Cork Hurling: How well have Rebels coped before when key men were injured?

This Sunday, Cork take on a Clare side who they've only beaten once in the last seven championship meetings and were the last team to defeat them in the Páirc.

That they're without captain Darragh Fitzgibbon, defensive pillars Rob Downey and Ciarán Joyce and experienced sub Robbie O'Flynn, leaves Sunday's showdown finely poised. If it wasn't already, given the Banner's incredible record. 

Losing by four points or more could cost the Rebels a berth in the Munster final, though, thankfully, three wins on the bounce mean their place in the All-Ireland series is already assured. Ben O'Connor has been adamant that his side go all out to win in every match and there's no reason to ease off now, despite talk of the third-place team in Munster having an easier path to Croke Park.

Yet the absentees certainly cast a shadow. Injuries are part and parcel of sport but the current truncated hurling format means the window to return to action is small. 

Cork have plenty of options to step up. Damien Cahalane and Hugh O'Connor held their own after coming into the starting 15 for Walsh Park two weeks ago. Limerick's most impressive display of the year came in blitzing Clare in Ennis despite being without Cian Lynch and Aaron Gillane.

Yet, there's that nagging feeling the calibre of the injured Rebels could scrupper their prospects in the coming weeks.

In the modern era, plenty of Cork hurlers missed out long chunks of action.

When Cork fell just short of All-Ireland glory in 2013, they didn't have the attacking guile of Paudie O'Sullivan after a devastating injury on Imokilly duty. For a group that overachieved to make it to September, his playmaking and scoring were missed.

In 2018, as Munster champions, Cork lost a semi-final epic to Limerick but were without Alan Cadogan, who had been Man of the Match in the provincial final the year before. Remember that afternoon at Croker, Daniel Kearney was replaced, brought back on in extra time and had to be taken off again with a knock.

TALISMAN

In the Covid-shortened 2020 campaign, Darragh Fitzgibbon only featured in the Tipp game as a late sub after an injury in Charleville's county final success against Fr O'Neill's. Until now, the Waterford loss and Dublin win were the only championship games he has missed since his breakthrough campaign in 2017. His leadership and ability to slam over points on the big days can't be underestimated.

Even take last July against Tipp. Seamus Harnedy had a significant impact on the Munster final victory in Limerick. 

While he wasn't needed in the hammering of Dublin, he was reduced to a bench role for the All-Ireland final where the loss of his nous and ball-winning was keenly felt.  

Mark Coleman and Alan Connolly were both marked absent in 2023 when one-point losses to Clare and Limerick meant it was the only season that Cork didn't finish in the top three in the Munster round-robin. While Cork have more club hurlers than any county, replacing Coleman and Connolly wasn't straightforward; it's the same scenario now.

In the provincial final last summer, Cork had to start without Declan Dalton, Niall O'Leary and Rob Downey, though the defensive duo were fit enough to come on. They got through that and this group are around long enough to drive on here.