Cork boss Morgan drops his captain

Cork football captain Seán Levis has been dropped for Sunday's Munster final against Kerry

Cork football captain Seán Levis has been dropped for Sunday's Munster final against Kerry. The Carbery Rangers defender, who started at full back in the semi-final win over Clare, loses out on a starting position for the match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as manager Billy Morgan makes several tactical switches in an effort to topple the champions.

Graham Canty has been moved from midfield to the full back position, where his physical presence and mobility is deemed more suitable to stem the Kerry forwards.

Nicholas Murphy drops back to midfield, and that makes Kevin McMahon the indirect replacement for Levis. A minor in 2000, McMahon appeared as a substitute in last year's semi-final loss to Kerry, and more regularly during the course of Cork's league campaign.

There is one other change in personnel from the Clare match, with Noel O'Leary getting the nod in the half back line ahead of Martin Cronin. O'Leary did appear as a sub the last day, and played against Kerry a year ago.

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The fact that Levis is dropped goes against most expectations. He appeared settled in the Cork defence in recent months, having played in most positions from midfield to the half back and full back lines over the course of the league. Yet, Morgan is clearly intent on sending out his strongest possible team, as Cork seek their first Munster final win over Kerry since 1999.

Three forwards made their championship debuts in the semi-final win over Clare - former minor star James Masters at wing forward, Carbery's John Hayes at corner forward and under-21 star Fintan Gould at full forward - and all three have been retained for Sunday. There are no championship debuts, but seven of the team are starting their first Munster final.

Galway have handed their full back position to Finian Hanley for Sunday's Connacht football final against Mayo. A member of the All-Ireland winning under-21 team, Hanley was tried in the same position in a challenge match against Dublin at the weekend and greatly impressed manager Peter Ford.

Fellow under-21 Niall Coleman is named at midfield, with Joe Bergin ruled out with a knee injury. Forward Seán Armstrong is carrying a slight knock from the semi-final win over Leitrim and is kept in reserve.

Into his place, however, comes team captain Padraic Joyce, who returns to his full forward position having missed out on the Leitrim game with the lingering effects of an ankle injury.

Armagh make two changes for their Ulster final against Tyrone at Croke Park from the team that beat Derry in the semi-final.

John Toal is preferred to Philip Loughran at midfield, and Tony McEntee is chosen ahead of his brother John at centre forward - changes which were in fact made in the course of the Derry game. Manager Joe Kernan had an injury-free panel to choose from.

In hurling news, Tipperary defender Martin Maher has been ruled out for the remainder of the season having broken a bone in his arm while playing for his club Borrisoleigh in their championship victory over Toomevara.

Finally, Brian McEniff confirmed his resignation as Donegal football manager at Monday night's meeting of the county board. McEniff had been tempted back after the disappointments of last year, but following Sunday's championship exit at the hands of Cavan he decided to end what was his fourth stint as county manager.

CORK (SF v Kerry): K O'Dwyer; N Geary, G Canty, G Murphy; N O'Leary, A Lynch, E Sexton; D Kavanagh, N Murphy; J Masters, C McCarthy, K McMahon; J Hayes, F Gould, M O Croinin.

GALWAY (SF v Mayo): B Donoghue; A Burke, F Hanley, K Fitzgerald; D Meehan, P Clancy, D Burke; B Cullinane, N Coleman; D Savage, M Donnellan, M Clancy; K Comer, P Joyce, M Meehan.

ARMAGH (SF v Tyrone): P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellow, E McNulty; A Kernan, K McGeeney, A O'Rourke; J Toal, P McGrane; M O'Rourke, T McEntee, O McConville; S McDonnell, R Clarke, B Mallon.

All games at 3.30pm unless stated

TODAY

Munster Junior Football championship final - Cork v Kerry, Pairc Ui Rinn, 7.30 (B Tyrrell, Tipperary).

SATURDAY

All-Ireland Football Championship qualifier: Monaghan v Wexford, Clones (P McGovern, Galway), extra-time if necessary. All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship qualifying section (round three): Group A - Antrim v Laois, Casement Park (A MacSuibhne, Dublin). Limerick v Galway, Gaelic Grounds, 7.0 (B Gavin Offaly) live RTÉ2. Group B - Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, 3.0 (J McDonald Tipperary). Christy Ring Cup: Group 2B - Kerry v Monaghan, Tralee (G Hoey, Clare). Nicky Rackard Cup (round three): Group 3A - Tyrone v Sligo, Carrickmore (D Magee, Down). Donegal v Fermanagh, Letterkenny (J O'Rourke, Monaghan). Group 3B - Armagh v Louth, Keady (C McGuinness, Down). Leitrim v Cavan, Carrick-on-Shannon (T Holian, Galway). Group 3C - Longford v Monaghan, Michael Fay Park (Tiernach Mahon, Fermanagh). London v Warwickshire, Ruislip, 6.0 (J McGrath, Westmeath). Women's Football: All-Ireland U-18 Minor semi-finals: Dublin v Galway, Garrycastle, 2.0. Cork v Donegal, Tuam, 3.0. Munster Senior Football Championship: Clare v Kerry, Cooraclare, 6.15.

Camogie: Munster Junior championship final, Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds, 5.0. Leinster Junior Championship final: Dublin v Laois, St Peregrine's, Blakestown Rd, 5.0. Leinster U-14 C'ship final: Dublin v Kilkenny, St Peregrine's, Blakestown Road, 3.0. Poc Fáda: St Peregrine's, Blakestown Road, 4.15. Munster Junior C'ship final: Limerick v Clare, tba.

SUNDAY

Connacht Senior Football Championship final: Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium, 2.10 (J Geaney, Cork), Live RTÉ2. Connacht Minor Football Championship final: Galway v Mayo, Pearse Stadium, 12.15 (D Mullaney, Sligo). Ulster Senior Football Championship final Armagh v Tyrone, Croke Park, (P McEneaney, Monaghan), Live BBC2. Ulster Minor Football Championship final: Armagh v Cavan/Down, Croke Park, 1.45, (M Sludden, Tyrone). Munster Senior Football Championship final: Cork v Kerry, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4.15 (D Coldrick, Meath), Live RTE2. Munster Minor Football Championship final: Cork v Kerry, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.30, (R Hickey, Clare). Leinster Minor Football Championship semi-final: Laois v Dublin, Carlow, 7.0, (D Fahy, Longford). All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship qualifying section (round three): Group B - Clare v Waterford, Cusack Park, Ennis, (M Haverty Galway). Women's Football: Leinster Senior Championship: Longford v Laois, Killoe, 2.0. Kildare v Meath, Newbridge, 5.0. Leinster Junior Championship: Meath v Dublin, Simonstown, 1.0. Offaly v Westmeath, O'Connor Park, 5.30. Wicklow v Wexford, tba. Kilkenny v Laois, tba.

Camogie: All-Ireland Minor B C'ship Semi-Finals: Armagh v Carlow, Killeavy, 1.0. Down v Offaly, Ballyholland, 1.0.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics