Tesco Home Grown NFL Div 1

Sunday April 12th, 3pm

Cork v Dublin

Venue: CIT (Cork)

On Sunday Dublin travel to CIT for their round 7th round NFL clash with their old rivals Cork knowing that in order to reach the competitions knock out stages the Dubs must leave Lee-side with a win. Anything less will see last year's beaten league finalists out of the competition for 2015.

Reigning champions, Cork have already qualified for the semi-finals but as to be expected Eamon Ryan has named an extremely strong starting 15 for Sunday's visit of the Dub's.

Eleven of Cork's starting 15 for Sundays clash in CIT lined out for the Rebels in last Septembers epic All Ireland final win over Dublin. 

Dublin on the other hand have gone through a mini transition in personnel since the two teams last meet in Croke Park with Siobhan McGrath, Natalia Hyland and Sinead Aherne no longer available to the blues due to overseas travel commitments.

Two times All Star goal keeper Cliodhna O'Connor yesterday announced her retirement from Gaelic football while former All Ireland winning Captain Denise Masterson is another Dublin stalwart not currently available for selection due to personnel commitments.

Rachel Ruddy and Molly Lamb have been on the long term injury list while Lamb has come back into contention in the last fortnight having played the final ten minutes of Dublin's win over Tyrone in Parnell Park two weeks ago.  Last season All Star nomine Leah Caffrey is not available to the senior panel in 2015 again to travel commitments while fellow 2014 All Star nominee Lindsay Peat is yet to confirm her availability to McGonigle following the conclusion of her college and basketball commitments to DCU.

So in stark comparison to Cork Leinster champions Dublin throughout their NFL fixtures to date have only been in a position to name at best five of their starting All Ireland fifteen.  However over the course of the league Dublin boss, Gregory McGonigle has given his panel including a number of the 2014 U21 All Ireland winning team the opportunity to a taste and experience top flight football.

Players like Olwen Carey, Lucy Collins and Amy Connolly have grabbed the opportunity to command a regular first team place with open arms displaying strong performances throughout the league campaign.

While Muireann Ni Scanaill, Kim Flood, Nicole Owens and Hannah Noonan have shown all the attributes to potentially grab a starting position on this new look Dublin team knowing that championship football is literally just around the corner.

Dublin will announce their team for Sundays all important clash with Cork tomorrow evening following team training in DCU. 

Cork v Dublin:

1 Martina O'Brien (Clonakilty), 2 Aisling Hutchings (Fermoy), 3 Roisin Phelan (Aghada), 4 Brid Stack (St. Marys), 5 Vera Foley (St. Vals), 6 Roisin O Sullivan (Mourneabbey), 7 Briege Corkery  (St. Vals), 8 Rena Buckley (Donoughmore), 9 Geraldine O'Flynn (St. Marys),  10 Jennifer Barry (Bride Rovers), 11 Doireann O'Sullivan (Mourneabbey), 12              Annie Walsh (Inch Rovers), 13 Valerie Mulcahy (Rockbán), 14 Grace Kearney (Bride Rovers),  15 Orla Finn (Kinsale)

(Source Cork LGFA Facebook)

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