Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon to miss rest of Munster championship

Cork hurling captain Darragh Fitzgibbon is set to miss the remainder of the county’s Munster SHC campaign due to a case of appendicitis.

Fitzgibbon underwent surgery on Saturday afternoon and is likely to face at least a month on the sidelines. Cork conclude their provincial round-robin campaign on Sunday against Clare, with the possibility of the Munster final on Sunday, June 7 after that.

The Charleville man will be targeting a return for the All-Ireland series – if Cork finish third in Munster or reach the final and lose it, Ben O’Connor’s side would be in quarter-final action on the weekend of June 20/21, while the retention of their Munster crown would send them straight through to the All-Ireland semis on July 4/5.

STEPPING UP

Vice-captain Mark Coleman will lead the team in Fitzgibbon's absence.

The three-time All-Star joins Cork defenders Robert Downey and Ciarán Joyce on the injured list. Downey is recovering from an ankle-ligament problem but could make the Munster final if the Rebels get there; unfortunately, Joyce is out for the remainder of the season due to a cruciate-ligament injury.