Cork v Waterford: Injured pair doubtful for Déise clash

Cork pair Declan Dalton and Niall O'Leary are major doubts for Sunday’s do-or-die Munster SHC clash with Waterford.

However, the pair – both forced off in Sunday’s heavy defeat to Limerick – should be back in contention for the All-Ireland series if the Rebels can get the win or draw required at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Dalton retired in the opening minutes with a hamstring issue while O’Leary had to be replaced in the second half with a groin adductor injury and manager Pat Ryan admits that neither is likely to be involved against Peter Queally’s side.

“Both Niall and Declan have had scans and we’re waiting on the results back,” he said.

“They’re probably not as bad as we feared they might be coming out of there but I’d say they'd be extremely doubtful for the weekend.”

Cork captain Robert Downey, who was injured in the previous matches against Clare and Tipperary, was replaced at half-time at TUS Gaelic Grounds as a lack of training impacted on him.

“He’s coming back but, unfortunately for Rob, he hasn’t been training that much,” Ryan said.

“He hasn't really done much really in the last, probably, five, six weeks so, obviously, you’re probably taking a bit of a gamble at the weekend to get him there.

But he'll come on from that match, it’s make a big difference for him because he hasn't done a lot of training.

“That 35 minutes will stand him good for Sunday.”

As to what need to improve from Sunday, Ryan’s base demand is a high level of workrate, something which was unusually absent.

“At the end of the day, it wasn't a tactical type of thing because obviously the performance was so bad,” he said.

“Our energy, our effort, our workrate was way, way down compared to what it should have been.

“There are tactical aspects that you might look at down the road, but if your energy and your ability to be in the fight with Limerick isn't there, they'll just do what they did to us.

STOOD OFF

“We stood off them too much, left them pass the ball around, all that type of thing – and, to be honest, if we do the exact same thing to Waterford on Sunday, they'll beat us as well.

“It's your workrate that gives you the opportunity to play hurling and our workrate was nowhere near the required level on Sunday, which is probably the first time since I've been involved that it has been like that from the lads.

“Obviously, there are days where you mightn’t win or play as well as you can, but our workrate has been at a very, very high level.

On Sunday, it wasn't acceptable and, in fairness to ourselves and everyone, we realise that.

“That’s what the Munster championship is about; you have to park it and move on.

“We’ve a great opportunity on Sunday to get the season back going again."