BRIAN HAYES is a shock inclusion in the Cork team to face Tipperary in the National Hurling League final.
There were fears in the Rebels’ camp that the towering forward had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament when he hobbled off with a knee injury during the recent win over Galway.
While scans revealed that the damage was less severe, boss Pat Ryan admitted nonetheless that Hayes was in danger of missing the Munster SHC opener against Clare on April 20.
However, Cork’s hopes of landing a first league title since 1998 are set to be boosted by the availability of the St Finbarr’s hitman, who has been named in attack for Sunday’s showpiece on Leeside.
Hayes is one of 12 members of the side who also started last summer’s All-Ireland SHC final loss to the Banner.
Cormac O’Brien has been given the nod at wing-back, Ethan Twomey is selected at midfield and young wing-forward Diarmuid Healy will make his second senior start after marking his first with a man-of-the-match display against Kilkenny.
Mark Coleman, Séamus Harnedy and Declan Dalton are among the players held in reserve.CORK (v Tipperary): P Collins; N O’Leary, E Downey, S O’Donoghue; C Joyce, R Downey, C O’Brien; T O’Mahony, E Twomey; D Healy, D Fitzgibbon, S Barrett; P Horgan, A Connolly, B Hayes. Subs: B Saunderson, D Cahalane, G Millerick, T O’Connell, M Coleman, L Meade, B Roche, S Harnedy, D Dalton, J O’Connor, S Kingston.
