John Horgan on how Cork will cope with Darragh Fitzgibbon's injury and their winning habit
HUGE BLOW: Darragh Fitzgibbon's absence on top of the injuries to Rob Downey and Ciarán Joyce will really test Cork's mettle. Picture: Tom Beary/Sportsfile
It's becoming more and more apparent every year that the key to success on the inter-county stage is squad depth, the ability to almost replace like with like in the event of an injury or a county having a player suspended.
In the recent Munster football final at Fitzgerald Stadium, Kerry's squad was tested to the full with seven or eight players who would in all probability have been first choices in Jack O'Connor's first team selection ruled out because of injury.
However, the current All-Ireland champions were able to manage those losses successfully and Cork's tale of woe in Killarney continued.
The Cork hurlers' injuries are not to the same extent as Kerry but the current squad is having its fair share of problems too.
When star defenders Ciarán Joyce and Rob Downey were ruled out of the clash with Waterford in Walsh Park, there was apprehension among Cork supporters that their unavailability could be problematic for the team's chances.
However, that was not the case and the replacements, Damien Cahalane and Diarmuid Healy, the latter's recall having a chain reaction around the field, which ultimately proved decisive.
Now there is another replacement required with the team captain Darragh Fitzgibbon ruled out following an appendicitis operation. Cork are fortunate that they have already secured their place in the All-Ireland series and a loss to Clare on Sunday won't change that.
It may well be that when this column appears in print, Fitzgibbon's replacement may have been named but the management are not short on options. In fact, it has been suggested that Cork's attacking options are greater than their defensive ones but it's been so far so good in this current campaign.
Every county has to deal with players being ruled out, key players who must be adequately replaced.
Waterford lost their star forward Stephen Bennett against Cork, Limerick were without Cian Lynch and Aaron Gillane against Clare while in Leinster, Kilkenny have been operating without Huw Lawlor, Billy Ryan and Adrian Mullen. That's the nature of things in all counties, being without and coping in their absence.
The list of attacking options on the Cork bench is considerable with players like Seamie Harnedy, Alan Walsh, Robbie O'Flynn, Padraig Power and Brian O'Sullivan yet to start a championship encounter this summer.
Deccie Dalton has not been on the match day 26 while Shane Kingston, a sub against Waterford, hasn't featured either. So, while filling Fitzgibbon's boots in his absence is a big task given how well the Charleville player has been performing, the picture is not that bleak.
Hugh O'Connor from Newmarket replaced Barry Walsh for the game in Walsh Park and did well, firing over a tasty brace of points. Harnedy came on as well in that game and delivered a superb point, reminding everyone of his importance to the set-up.
The pressure is not as great as it was before the championship commenced and the assurance of having an extended Summer has lessened the debate around replacements for now.
It's clearly obvious that what goes on behind closed doors in training has a huge influence in the Cork team selection and that will have come into play in Ben O'Connor's decision on who will come on board for the team captain.
Clare's visit to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh has become more interesting in view of how well the Banner performed last Saturday in Thurles against Tipperary and Brian Lohan will want to maintain that momentum.
Many might find it difficult to believe that Clare, and that's no disrespect to them, have taken home the MacCarthy Cup twice since Cork were last successful. Their modern record since the mid-90s is superb, five All-Irelands since 1995.
Go back to 1966 when Cork required a last-minute goal to take the game to a replay before the subsequent All-Ireland title was gloriously won.
In 1995, en route to their All-Ireland victory, Ollie Baker denied Cork with a last-gasp goal at the Gaelic Grounds. That victory was the launchpad for a sustained period of success in the Banner and which yielded two MacCarthy Cup triumphs.
That's just two instances of how you never underestimate a Clare team and their performance last Saturday night might lead observers to believe that the county could have a big say in this year's championship.
But again down the years, Clare teams have mixed the sublime with the ridiculous, one brilliant performance followed by a very poor one or vice-versa which has been the case this season, losing heavily to Limerick and subsequently battering the All-Ireland holders Tipperary.
Brian Lohan's men were hugely impressive in Thurles.
John Conlon turned back the clock with a superb defensive display while up front newcomer Diarmuid Stritch teased and tormented the Tipp defence with every possession, finishing with a six-point haul. Sub Ian Galvin was mightily impressive too as was Sean Rynne.
That victory was achieved without Shane O'Donnell playing at the top end of his game but that mattered little on the night.
Whatever Cork's starting 15 will be, Ben O'Connor's team will start the more fancied team on Sunday and the momentum of three huge victories in this Munster championship thus far will want to be maintained.
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It would be very difficult to find much fault with Cork in those three games, no games in Munster are a given but all hurdles have been safely negotiated.
Patrick Collins has been a stabilising presence between the posts and has made some terrific stops along the journey.
Sean O'Donoghue and Niall O'Leary have been resolute in the full-back line while Mark Coleman and Eoin Downey have been likewise, both coming up with a few fine points into the bargain and, of course, Coleman's penalty against Waterford.
Tim O'Mahony's versatility has been seen to great effect, filling the number six jersey in Rob Downey's absence with no shortage of composure.
There is fierce competition for places in attack and different players at different times have led the way.
Alan Connolly has become more confident with his free-taking, Brian Hayes is a big problem for the best of defenders while Willie Buckley has fitted seamlessly into the full-forward sector alongside those two.
Retaining the Munster title is a priority now for the management and trying to avoid a potentially very dangerous All-Ireland semi-final.
And the best way to travel on any journey is by taking the easier route.
It would be an immense achievement to win all four games in the Round-Robin section of the provincial championship given how competitive it has become.
In any game, the margin for error is minimal and if a county falls short any day, there is immediate jeopardy.
Despite the absences of three key players this Cork squad has already illustrated its depth and the habit of winning is the best medicine of the lot.
Expect another big challenge from Clare but Cork are in a very good place right now.
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