first three points inside 13 minutes and Simon McGrory opened the Saffrons’ account a minute later. Brendan Quinn added another for the hosts but the Leesiders registered four times in six minutes - two from Pa Cronin and two from John Gardiner. Karl McKeegan and Liam Watson had more Antrim scores and Kevin Canty got another one for Cork. Watson them struck the losers’ goal from a scorching 21-metre free to reduce the gap to the minimum.

Cork were made to fight for their second straight NFL Division Two win as Westmeath put up a stubborn resistance at Páirc Uí Rinn tonight. Cork looked to be cruising when turning around with a 0-08 to 0-03 buffer - Michael Cussen, John Miskella, Kevin O'Sullivan and Daniel Goulding hit some good scores. But the hosts stalled at 0-10 and despite losing Martin Flanagan to a second yellow card, four second half points from Denis Glennon inspired a Westmeath comeback that saw them fall just short. This was the Rebels' first home match since the ending of their players' strike and despite the very wet conditions, Conor Counihan's men were determined to put on a show for a crowd of 1,882 spectators. Owen Sexton and Kevin McMahon were brought into the Cork team for this game, while attackers Cussen and Pearse O'Neill started despite doubts over their fitness.

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Conor Counihan has drafted in Owen Sexton and Kevin McMahon for Cork’s NFL Division 2 encounter with Westmeath on Saturday night. In the county’s first home game since the end of their strike action, Sexton comes into the half back line in place of the injured Anthony Lynch. In attack, McMahon replaced Conor McCarthy, who was a late call up for the league win over Roscommon. Despite injury concerns over Michael Cussen and Pearse O’Neill, both players have been named in the attack.

The last vestiges of the long running Cork players’ strike were finally put to the bed at Parnell Park as the hurlers returned to competitive action for the first time in 31 weeks – and carved out a hard earned win on the back of a much improved second half display. If the Rebels were nervous about making a return to action against a capital team that had already enjoyed the advantage of two previous outings, they had every right and the first half proved testing to say the least. The Dubs, backed by a strong breeze, made all the early running and despite the concession of a kicked Neil Ronan goal after only two minutes, it wasn’t long before Tommy Naughton’s men had a stranglehold on proceedings. The hosts racked up early points from Ross O’Carroll, Johnny McCaffrey, David O’Callaghan and four from Stuart Mullen (three frees) before Kevin Flynn doubled on a long range Simon Lambert sideline cut to rifle to the net on 17 minutes.