The Echo Sport Podcast: Darragh Fitzgibbon's absence a big blow to Cork hurlers' Munster hopes
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The Echo Sport Podcast crew is back to discuss another bumper weekend of Cork GAA action.
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.
While neither of the senior teams were in action over the weekend, it didn't prevent the hurlers from hogging the headlines.
Results over the weekend which saw Limerick beat Waterford and Clare put Tipp to the sword probably didn't lift the mood either, as it reinforced what a disaster the All-Ireland final loss last July was while keeping the Banner in the mix for the provincial silverware.
If Cork are beaten by four points or more against Clare next Sunday and Limerick get the better of already eliminated Waterford, then it's a Limerick-Clare Munster final. Now some fans would argue it would be better to avoid another showdown with the Treaty, Cork have won three games on the bounce and will be keen to preserve their unbeaten record in the Páirc going back to the Clare loss in April 2024.
Barry Walsh is the obvious option to start with Darragh Fitz out but could Cork go with Eoin Downey centre-back to restore Tim O'Mahony at midfield and bring Cormac O'Brien in on the wing? How the players fared in last Saturday's A v B game at Fota Island will dictate the management's approach.
At club level, Declan Dalton offered a reminder of his class by nailing 0-12 in Fr O'Neill's win over St Finbarr's. Has he a chance of forcing his way back into the match-day 26?
On the football front, Cork host Meath in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening, where they'll need to perform better and more consistently across the 70-plus minutes than they did in Killarney. A fully fit Dara Sheedy would add some needed creativity to the half-forward line.
Even if they lose, John Cleary's side will have another shot at the qualifiers in the losers round but beating Meath is essential if they're to make a realistic push for the latter stages of the All-Ireland series.
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