A preview of the games to be played

TODAY

Cork v Galway, Gaelic Grounds, 4.00pm – Galway manager John McIntyre admitted that last week’s 17-point win over Clare went some way towards restoring some credibility to his team after the worryingly poor showing in the Leinster championship, but that they’d throw it all away again if they didn’t repeat the performance against Cork.

Somewhat ominously for Cork, McIntyre has named an unchanged team for the first time this season: the six changes he made for the Phase Two qualifier against Clare suggest he could well have found his winning formula at last.

David Burke has recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the Clare game to retain his place at midfield, with the likes of Damien Joyce and Cyril Donnellan once again kept in reserve, as Damien Hayes takes over the captaincy in the full forward line alongside Joe Canning and Alan Kerins.

Ronan Curran returns to centre back for Cork, and just as well: they barely hung on against Offaly in their previous qualifier, and can’t afford to let Galway’s talented forward line to get too much of a run on them.

Much has been said about the similarity of these teams, and their open style of hurling, and if it turns into that sort of game Galway’s apparent return to form should see them through for a potentially season-defining game in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

GALWAY: J Skehill; F Moore, S Kavanagh, D Collins; D Barry, T Óg Regan, A Cullinane; D Burke, A Smith; J Gantley, G Farragher, I Tannian; D Hayes, J Canning, A Kerins.

CORK: D Óg Cusack; S McDonnell, E Cadogan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S O’Neill; J O’Connor, W Egan; B O’Connor, C McCarthy, N McCarthy; L O’Farrell, P O’Sullivan, P Horgan.

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).

Antrim v Limerick, Parnell Park, 7.00pm – Limerick manager Donal O’Grady is not happy with the late throw-in time here, which suggested to some that he wants to get in and out of this one with the minimum amount of fuss.

Antrim’s victory over Dublin at this stage of the competition last year will no doubt be fresh in his mind as well, and he’ll be hoping to avoid a similar upset here.

After securing a 10th Ulster title in a row last Sunday, Antrim certainly won’t be shy of match fitness, regardless of what other challenges they face.

This actually represents their fifth game this summer as they juggle two provinces and the qualifiers, but that’s not necessarily all good: there may be some tiredness setting in, and Limerick could well take full advantage.

Dual player Mark O’Riordan returns to full hurling duties, and starts at midfield after replacing Paul Browne after 44 minutes the last day against Wexford, while Richie McCarthy comes in at right corner forward for the injured Graeme Mulcahy.

With full forward Kevin Downes in superlative form it’s hard to see Antrim stopping a better equipped Limerick intent on booking their place into the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; D Moloney, S Hickey, T Condon; W McNamara, B Geary, G O’Mahoney; M O’Riordan, D O’Grady; N Moran, J Ryan, D Hannon; R McCarthy, K Downes, S Tobin.

ANTRIM: TBA.

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).