Tipperary v Cork: Mark Coleman out for Rebels but O'Connor and O'Flynn set to return

Cork will be without Mark Coleman for Saturday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Tipperary (FBD Semple Stadium, 7.30pm) but Jack O’Connor and Robbie O’Flynn are set for their first involvements of the year.

Coleman was introduced for the last 21 minutes of Cork’s most recent game, the come-from-behind draw at home to Limerick nearly three weeks ago, but a calf problem has prevented him from training since then.

Shane Kingston, who was replaced by Coleman, is also set to miss out while Séamus Harnedy (thumb) and captain Robert Downey (ankle) remain sidelined too, along with Seán O’Donoghue.

Attackers O’Connor and O’Flynn are back in the mix, with Sarsfields’ O’Connor having been involved in the Riverstown’s club’s journey to the AIB All-Ireland Club SHC final while O’Flynn was away travelling around the turn of the year.

Beyond Pádraig Power, who is out for the year with a cruciate ligament injury, Cork manager Pat Ryan has no other long-term issues to deal with but he is having to negotiate a busy treatment room at the moment.

“We’ll be assessing things,” he said.

“Seán O’Donoghue will still be out. He has a groin-slash-hip flexor issue and it’s just taking a bit of time.

“He’s back in training, it’s just that twisting and turning is still an issue.

“Shane Kingston has something similar, he’ll be out and we’re assessing Rob then, where he’s at in terms of returning.

“Mark Coleman is still out, Séamus Harnedy is still out, obviously Deccie Dalton is suspended. Conor Lehane is out as well, with his shoulder.

“Mark has a calf strain since the Limerick game. It’s nothing serious but calves, you have to rest them. He hasn’t been able to train but he’ll be back in on Thursday night. We’d expect that he’ll be out for the next two or three weeks.”

With the Fitzgibbon Cup completed, Cork are now able to work from a bigger squad in training and the upcoming trio of games – after Tipp, Cork host Kilkenny and then travel to Clare in consecutive weeks – will afford chances to shine.

“From our point of view, you’ve 36 players and it’s fairly clear that what you’re doing in training will get you opportunities, because it is competitive,” Ryan said.

“All the lads that you would consider household names, or that would have been considered starters at the start of the year, they all want to be playing every game.

“You’re trying to get partnerships set up and you’re trying to get lads used to the way you want to play and all of that.

“You need to be putting out your best players as well, so it’s up to lads to be going well in training and show up when they come on in matches, to say, ‘I deserve a start here.’

“They need to know that they have the trust of the management team, and the trust of the rest of the group as well, to be able to do the job.”