Cork hurlers must be ready for swashbuckling Clare to land with confidence with key calls to make in defence

It seems bizarre to think that Cork can go into their final round robin game with a 100% record and not make the Munster Final, but that is exactly the tale of the tape as they welcome Clare to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the final provincial round on Sunday.

A Cork win or a draw and they make the final, but a defeat of four points or more would see Clare leapfrog them, assuming, of course, that Limerick get over the line against eliminated Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds.

The news that captain Darragh Fitzgibbon is out for the remainder of the Munster Championship is certainly a blow, and especially so given the injuries sustained by Ciáran Joyce and Rob Downey in the win over Limerick. The strength of the panel is certainly being tested.

Despite being guaranteed to get out of Munster, it is unlikely that Ben O’Connor will be resting on any laurels and considering unleashing a second-string line-up, although the injuries to so many key players will mean that a lot of panel members will get championship minutes.

BACK-UP PLAN

As Joyce is out for the season, this game potentially presents an opportunity to get minutes into alternative full-back options other than Damien Cahalane. Cahalane has played very well in his two appearances to date but Cork probably need to figure out what Plan B is in case something happens the Barrs man.

Dáire O’Leary would be the obvious shout given he was the clear first choice number three during the league before he too got injured. He had pretty much recovered from that hamstring injury but picked up an Achilles injury since so won't be match-ready yet.

If the Watergrasshill man is not available, then there are not too many defenders in the panel who would match up well physically against Peter Duggan, who has the capability to destroy most defenders in the air.

In saying that, Ronan Maher did really well on Duggan last Saturday night in Thurles. Clare struggled in the initial stages when they attempted to go very direct, and it was only when they started to go short and use the space and utilise the pace and youthful legs of the likes of Diarmuid Stritch and Sean Rynne that they opened up Tipp at will.

This is what makes Clare such a dangerous proposition. They can hurt you by going short and they can hurt you by going long, and you have to expect both approaches.

The comfortable 11-point win over Tipp was achieved with Mark Rodgers having to go off early after taking a hefty head hit by Willie Connors, with Shane O’Donnell struggling for form, with Peter Duggan kept unusually quiet, bar his two sublime sidelines, and with Tony Kelly only managing a single point from play. They are arguably a more rounded outfit now than when they won the All-Ireland two years ago.

As the Banner men always seem to go well against Cork, Rebel fans will certainly be expecting the swashbuckling Clare and not the version that were a no-show against Limerick.

Against Waterford, Cormac O’Brien got quarter of an hour in the Cork defence, Seamus Harnedy got 11 minutes in attack and Paudie Power came in late on. Add the fact that Hugh O’Connor played from the start before being replaced by Robbie O’Flynn in the 51st minute and Duds Healy got 59 minutes into the legs and it is clear that the Cork management trust their panel. 

These players will be looking for more big minutes this weekend, and hopefully, Killeagh’s Barry Walsh will be back in the frame after his two excellent showings against Tipp and Limerick, and fingers will be crossed for the return of Rob Downey too.

A Downey return would be timely as it would allow O’Connor to restore the Tim O’Mahony and Tommy O’Connell midfield partnership in the absence of Fitzgibbon. If the Glen man doesn’t make, then the half-back line and midfield make-ups will be very interesting.

Some people might argue that Cork might be better off not being in the Munster final this year, as the physical and mental energy required to tackle Limerick once more would be considerable, but you just know Cork manager Ben O’Connor will not be thinking like that. He will want to maintain the 100% record and to retain the hard-won Munster title of last year.