Depth and timing favour Cork as Waterford arrive depleted for league opener

The Cork senior hurlers step back into competitive action this weekend well equipped and with a refreshed panel, as they welcome Waterford to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the opening round of their National Hurling League title defence.

There is a depth to the panel that Cork have not always enjoyed at this stage of the year. The few pre-season outings have been used wisely, and there’s been plenty of experimentation from Ben O’Connor.

Waterford arrive back in the top tier on the back of a Division 1B title, but the timing of this assignment could scarcely be more awkward.

Peter Queally enters his second season in charge facing immediate disruption, with the fallout from Ballygunner’s All-Ireland club success last weekend certain to hamper selection.

Six players from last year’s championship panel were involved in the win over Loughrea; Patrick Fitzgerald, Paddy Leavey, Ian Kenny, Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony and Conor Sheahan.

Austin Gleeson’s continued injury woes and reported departure from the panel is another blow, while Paudie Fitzgerald, injured against Kilbrittain, is another significant loss.

In total, six players who featured against Cork in last year’s Munster championship meeting at the Páirc are almost certain to be absent here.

There has been movement off the pitch too. Following Eoin Kelly’s departure, Queally has added Adrian O’Sullivan and former Cork coach Donal O’Rourke to the backroom team, while Dan Shanahan remains as a selector for the coming season.

How they approach Sunday’s contest will be interesting. Victory will look unlikely, especially with Cork having the full complement.

However, Queally gave first starts of the season to Conor Prunty, Jamie Barron and Shane Bennett in their 0-23 to 0-15 defeat to Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling League final, while O’Connor is still yet to start anyone from last season’s All-Ireland defeat.

Limerick won their Munster league decider somewhat comfortably, as Waterford hung on until the break, before falling away in the second half. They managed to score just four points.

That came on the back of an astounding victory against Kerry, where the Déise won 6-25 to just 0-6. They had drawn with Tipperary in the opening round, and such was the scoring difference swing in the Kerry victory, they earned a third pre-season outing.

There’s a lot for the Déise to be feeling optimistic about heading into the league campaign, even if it will likely take a few weeks for the fruit to ripen. But there is only one metric that matters this season.

Can they get out of Munster?

It’s well documented at this stage that they’re the only Munster county that have yet to reach the All-Ireland series under the round-robin format, and their record during those years has dire, despite reaching the Munster and All-Ireland finals in 2020 – one of the two COVID impacted seasons – which saw the format temporarily revert to knockout.

Their league campaign won’t get much easier after facing Cork – they host Limerick in the next round – but they will meet Offaly on February 7, a repeat of last season’s Division 1B final and where Waterford will expect to be closer to full stride.

But their championship start will be pivotal, they face the last two All-Ireland champions in Clare away and Tipperary at home in back-to-back weeks. On paper, Waterford look the least likely to crack Munster’s top three. In reality, they remain capable of doing so, but only if Queally can extract absolute efficiency from every available resource.

For Cork, Sunday’s team selection may yet completely change how we view the game, but for Waterford, it will likely feel like an extension of the Munster league.