Diarmuid O'Sullivan has held his place at full back on the Cork team for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Kilkenny, despite intense speculation that he would be dropped. O'Sullivan's place had come under threat after he struggled against Joe Canning and Niall Gilligan in Cork's recent victories over Galway and Clare, but manager Gerald McCarthy has kept faith with the 'Rock', who has been a regular in the full back line for the past decade. McCarthy's loyalty may be partly due to the fact that there is no obvious alternative to the Cloyne clubman at number 3. Team captain John Gardiner moved back there in the last two games, but is thought to be uncomfortable with the position. The decision to stick with O'Sullivan means the team is unchanged from that which saw off Clare by two points in the All-Ireland quarter-final two weeks ago. Cork (SH v Kilkenny): D Og Cusack; S O'Neill, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Og O hAilpin; T Kenny, J O'Connor; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, P Cronin; C Naughton, J Deane, P Horgan. Tweet

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