Waterford v Cork: Rebels optimistic regarding injury doubts

Cork hope to have close to a full squad to choose from for Sunday’s Munster SHC opener against Waterford in Walsh Park (4pm).

Robbie O’Flynn was forced off with a hamstring problem in Cork’s second Allianz Hurling League game, at home to Kilkenny in February, while Mark Coleman sustained a fractured jaw at the beginning of March.

Both are in contention for the Suirside trip, though, as is Declan Dalton, who picked up a hamstring injury since the end of the league. Manager Pat Ryan is giving the Fr O’Neills man every chance and is glad to have options available.

“Deccie’s not too bad this week, we’ll see where he gets to. We’d be hoping that he’d be able to play some part anyway as he’s recuperating well.

“Everybody else is perfect and ready to go. Jack O’Connor is back, Seán Twomey, Robbie O’Flynn, Mark Coleman, everybody else is ready to go. It normally happens around this time of year that fellas get right!

“Pádraig Power is back as well, obviously he had his operation pre-Christmas and he’s back in the main squad. The first two games, he probably won’t have enough done but he’s back into full training, a big addition back to us.”

Last week, it was revealed that Shane Kingston (hamstring) would be absent and newcomer Cathal McCarthy is unfortunately set to miss the championship campaign, too.

“The only two ruled out, really, are Cathal McCarthy and Shane Kingston,” Ryan says.

“Shane is going well but it’ll probably come too soon. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to play some part against Clare the following week.

“Cathal McCarthy injured his shoulder in training and he’ll have to have an operation. He’ll be out for four or five months. It’s a pity for him.”

Picking up points in the opener is obviously the aim but Ryan is aware that Davy Fitzgerald is likely to have Waterford primed, too.
“I think Davy has been up front about how much he’s targeting this game,” he says.

“From our own point of view, it’s the first game up and you want to get the win and two points.

“It’ll be a huge challenge below in Waterford but that’s what we’re focused on. If you get two points on the board early, it make a big difference to the situation. Both of us are targeting it and we’ll see where it takes us.

““We got a game against Galway and some good in-house matches. We feel we’re in a good spot but, in fairness to Waterford, they played the league without a lot of their top-line players. They’ll be picking from a full-strength team, so they’re going to be formidable opposition.”