Cork v Clare: Attitude and defensive structure crucial no matter what hurlers starting line-up is

CORK are under savage pressure on Sunday afternoon.

After losing to Waterford where familiar failings proved costly, they simply have to beat Clare in the Páirc. The Banner threw away a win over Limerick but for three-quarters of the game, they hurled extremely well. They also have Waterford at home and Tipp in Thurles over the coming weeks while Cork have to face Limerick.

They're in a marginally better position than the Rebels. Clare could lose on Leeside and still squeeze into third spot by winning their remaining matches but that'll be harder for Pat Ryan's side.

Whatever about the changes the selectors made to the starting 15, which was revealed on Thursday night, there needs to be a serious improvement in attitude from Cork. They were set up for an ambush in Walsh Park, given the Déise had a host of marquee hurlers back in situ for the summer and were always going to be a different beast in championship.

Only two seasons ago, in what was Cork's most ferocious performance in the Kieran Kington era, Waterford were bullied on their own turf. They hadn't forgotten that. Davy Fitzgerald and selector Peter Queally were pumped up on the sideline last weekend and Waterford had that same battling mindset.

CONCERN

It's easy to wise after the fact, but many Cork supporters flagged up their concern when the team was announced on the reliance on veterans like Patrick Horgan, Damien Cahalane, Seamus Harnedy and Conor Lehane. After collecting three of the last four U20 All-Irelands, the expectation was there would be more young guns in the team.

Incidentally, the two forwards who caused the most damage to Waterford were Shane Barrett and Alan Connolly (both 23 this year). 

Of course, Seán Twomey was the debutant for the hurlers and he endured a tricky time and simply couldn't get on the ball before coming off at half-time.

Look, you can't discard players based on age either. In Killarney, the Cork footballers' best three performers in the loss to Kerry were Brian Hurley, Ian Maguire and Mattie Taylor, all 30-plus.

However, there's huge baggage when you've fallen short time and again. And, aside from making the 2021 All-Ireland where they were annihilated, Cork haven't been successful since the back-to-back Munster triumphs of 2017-'18. 

All the talk about Cork being contenders is based on speculation, in their last nine provincial round-robin games they've lost five, won three and drawn one.

The backbone of the Rebel team should now be the crew in their mid to late 20s: Seán O'Donoghue, Patrick Collins, Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Robbie O'Flynn, Shane Kingston and Declan Dalton. O'Donoghue and Fitzgibbon excelled in the Waterford loss but Collins and Coleman weren't dominant and the latter three have been plagued by injuries.

Tim O'Mahony is a towering presence in the middle third but hasn't been in favour this year. His size would surely add more heft in a sector where Cork were horsed out of it by the Déise.

Against Clare, matching their fire and fury will be critical. Whatever hurlers are chosen to start or finish.