10 TG4 All-Ireland Final survivors, twin sisters, and O'Brien as skipper for Cork's Lidl NFL Division 1 clash with Galway

WITH Doireann O’Sullivan not in the Cork matchday squad for their Lidl National League Division 1 opener against Galway in Mallow on Saturday (1.0), manager Ephie Fitzgerald has named goalkeeper Martina O’Brien as team captain.

O’Brien is one of nine players who started in the 2018 TG4 All-Ireland Final loss to Dublin, who are named to line out from the throw-in against the visiting Tribeswomen.

Shauna Kelly, Hannah Looney, Ashling Hutchings, Emma Spillane, Melissa Duggan, Aine O’Sullivan, Libby Coppinger, Eimear Scally and Orla Finn are included in an impressive Cork line-up, while Niamh Cotter makes a welcome return to the set-up.

Twin sisters Eimear and Daire Kiely, from Valley Rovers, are named in the Cork starting team, along with other former All-Ireland Minor A medallists, Ciara McCarthy and Laura O’Mahony.

Opponents Galway line out with nine players who started against Dublin in last year’s TG4 All-Ireland semi-final defeat – Fabienne Cooney, Sarah Lynch, Charlotte Cooney, Aine McDonagh, Louise Ward, Olivia Divilly, captain Tracey Leonard, Roisin Leonard and Leanne Coen.

Emer Flaherty, 2004 All-Ireland medallist and two-time All Star, confirmed her retirement from inter-county football this week.

Cork team: 

1	Martina O’Brien	Clonakilty
2	Shauna Kelly	Araglen Desmonds Bui
3	Hannah Looney	Aghada
4	Ashling Hutchings	Fermoy
5	Emma Spillane	Bantry Blues
6	Melissa Duggan	Dohenys
7	Daire Kiely	Valley Rovers
8	Ciara McCarthy	St. Valentine’s
9	Aine O’Sullivan	Beara
10	Eimear Kiely	Valley Rovers
11	Niamh Cotter	Beara
12	Laura O’Mahony	O’Donovan Rossa
13	Libby Coppinger	St. Colum’s
14	Eimear Scally	Eire Og
15	Orla Finn	Kinsale

Galway team: 

1	Dearbhla Gower	Corofin
2	Eimile Gavin	Claregalway
3	Sarah Lynch	Naomh Anna Leitir Mor
4	Fabienne Cooney	Claregalway
5	Shauna Molloy	St Furseys
6	Charlotte Cooney	Claregalway
7	Bronagh Murphy	St Marys, Killererin
8	Aine McDonagh	Maigh Culinn
9	Louise Ward	Kilkerrin Clonberne
10	Olivia Divilly	Kilkerrin Clonberne
11	Tracey Leonard	Corofin
12	Megan Glynn	Claregalway
13	Mairead Seoighe	An Fhairche/Clonbur
14	Roisin Leonard	Corofin
15	Leanne Coen	Corofin