Boost for Cork as fit-again O'Connor earns place on bench

But, after recovering from injury, Donncha O'Connor makes a significant return to the Rebels' bench for the first time this summer and John Hayes is also among their squad after serving a one-match ban for the Munster final.

Elsewhere, despite a worry over Gary O'Donnell's shoulder injury which forced him off before half-time against Tipperary, Galway have named him at centre-back in an unchanged team for Sunday's other quarter-final against Kerry.

And Eoghan O'Flaherty has been rewarded for his performance off the bench against Clare with a return to Kildare's starters for tomorrow's final qualifier against Monaghan in Croke Park.

The Carbury man, who has struggled to hold down a starting spot this summer, was named to start in Ennis two weeks ago, but replaced before throw-in.

His replacement – Alan Smith – played a blinder and retains his spot.

CLAIMS

But manager Jason Ryan couldn't ignore O'Flaherty's claims for a return when he scored three points after replacing Gary White in their one-point victory over the Banner.

Mick Foley has also been recalled to full-back and Tomas O'Connor returns to full-forward, with White, Emmet Bolton and Podge Fogarty the three to lose out.

The Lilywhites were forced to come back from six points down in Ennis, scoring the last seven points to pull it out of the bag, yet centre-back Fergal Conway says he never contemplated losing.

"You never think that when you're in a game, you just try to keep plugging away and we got the last couple of scores which were vital," he said. "You have to keep thinking positive and keep going."

Ryan will be hoping that his side repeat the same never-say-die attitude against Monaghan tomorrow and continue their excellent qualifier record.

The Farney men have named an unchanged team from the starting 15 who lost the Ulster final to Donegal.

KILDARE (SF v Monaghan) – H Donnellan; C Fitzpatrick, M Foley, M O'Grady; O Lyons, F Conway, K Cribbin; T Moolick, P O'Neill; C McNally, N Kelly, E Callaghan; A Smith, T O'Connor, E O'Flaherty.

MONAGHAN (SF) – R Beggan; R Wylie, D Wylie, C Walshe; D Mone, V Corey, F Kelly; D Clerkin, D Hughes; P McKenna, S Gollogly, P Finlay; D Malone, K Hughes, C McManus.

CORK (SF v Mayo) – K O'Halloran; J Loughrey, E Cadogan, N Galvin; M Shields, T Clancy, B O'Driscoll; I Maguire, A Walsh; P Kerrigan, M Collins, C O'Driscoll; C O'Neill, B Hurley, D Og Hodnett.

GALWAY (SF v Kerry) – T Healy; D O'Neill, F Hanley, J Moore; G Bradshaw, G O'Donnell, P Varley; F O Curraoin, T Flynn; M Lundy, S Walsh, J Kavanagh; M Martin, P Conroy, D Cummins.