John Horgan on Cork hurling: Rebels could yet pay high price for victory with key men missing

Munster hurling just keeps on giving, giving more and more with each passing Sunday.

In the six years since the introduction of the round-robin format, the levels of intensity, physicality and score-taking have continued to increase. Its uncertain nature has provided entertainment that very few, if any, sports can offer.

It's a house full sign at every venue across the province, a sea of colour at every game and it's fair to state that its Leinster counterpart is a good distance behind, evidenced by the fact that no county in that region has managed to collect the MacCarthy Cup since the change in format.

There's always been a debate comparing the two provinces and while Leinster might have ruled the roost in the past with the greatness of various Kilkenny teams, Munster is now the top dog.

We have no idea how the current season will unfold as July looms larger on the horizon but the smart money will be on a Munster county lifting the big prize again.

With all five counties in Munster now having shown their hand on the opening two weekends, a clearer picture about who gets the top three spots to move onto the All-Ireland series is emerging.

Some counties have played two games, Clare and Limerick just the one, and they have the stage to themselves on Sunday when they collide at Cusack Park in a contest of huge significance following Limerick's loss in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Sunday.

A win for Clare would put them in a healthy position going forward into their two remaining games against Tipperary and Cork. Conversely, a loss for Limerick would put them in a very precarious position.

Winning your opening two games all but guarantees a spot in the top three while two losses would not rule a county out of contention, although it would heap the pressure on them in terms of qualification.

As things currently stand on the table, Cork with two wins and Clare with one from one, are the most advantageously placed.

That can quickly change of course but with just one point from two games, All-Ireland champions Tipperary and Waterford look the most vulnerable of the five counties, just a point apiece from their two games.

A loss in their next game, Waterford against Cork and Tipp against Clare would be very problematic.

It might be unthinkable that the reigning All-Ireland champions don't emerge from the province the following season but wasn't that the case with Clare last season?

RAGING

Tipperary must be fuming with themselves following their draw with Waterford, squandering an 11-point lead in Walsh Park and giving away a last-gasp goal that denied them the two points.

Their next two games, at home to Clare and away to Limerick are crucial, maybe needing to win both to ensure their season is extended.

Imagine two of the favourites for the All-Ireland, themselves and Limerick going head to head to remain in the championship hunt. That is all conjecture at the moment, of course, but in Munster you rule nothing in and nothing out.

Waterford have never got out of the province since the introduction of the group stage but they have given themselves a chance this time with that precious point against Tipperary.

Cork are next up for them next Saturday week in Walsh Park and while Ben O'Connor's men are riding high in the table, there will be an awareness that this venue hasn't always been a happy hunting ground for the Rebel County.

Waterford, although three points behind Cork will have taken a fair bit from that draw with Tipperary and they performed very well too in Cusack Park in the opening day loss to Clare. Cork will get the nod in that game but there will be a message accompanying that vote of confidence: beware of the men in white on their own patch.

MATURING

There has been plenty of mature reflection on Leeside since last Sunday's excellent win over Limerick.

For the second consecutive Sunday, the positives outweighed the negatives but there is always room for improvement.

The sluggish start would have been a concern, though the recovery was impressive, mainly through the sublime goal that Shane Barrett hammered home.

The sending off of Cian Lynch, no dissenting voices with that decision, should maybe have signalled more from Cork but how often in the past have we witnessed 14 against 15 and the latter unable to capitalise on it.

The goal from a poorly struck free from Diarmuid Byrnes should not have been conceded and made for a nervy enough finish.

Overall, it was a very good news story until the shattering news emerged on Monday morning that Ciarán Joyce had been ruled out for the year and that Rob Downey would be an absentee for a number of weeks.

Two crushing blows that must now be overcome, the spine of the defence having to be altered significantly.

For too long now, Cork had been unable to find the type of full-back that the great Diarmuid O'Sullivan was and there has always been some uncertainty about that position. Joyce, maybe a more natural centre-back, was in the infancy of his tenure in the number three jersey but the signs were extremely positive.

Rob Downey excelled again on Sunday, another player whose leadership qualities are key in that pivotal number six position. 

The depth of the squad's defensive resources in those two's absence will be fully tested now and replacing them will not be easy.

The situation is currently being addressed fully by the management and as the saying goes, the strength of your team is in its squad.

Midfield looks nailed-on with the physicality and industry of Tim O'Mahony and Tommy O'Connell and, up front, the leadership of Darragh Fitzgibbon is yielding a fine dividend.

The attack has loads to options. You have the likes of Deccie Dalton and Shane Kingston unable to get into the match-day squad, which gives an indication about how competitive it has become in that sector.

It was noticeable too that one of the county's greatest ever servants, Seamie Harnedy, has only featured for a couple of minutes in both games and got no game time at all last Sunday.

Much will depend on what transpires on the training ground in the build-up to the Waterford game and it's clearly obvious that Ben O'Connor puts a lot of store and thought into the goings on behind closed doors. 

Quite a lot of the heavy lifting has been done with the victories over Tipperary and Limerick and there might be a tendency now among supporters to get a bit carried away as was the case last season. That must not happen.

One more win from the two remaining games will secure a place in a second Munster final and that in itself would be a very meritorious achievement given the fiercely competitive nature of the best championship in either code.