The Echo Sport Podcast: How do Cork hurlers solve injury issues and can footballers finally beat Kerry?

It's a bumper weekend ahead for Cork GAA and The Echo Sport Podcast crew discuss the key games against Waterford and Kerry.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more, to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

First up on Saturday evening, the hurlers travel to Walsh Park, where they were beaten two years ago, looking to seal their spot in the All-Ireland series with a game to spare. 

The loss of Ciarán Joyce and Rob Downey to injury destablises the defence and poses a few selection headaches for Ben O'Connor and his selectors. 

Do they rejig the team, bringing Tim O'Mahony to the half-back line and Darragh Fitzgibbon to midfield, given they have stronger forward options in reserve? 

Or do they look to the experience of Damien Cahalane and Ger Millerick to fill in?

There's also Daire O'Leary and Micheál Mullins in reserve, who featured in the league, or Cormac O'Brien who started last year's league and Munster finals.

Having beaten Tipp and Limerick, the Rebels are moving well but their hosts this weekend will also fancy their chances and must win to save their season.

BIG CHANCE

On Sunday, the footballers travel over the county bounds looking for a first victory on enemy territory in 31 years and to land an overdue Munster title, bridging a gap to 2012.

John Cleary must plan without veteran forward Brian Hurley but the vibes are good coming out of the camp before the clash.

Kerry have a pile of injuries of their own but they still possess two of the deadliest forwards in the game in David and Paudie Clifford. Getting the match-ups right here will be crucial to Cork's prospects.

The Echo panel also discuss the latest underage action, including fine performances by the minors in both codes and a cracking Munster U20 final which saw Cork come up just short. 

For the U20 hurlers, Barry Walsh was electric in beating Clare but now they must face them again in the provincial semi-final and he could be tied up with the seniors... Which game is more important and if he's out, how will the U20s adapt?