Counihan plays down changes
June 14, 2008
New Cork manager Conor Counihan says people shouldn't read too much into the major alterations he has made to his team for Sunday's Munster SFC semi-final against Limerick.
Eyebrows were raised when Counihan included just seven survivors from the side that suffered a humiliating defeat to Kerry in last year's All-Ireland final when he announced his line-up earlier this week. It has led to suggestions that Counihan is determined to wipe the slate clean after last September's spectacular collapse, but the former teak tough centre back has pointed out that a number of the changes were enforced because of injuries, while he also stressed that players were omitted on the basis of others showing better form in training and challenge matches.
"There's an element of change alright, but you'll find that in most teams at the start of the championship," he said.
"It's certainly not a case of change for change's sake. We have a few injury problems which ruled out two lads and some others had knocks at various stages too.
"We're going on what we saw in training which has been very competitive but just because a player doesn't get on the team this week it doesn't mean he's going badly. I'd like to think that someone else is going a bit better.
"It's also important to have really good players available to come on and we certainly have that now."
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